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Second City Works 
Second City Network Learn the basics of sketch comedy scenes, the building block of any Second City show. Study classic Second City scenes, use improv to develop scenes and write original sketches.
Please note that some of these classes will be delivered online.
Writing 1 is for any student who is looking to start the journey of writing to and for a Second City-style revue. This class is the foundation for scenic comedy writing, a guide for utilizing an improviser’s skill set for rapid creation, and learning writing refinement. The concepts and tools…
Writing 2 builds on the foundation for scenic comedy writing established in Writing 1 by expanding on scenic types, writing to cast and running order, and writing through collaboration. Writing 2 focuses on the construction of a sketch comedy revue running order. Students who understand the structure of a show…
Writing 3 builds on the exploration into a Second City running order established in Writing 2 by focusing on the various sources of scenic inspiration and delving deeper into satirical writing. Writing 3 addresses the satirical needs of a sketch comedy revue running order as well as the skills and…
Writing 4 completes the writer’s toolkit with advanced skills for achieving strong point-of-view and applying scenic writing skills to custom writing opportunities. Writing 4 is a culmination of the skills acquired through The Second City Writing Program. It is with this class that a student will be prepared to move…
Writing 5 focuses on generating and refining written satirical material that results in a fifty-minute sketch revue script. Writing 5 puts into practice the skills acquired from previous class levels to create and produce a Second City-style revue.
Students in Writing 5 learn how to complete a script for a Second…
Writing 6 is the culmination of the Writing Program guaranteeing the production and theatrical run of a Second City-style revue. Writing 6 focuses on producing a staged comedy sketch show by fulfilling production roles, writing to show and cast needs, and working with a director to mount a show properly…
Intro to Writing for TV & Film is for anyone who wants to learn the crucial basics of writing for film and television or anyone with a great idea of a movie who needs help putting it into (properly formatted) words. It gives you a strong foundation for TV and…
Level 1 – Write desk bits, remote segments, guest pieces, sketch and a variety of segments for shows like Fallon, Conan, Kimmel, Seth Myers, Colbert, Ellen and more. Pitch monologue jokes, brainstorm, explore and heighten material in this collaborative Writer’s Room environment. Create original material to strengthen your writing samples,…
Level 1- A spec script is an idea you have for an episode of an existing show (remember how you thought Liz Lemon should marry Pete Hornberger?). Learn sitcom story format, how to match the voice and tone of the show, how to give and take notes, and what the…
The Sitcom Writers Room is for improvisers who want to get a feel of what it’s like to work in a professional writers room. It is good for anybody who is considering moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in writing. This class provides life experience working in an…
Level 101 – Do you have an idea for a TV show but don’t know where to start? Comedy TV Pilots 101 is designed to give you the tools for converting your idea into an outline of your very own TV pilot. From character to relationship to story, each week…
Screenwriter’s Lab is a class for people serious about finishing their screenplay. Students will build on the fundamentals presented in previous screenwriting classes. This is a place for advanced students to continue their writing projects, revise completed scripts, or begin developing new work.
You’ll explore more of the architecture of a…
Interested in writing cartoons? This class will introduce you to the wonderful world of writing for animation. Learn about the animation production pipeline, how to break down episodic structure, and study show bibles to understand the unique opportunities and demands of the medium of animated tv and films. You will…
Just because it happened to you, and it revealed and taught you so much, doesn’t mean you can easily share those revelations with others. Essay writing is a very fine line between an emotional journal entry and “Wow! They said what I’ve been feeling this whole time!” How does Baldwin…
Join us in a 7-week class on creating your very own web series. With the success of web series like Brown Girls or Broad City, creating your own can jump start your career. We will learn about storyline, character development and dialogue, as well as focus on the logistics of shooting. Tell your…
In four consecutive weekly workshops, students will be familiarized with various TikTok trends and genres, become acclimated to TikTok’s analytics functions, and shoot and publish TikToks of their own. With an emphasis on one of The Second City’s core philosophies of “creating from abundance,” students will learn how to effectively…
To write for television one of the most important aspects to understand is structure. In this class students will watch and breakdown multiple television genres including sitcoms, hour long dramas, streaming series and more. Students will learn dramatic arcs, where and how to heighten stakes, character breakdown, how a pilot…
Like indoor recess for adults, Second City’s brand new online Writing Escape Series is the perfect way to break up the routine of physical isolation/working from home – all without leaving your living room. No prior experience is necessary for this fun, relaxed introduction to some of the skills of…
Over this four-class intensive, learn to write short, satirical pieces in the style of McSweeney’s, The Beaverton, Reductress, Shouts and Murmurs, and The Onion. Explore the elements that make for especially powerful, smart, memorable and ~funny~ humour writing as you and your fellow students workshop…
A seven week program to write, rehearse and perform a Sketch Comedy Revue designed specifically to exist in the now, online. Pitch, generate and refine hilarious, satirical scenes, songs and everything in between with resident director Carly Heffernan culminating in a final, live, online performance!
