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.

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.

Teacher of the Week - Aaron Graham

The Second City is proud to spotlight Aaron Graham as the "Teacher of the Week"! Aaron has been teaching with The Second City since 2008 and has taught in the Music Program and more. In addition to teaching, Aaron is available to direct or coach teams or individuals in sketch, improv, or musicals. Aaron also recently directed The Fine Print Theatre Company's original holiday show "Christmas in Chicago" which ran for two weeks at Chicago Dramatists in December. For more info on classes, click here.

Aaron's Bio:
Aaron Graham is a Jeff Award-winning actor with over twelve years experience as an actor, singer, improvisor, teacher and director. He recently spent time working in Los Angeles where he performed at iO West, ComedySportz LA and The Second City Hollywood. His Second City credits include Jewsical! The Musical and Infinite Sundaes. He has worked with many Chicago theatres including Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare, Porchlight Music Theatre, Northlight and TimeLine, and is a proud member of the Story Pirates, a nationally-recognized arts education and performance organization. Aaron's directing credits include professional and student productions such as Listen Kid..., States: The Musical!, The Timeless Tale of New Portsmouth and Hollow Hills High School. Aaron trained at The Second City Conservatory, iO Chicago, Annoyance, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre LA and BADA. He earned his B.A. from Cornell University and is thrilled to be back in his hometown of Chicago.

The Second City Training Center Teacher of the Week: Alex Moffat!

Alex Moffat is excited to be teaching with The Second City Chicago's Teen and Youth Program. He directs the Teen Sketch Ensemble and teaches in the Stand-up, Improv, and Sketch Programs. A Chicago-area native, Alex recently closed a run of his solo show, Good Little Winnetka Boy, at The Annoyance Theater. He hosts El Show with Alex Moffat, improvises with Wonderbat, and is a founding member of the unstoppable improv group, "The Album". He also acro-dunks for The Chicago Bulls and loves his family. Come on up and say hello.

Classes begin this week! Check out our full Teen/Youth course guide here.

Former Student, Rachel Bertsche, Recommends Second City Classes In Her New Book

In a recent interview regarding her quest to meet 52 potential friends in a year, Rachel Bertsche found that taking classes with The Second City was a great way to do so because, "[T]here is a consistency there." To read more about her recently published book, MWF Seeking BFF: My Yearlong Search For A New Best Friend and The Second City Training Center, see the full article here.

"American Imperil" Makes Angeleno Magazine's Top 10 Events for January

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.

TribLive Interviews Second City Conservatory Alum and Present Touring Company Cast Member, Eileen Montelione

Eileen Montelione, a graduate of Second City's Conservatory Program in Chicago, was interviewed by TribLive Pittsburg regarding the recent Touring Company show. To learn how Eileen prepares for the improvisational portion of a show, read the whole article here.

Eileen spent over four years with The Training Center as a student, intern, and employee. Eileen has also taught in the Teen and Youth Program as an instructor in The Second City's popular summer camps.