Teacher of the Week: Kate Cohen!

The Second City Training Center is honored to announce Kate Cohen as the teacher of the week! Kate teaches in the Beginning Improv Program as well as in the Teen/Youth Program. She also teaches in The Second City's very popular Summer Camps and was once an Adult Program Coordinator with the Training Center. Kate has been improvising in Chicago since 2004 and performs regularly with ComedySportz Chicago, Laugh Out Loud Theater and as one-half of the musical improv duo Kate & Mike: The Musical.

Other credits include Chicago Sketchfest, Infinite Sundaes, and ImprovArcadia in Bar Harbor, Maine. Kate performed for The Second City at sea aboard the Norwegian Jewel and Gem and toured Chicago schools with SCTC's Educational Touring Company. Kate has taught improv workshops aboard NCL and for the Chicago Jewish Community Centers. Kate has a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Arizona and is a graduate of The Second City Training Center's IFA, Conservatory and Musical Improv Conservatory programs.

For more information on Spring and Summer offerings, see our full course schedules here.

Great Review for The Second City's BuzzKill

Maria's Space took a look at The Second City's BuzzKill, which comes out on DVD this Valentine's Day, and had this to say:

"The movie is funny, witty, smart and well acted." - Maria writes in her article

The Second City's BuzzKill is the story of Ray Wyatt, a failed screenwriter who is about to end his own life, when he gets a call from a Hollywood Producer who is interested in his script.

It's is a film about a dream, a twist of fate and an unexpected happy ending.

Read the full review at Maria's Space.

Read more about BuzzKill here

Teen and Youth Program Students Trying To Dance Their Way On To ‘The Ellen DeGenreres Show’

The Second City Training Center has always had an open door policy for 'Class Clowns.' Three students from the Teen/Youth program are no exception to that rule as they take on Ellen's Dance Dare Challenge. Check out the whole article here.

Want to let out your inner Class Clown? We have spring break classes and summer camps for kids and adults! Check out secondcity.com/tc or secondcitysummers.com for more details.

Past Student, Touring Company Alum, and "30 Rock" Cast Member, John Lutz, Discusses His Fear of Planes and Snakes with "Wired"

John Lutz gets deep about his fear of snakes and flying in this "Wired" article.

Lutz moved to Chicago with the goal of working with The Second City. He took classes with The Second City Training Center and later was invited to join the National Touring Company.

The Second City now offers Summer Immersions for adults in Improv, Sketch Writing, Music and more! Check out our weekly offerings here!

Getting Younger! We now offer classes and camps for Grades 2-4!

A fun filled seventy five minute class designed to introduce your child in the basic improv games used at The Second City. This class helps build your child's creativity and get them accustomed to working and sharing in a group environment. Classes are generally offered in 12-week session that ends with a brief demonstration performance of some skills they've learned! Next session starts in May!

Or sign up for March Break Camp – March Break 2012 dates: March 12-16

Explore the fundamentals of improvisation. Build self-confidence, listening and communication skills and develop creative thinking, team building skills and empathy. Focuses this March Break include character and status, working as an ensemble and creating scenes from scratch. All campers will see The Second City Education Company's newest revue "So You Think You Can Dance, With Wolves," and have a performance of their own on the last day of camp in our John Candy Box Theatre. We encourage new students to improv and experienced students to our March Break Camps!

A Dog Day With The Second City Training Center!

The Training Center staff spent the afternoon at the Chicago Canine Rescue last week and what a treat! We walked and (got walked) up and down the streets of the Forest Glen neighborhood by pups big and small.

The Chicago Canine Rescue was founded in 2001 to help find permanent, loving homes for homeless dogs in our city. CCR has saved the lives of over 3,000 dogs, cats, kittens (yes, they've started helping a few felines each year, too!) and puppies. Check them out! Even if you can't adopt or foster, they are a great place to spend an afternoon walking as many or as few dogs as you'd like.

Thanks to the CCR for having us and we can't wait to come back!

If you are interested in joining The Second City Training Center Volunteer Organization, contact Natalie at njones@secondcity.com.

UP Comedy Club Hosts Series of Grand Opening Events

UP Comedy Club is proud to announce a full schedule of Grand Opening events in February celebrating their brand new theater at Piper's Alley (230 W. North Ave, 3rd Floor of Piper's Alley). Featuring new and familiar faces, UP Comedy Club celebrates the eclectic comedy landscape of Chicago with stand-up, improvisation, new theatrical productions and family programming. This hybrid club will feature an eclectic assortment of comedy 7 days a week with over 14 performances a week featuring headliner and alternative stand-up comedians on the weekends, with improvised and scripted comedies offered as matinees and midweek performances.

