Classes & Attendance

We try to keep your class days and times consistent through each term. Please arrive on time for all of your classes. The instructor has the right to refuse late students.

Make Up Classes
A-C Intensives: If you are signed up for an intensive, missing a class is highly discouraged and difficult to make up. Please refer to your schedule before registering.

Stand Up: If you miss a Stand Up Class please email your instructor to get the assignment.

Writing I - IV: Please make up the missed classed as soon as possible. You are able to do a make up class in the same level you are enrolled in, or any of the levels you have previously completed. Bring your assignment to the make up class.

Writing V & VI: If you miss a class in Writing V or VI please email your instructor to get the assignment.

Conservatory Levels 1-6: In any Conservatory Level you can always do a Monday Night Clinic to make up your missed hours. You are also required to check in with your instructor and find out how to make up the missed assignments

Level A-E once a week classes:  If you miss a class, make it up!  You are permitted to miss a maximum of 3 homeroom classes (the class you are registered in).  You are also only permitted to do a maximum of 2 make up classes in a term.  So essentially you can still have 1 unmade up class at the end of the term.  Please note, your instructor may not be able to assess you fully if you are missing classes which may prevent you from moving forward.  Choose a date and time that works best for you!

Youth & Teen once a week classes: We know you guys are busy!  If you miss a class here or there, you are encouraged to make it up in another class at the same Level.  However if you are unable to, it is not detrimental to you continuing in the program.  If you miss more than 5 in a 14 week term, then we should chat about finding a class that works better with your schedule.

Missing Classes
Missing more than two of your scheduled class times may be grounds for repeating a term. Even though a student may make up their missed classes, the student is also required to be part of an ensemble. Missing regularly scheduled classes jeopardizes involvement with the ensemble group that each class forms.

Making Up Classes
A current class schedule is available in the Training Centre and on our website. If you are in Level A or Level B you can also do the Monday Night Drop In as a make up class. If you are in Level C, D, or E you can do The Clinic as a make up class. If you are uncertain about when you can make up a class, call the Training Centre office. If the class is filled with makeup students and is too large, or the class is preparing for a performance, an instructor may ask you to observe the workshop only, rather than participate. Please note: Level E students cannot do a make up in another Level E class. They are permitted to do a make-up in a Level A-D class or take The Monday Night Clinic.

To do a make-up
Choose a class to attend, show up, and tell the instructor who you are and your homeroom class. Make sure the instructor marks your attendance so that the office can check it later. Make-up classes are best done from the third to the eighth week of classes. (If you miss a class in the first 2 weeks, please wait to make it up) All make-up classes need to be done in the same session as the class you've missed. (You may not carry it into the next session.)

Switching Class Times
Once you are enrolled in your class, you are expected to attend at the same time and place each week. If your schedule changes and it is impossible for you to attend your scheduled class time, let us know as soon as possible. We will attempt to place you in a new class time which is convenient for you. If other classes within your level are full, you may need to wait a term or even two, to get a suitable time. Any student who switches class times/days without permission from the Training Centre automatically terminates her/his placement in the program and forfeits his/her tuition as a credit for future classes.

Required Classes
The Second City Training Centre reserves the right to require writing and/or voice or acting classes for individual students as needed. Should an individual not complete any required class, The Training Centre reserves the right to hold the student back a term until the requirement is satisfied.

Returning Students
Sometimes a student may wish or need to take time off from The Training Centre due to personal reasons. Should this occur, please contact The Training Centre staff immediately. Please be informed that when you return, the Training Centre will place you at its discretion.  Students who leave during the Conservatory Program may be asked to re-audition.  Returning students must pay the tuition rate that is applicable to the time of rejoining The Training Centre. Any student returning after more than one (1) year of absence is required to rejoin the program at a level determined by The Training Centre.

Substitutes
A substitute teacher may be necessary due to the fact that our faculty is comprised of working artists.

Immediate Dismissal
If at any point during class, the instructor feels that a student is engaging in behaviour which is dangerous or highly disruptive to the classroom ensemble, the instructor may require that the student leave the classroom for the remainder of that day's class. Students dismissed from class in this manner may not return to their regular class until they have spoken with someone from the Training Centre office. Behaviour which would result in immediate dismissal includes but is not limited to violence, inebriation, or other actions which are disruptive to the work of the class.

