Second City Hollywood is using improv to help military families in a new workshop at UCLA. The classes will help military families by using humor and improv-based game to improve communication. Read about it here.
In a recent post on The Creative Mind, Douglas Eby writes about improv, both in music and drama. During the part about improv on the stage he cites a recent book by Jonah Lehrer who wrote about his experience studying Double Down at Second City Hollywood. onah said he wanted to try improv while he was here, but was intimidated because the performers were so good.
Read the full article here.
The Second City Network returns to South By Southwest for the second year in a row with their short film, Cherry On Top.
South by Southwest is a popular annual music, film and interactive conference and festival held in Austin, TX, with a reputation as a breeding ground for new creative technologies and new directing talent.
Directed by Mike Damanskis and written by Charity L. Miller, Cherry On Top tells the story of a prostitute who finds new ways to attract business in the 21st century by using cutting edge social media marketing to promote the oldest profession in the world.
The Second City Network is thrilled not only about its recent success, but also applauds the success of its alumni roster of contributors who are also experiencing success including Keegan-Michael Key of Comedy Central's new hit series, Key & Peele and Maribeth Monroe of Workaholics.
After launching the instant viral success Sassy Gay Friend video series, The Second City Network continues to gain critical acclaim for its many web shows, including The Partisans, a political satire series directed by Andy Cobb. Other popular series' from the network include Cougar Lesbians, Completely Honest Guy, and Michele Fan's Makeup Tips.
The Second City Network is no stranger to SXSW. Last year their film "The Announcement," directed by Joshua Funk, screened during the Narrative Shorts block. Funk’s directing skills also made his Undocumented Worker: The Audition a finalist in last year’s NBC Short Cuts Festival.
"Cherry on Top" screens as part of the SXSW Midnight Shorts Short Program:
Friday, March 9
11:30PM - Midnight Shorts
Alamo Lazar B - 1120 South Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX
Saturday, March 10
11:30PM – Midnight Shorts
Alamo Ritz 2 - 320 East 6th St, Austin, TX
Friday, March 16
11:45PM – Midnight Shorts
Alamo Lamar C - 1120 South Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX
In attendance on Friday, March 16th will be the film's director Mike Damanskis, and producer Mark Kienlen. Writer/Producer Charity L. Miller and lead actress/producer Travina Springer will attend all three screenings.
Exec. Producers: Joshua Funk & Mark Kienlen
Writer: Charity L. Miller
Director/Producer: Mike Damanskis
Camera: Renee Greathouse
Asst Editor: Kemi Azeez
PA's: Kemi Azeez, Tyler Alexander
Ginger Snap: Melanie Specht
John: Robbie Rittman
Cherry: Travina Springer
If you haven't seen "Workaholics" yet, you are missing Maribeth Monroe playing the ice-cold boss of three friends who work together as telemarketers from 9 to 5 and live together from 5 to 9. In reality, the three friends are Anders Holm, Blake Anderson, and Adam Devine, alumni of The Second City Training Center. Maribeth talks with the RedEye about her part in "Workaholics" and how Anders saw her on The Second City's Mainstage when he was a student in Chicago's Conservatory. Read the whole interview.
For more information on classes and summer camps, see our class catalog.
The Friday night showcase at Second City Hollywood, "American Imperil," was picked as one of the top 10 events in January by Angeleno Magazine. See the full list of events here.
Alum Jackie Hoffman's Jackie Five-Oh! is having it's West Coast Premiere on January 13-22 at the Renburg Theatre. The show has been called "scathingly brilliant," "hilariously grumpy," and "savagely funny."
Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele make their debut on Tuesday, January 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT. Key was a member of Second City Detroit's mainstage cast as well as the Second City Chicago's e.t.c. theatre, where he wrote and performed shows "Holy War, Batman!" and "Curious George Goes to War" for which he won several Joseph Jefferson Awards (which honor excellence in Chicago theater). Read the whole release here.
Check out Keegan-Michael Key's sketch informing potential students of how cool Second City Training Center classes are here (Not Safe for Work):
Joshua Funk, Vice President of Television Development and New Media & Artistic Director, The Second City Training Center Hollywood, talks New Media Production. Click here to read the article.
The Second City Studio Stage in Hollywood welcomes many favorite celebrities in the coming weeks! Jim Belushi continues his run of performances wih Rob Belushi and John Barinholtz in "Sheldon" at 8pm Nov 14. Paul F. Tompkins will guest in "Late Night with Howie Kremer" Dec 9. Fred Willard's "MoHos" continue their monthly run at Second City Hollywood with an appearance in the "Twice as Nice" charity show Dec 10. Bob Odenkirk will also be appearing Dec 10 in the show "Second City This Week." And Molly Ringwald is the special guest host for "Second City This Week's" last show of the year on Dec 17!
Tickets for all shows are aavailable here.
Our own Monika Smith is heading to CBS' Two and Half Men. The former prankster on MTV's Disaster Date is scheduled to guest star on the Oct. 24 episode as Kiki, a girl Walden (Ashton Kutcher) and Alan (Jon Cryer) meet at a bar. Monika is a teacher in our Hollywood training center where she assisted in the development of our Long Form program and currently teaches in our Improv, Conservatory and Long Form levels.
Check out the announcement in The Hollywood Reporter.
Congratulations Monika!
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