UP Comedy Club is located at the corner of North & Wells on the third floor of Piper's Alley which also houses The Second City e.t.c. Theatre and The Second City Training Center campus. Designed by Ryan Nestor of Barker & Nestor, the premier 285 seat space is a classic cabaret-style theatre featuring leather upholstered seats, cocktail service and full menu. UP Comedy Club is a fresh new addition to the Chicago comedy scene and boasts a warm and intimate space to enjoy comedy 7 days a week and features a delicious lunch and dinner menu with Windy City culinary favorites like Lou Malnati's Pizza, Vienna Beef sandwiches, and Eli's Cheesecake along with full service bar and no drink minimums.

"We see this space as a great opportunity to showcase and incubate new theatrical works as well as feature some of Chicago's and the country's funniest stand-up comedians," said Andrew Alexander, CEO & Executive Producer of The Second City and UP Comedy Club. "This eclectic approach to programming is unique to Chicago and we look forward to continuing our philosophy of nurturing young talent."

Listed below is a complete schedule of Grand Opening Events in February 2012 for UP Comedy Club:

Up Comedy Club Presents
Grand Opening - Friday, February 17 at 8:00pm

Cash Cab's Emmy Award-winning host Ben Bailey headlines the Grand Opening of Up Comedy Club Presents... with a host of Special Guests including Second City alum Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It Anyway?), Maribeth Monroe (Workaholics) and The Second City's Improv All-Stars cast directed by Mick Napier.

Sex, Love & The Second City
Press Opening - Wednesday, February 8 at 7:30pm

Join us for the Chicago Premier of Sex, Love and The Second City! The Second City delivers a new romp about the search for love in the digital age. Relationships. The Internet. Two of the funniest subjects in the history of the universe. Whether you've been poked, winked or tweeted - or even found love (gasp) the old-fashioned way - you'll LOL at this hilarious look at the technology that was supposed to make our love lives so much easier, but only made it that much more complicated. This new comedy also features some unpredictable and hilarious audience-fueled improv scenes and audience interaction that is guaranteed to make you :-) and a virtual appearance by Fred Willard! This is the perfect date night show or Girls Night Out! Its way funnier than anything you'll find on TV, but if you miss this, you won't find it on Hulu later. Weekend, midweek and matinee performances available.

The Second City's History of Chicago
Press Opening - Sunday, February 19 at 1:00pm

For over 50 years The Second City has been making fun of all things Chicago. From Ditka to Daley, Blago to the Bean - we have a civic history that is filled with characters and comedy. Featuring a mix of archival and original material as well as classic Chicago video moments, The Second City's History of Chicago gives audiences a hilarious and unorthodox history lesson of the Windy City. The Second City's History of Chicago is not just for tourists - Chicagoans will love the inside perspective on some of our favorite Chicagoisms. Weekend, midweek and matinee performances available.

The Second City's Improv All-Stars
Press Opening - Monday, February 13 at 8:30pm

See Chicago's finest improvisers under the direction of the legendary Mick Napier in an evening of unscripted and unequaled improvisational comedy. This show is highly interactive, unpredictable and thoroughly original which makes for a high energy, hilarious "edge of your seat" show.

Improv Extravaganza Explosion!
Press Opening - Saturday, February 11 at 11:00am

Improv Extravaganza Explosion! is a hilarious action-packed hour of family-friendly, interactive improvisation where we pull ideas straight from the audience, and make it all up on the spot. The best part is that you never know what might happen! Second City is thrilled to now offer school groups and youth groups the chance to see creativity and imagination celebrated at its best with matinee performances perfect for school and youth groups. Great for ages 8 - 80.

Tickets are now on sale for all events at UPComedyClub.com.

UP Comedy Club Featured in Time Out Comedy Issue

UP Comedy Club is featured in this week's issue of Time Out Chicago which focuses on the Chicago comedy scene. Click here to check out article by Jason Heidemann.

Second City Alum Mike O'Brien Featured in New York Times

Check out this New York Times feature on Second City mainstage alum Mike O'Brien as he talks about his hilarious web series, 7 Minutes in Heaven. Click here to read the full article.

Second City Alums and Teachers Recognized in Newcity's List of Top 50 Performers in Chicago Theatre

Congrats to a host of Second City folks who were named to New City’s Top 50 Players in Chicago Theatre list. The list includes current mainstage director Billy Bungeroth, Second City Training Center teacher Jet Eveleth and alums Mick Napier, Dexter Bullard, TJ Jagodowski and David Pasquesi.

Read the full list here