The Conservatory

Study improvisation as an acting technique and its use in the development of a Second City-style revue in this advanced program, the cornerstone of The Second City Training Center. Students build upon the fundamentals of improvisation, advance their scenic and character skills, explore forms and styles and learn how to use improvisation to create material for a satiric comedy revue.

Performance: Students in Levels 3 through 5 perform throughout the term in Donny’s Skybox Theatre or the de Maat Studio Theatre. Level 6 students perform a weekly show in The Second City e.t.c.

$315/$285 early registration per level, 8 weeks, 3 hours

2012 Conservatory Audition Dates
February 3, 2012 (audition sign-up opens January 20)
March 30, 2012 (audition sign-up opens March 16)
June 1, 2012 (audition sign-up opens May 18)
July 27, 2012 (audition sign-up opens July 13)
September 28, 2012 (audition sign-up opens September 14)
November 30, 2012 (audition sign-up opens November 9)

If you have not completed the prerequisite requirements at The Second City, please submit your information via this submission form and your approval to audition will be confirmed or another program will be recommended for you. Students who have completed part of all of the audition requirements at The Second City should submit the form or contact the Training Center to ensure the audition approval is placed on their student record.

Audition sign-up will be available online or by calling the Training Center. See the dates above for when sign-up opens.

Audition sign-up is available HERE.

Current Conservatory students can REGISTER FOR CLASSES HERE.

Level 1 (audition required)

Prerequisites: An audition is required for admission to The Conservatory. In order to audition, all students must have completed at least one full year of progressive improvisation training and at least one acting class at the post-high school level. If you have questions about your eligibility for the audition, please contact the Training Center.

Check out our audition guide for helpful information!

• Advanced improvisational scene work

Level 2

• Persona characters and the improviser as the actor.

Level 3 (audition required)

Prerequisites: An audition is required for admission into Level 3 of The Conservatory. Students will participate in a re-admission audition at the end of their Level 2 class.

• Acting and character.

Level 4

• Styles and forms.

Level 5

• Generating satirical material.

Level 6

• Creation and performance of a revue.