Warnings
Students who display behaviour which an instructor deems to be detrimental to the progress of their ensemble may be issued a warning. The instructor gives the warning verbally and then notifies the Training Centre office. If a student receives more than one warning for similar issues, the Artistic Director will be notified and appropriate action will be taken. Depending on the circumstances, students may be required to transfer classes, repeat a term, take a leave of absence from The Training Centre or to leave the Training Centre permanently. Warnings may be given for excessive lateness, for missing more than one of the scheduled classes (even excused absences), inappropriate classroom behaviour, inability to keep up with class progress.

Things You Should Know

Improv Shows
We highly recommended that you see at least some of each term's Student Performances. They are every Wednesday night at 9pm in The John Candy Box Theatre and Sunday afternoons at 3pm in the Mainstage Theatre at 51 Mercer Street. Admission is PWYC. Bring your friends to catch some great improv. Improv sets after the Mainstage show are FREE to everyone! They run Monday thru Friday at approximately 9:45pm, Saturdays at approximately 12:30am, Sundays at 8:45pm.  Seating is based on availability, so you may want to arrive a bit early to make sure you get in. Being a student of the Training Centre does not get you priority seating for the improv set. Call the box office at 416-343-0011 to make reservations for a Mainstage Show. See Below for Training Centre Student Discounts. Shows sell out quickly so call in advance!

Bulletin Boards
There are bulletin boards in the Training Centre corridor. We post important schedule and calendar information, audition notices, performance schedules, and any other cool stuff we feel you should know about. Make it a point to read them. Any student wanting a flyer posted should submit 2 copies to the Training Centre office.

Clothes
Wear comfortable clothing - something you can roll around the floor in and not worry about. You should wear non-slip shoes. Be prepared to make yourself feel warmer or cooler, no matter what the weather may be like outside.

Valuables
Crime is part of life in the big city; try not to bring anything of value with you. The Second City is not responsible for any lost or stolen articles.

Getting into a Second City Company
Many of the current members of the Second City Mainstage and Touring companies are graduates of The Training Centre. Conservatory Graduates are invited to audition at General Auditions every Spring.  However, you are not guaranteed a job with The Second City once you graduate from The Training Centre.

The Second City Student Discounts

Student Discounts -

Always mention that you are a TRAINING CENTRE Student when booking tickets for the Mainstage. Call 416-343-0011 for the Box Office.

FREE RUSH TICKETS for Training Centre Students!

Available 30 minutes before show time (subject to availability), on Sunday thru Thursday. Validated by showing The Box Office agents your Training Centre Student Card and photo ID. No other proof will be accepted.

If you are bringing a guest it's best to reserve in advance. Training Centre Students receive 2-for-1 tickets and the seating is guaranteed. Free Rush tickets is a great deal but seats are NOT GUARANTEED.

When additional offers or discounts for students come up, we will notify you by posting info on the bulletin boards or sending out an e-mail. Simply show your Student ID card to take advantage of them.

Second City Training Centre Students can also enjoy 10% off all beverages at Timothys Coffee (King and Charlotte St. location only).  Adult students also get a 10% discount off food at The Charlotte Room (19 Charlotte Street).

Suggested Reading List

The Second City Backastage of The Worlds Greatest Comedy Theater, Sheldon Patinkin
Improvisation for the Theatre, Viola Spolin
Impro, Keith Johnstone
Truth in Comedy, C. Halpern, Del Close & K. Johnson
The Comic Toolbox, John Vourhaus
The Playwright's Workbook, Jean-Claude van Itallie
SCTV -- Behind The Scenes, Dave Thomas
The Second City, Donna McCrohan
The Compass, Janet Coleman
Something Wonderful Right Away, Jeffrey Sweet
Handbook of Games, Neva L. Boyd
Acting, The First Six Lessons, Boleslavsky
The Actor At Work, Robert Benedetti
Act of Being, Charles Marowitz
Audition, Michael Shurtleff
Speaking Clearly, Modisett and Luter
The History of the Theatre, Oscar G. Brockett
Sanford Meisner On Acting, Sanford Meisner
Advice to the Players, Robert Lewis
Introduction to Stanislavsky, Sonja Moore
An Incomplete Education, Jones and Wilson
Comedy Is A Serious Business, Harry Ruskin
Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Hirsch
Musical Improv Comedy, Michael Pollock
Almanac of Improvisation, Anne Libera
Improvise: Scene From The Inside Out, Mick Napier

Helpful Links

Toronto Association of Acting Studios: www.torontoactingstudios.com

Canadian Actor Online: www.canadianactor.com

AMIS: www.amisontario.com

AACTION Bulletin Board: www.aactionauditions.com

ACTRA: www.actratoronto.com

EQUITY: www.caea.com

Theatre Ontario: www.theatreontario.org

Sears & Switzer: www.searsandswitzer.com