All students must have completed Conservatory…
Get ready to try an absolute abundance of tried and true exercises for creating sketch comedy. Leave the course not only equipped with these techniques for the future but with a list of amazing scene ideas/premises ready to go. Bye-Byeeeeee Writer’s Block!
About the instructor: Carly Heffernan is an award winning…
Over the course of 4 weeks, students will learn how to take their podcast from concept to reality. With weeks focusing on development, recording (gear, tricks, tips), editing, and branding your finished podcast, students will leave with enough information to apply to new or already existing podcasts they have.
4 weeks…
Do you like to make up funny songs in the shower? Or while muted on a boring Zoom call? Break up the monotony of physical isolation by making up songs with us! No prior experience is necessary for this fun introduction to writing comedy songs. Over the course of four…
Students living away from one of the Second City Training Centers can still study comedy sketch writing! In Sketch Writing 1 students receive individual instruction through online correspondence, exploring the fundamentals of character development and theatrical scene structure. Exercises include a variety of comedic genres, from “Simple Yet Impossible Goal”…
Building on Online Sketch Writing 1, students will continue to learn the universal comedy techniques used in mainstream media as well as focusing on satire, character development and rewriting.
Major Concepts: Short history of sketch comedy, relationship, game and blackout sketches.
Class Work Examples: 2-Person relationship sketches aren’t…
In Online Sketch Writing 3 you will continue building the blocks of a sketch revue! Explore sketch structures that “break the rules”, including blackouts and clothesline scenes. Expand your ability to collaborate with other writers as you learn the structure of a Second City sketch revue.
Major Concepts: Specialty…
The culmination of the Online Writing Program allows you to strengthen your own voice as a writer as you explore concepts of satire founded in historical and personal events. Gain new tools for rewriting your sketches to strengthen the point of view. This term includes special workshops in songwriting and…
In Online Writing for TV & Film students familiar with the Second City model of comedy writing will explore visual writing, story structure and character in preparation for creating longer works for TV and film. The class will read existing scripts, view film and television selections, and write and workshop…
A sellable screenplay = quit your day job. This class will help you create characters, understand structure & learn to pitch. You’ll end this course with an outline of your [awesome] screenplay idea as well as the start of your script.
This workshop is not offered every term. If you would…
Write monologue jokes, desk bits, remote segments, sketch and more for shows like Fallon, Conan, Kimmel, Seth Myers, Colbert, Corden, Oliver, and Ellen. Pitch monologue jokes, brainstorm, explore and heighten material in this collaborative Writer’s Room environment. Create original material to strengthen your writing samples, and produce the elements to…
Building on Online Writing for Late Night TV and Talk Shows 1, this class will consist of joke maximizers for monologue jokes, finding the angle for your joke, monologue jokes with visual punch lines, bits or mini sketches within a monologue, rants on a topic like John Oliver/Seth Meyers, coming…
Students of this class do not need to log in at a certain time or day for streaming sessions, as content, exercises and assignments are on-demand.
According to agents and managers, in order to break into Hollywood, it’s useful to have a spec script, an original pilot, a screenplay (if you’re…
In this four-week online writing satire course, you will learn how to form a strong comedic point of view on topical news and pop culture events. You will brainstorm, draft and rewrite short pieces in the style of McSweeney’s, Shouts and Murmurs and The Second City Network. Internet presence, pitching,…
This second four-week satire writing intensive builds on the concepts learned in Satire 1 and puts an increased emphasis on writing at a professional level. Students will keep a running pitch document, have access to exclusive interviews with top editors and satire writers working today, and create a website for…
In this two-month class, the final in the Online Satire series, students will complete a writing portfolio that showcases their voice and POV, work to create a professional network, and focus on pitching and submitting finished pieces throughout the course. Topics covered…
Cry ‘Til You Laugh! In this four-week course, you will learn to write about sad experiences either in your own personal life or through fiction. This class will also teach you how to add humor to your writing in order to provide some comic relief. Writing about emotional experiences can…
Just because it happened to you, and it revealed and taught you so much, doesn’t mean you can easily share those revelations with others. Essay writing is a very fine line between an emotional journal entry and “Wow! They said what I’ve been feeling this whole time!” How does Baldwin…
Netflix. Disney+. Apple TV+. HBO Max. Peacock. CBS All Access. Streaming content has made this the second golden age of television. 497 scripted shows were made last year. If you have an idea for a comedy or dramedy that you’d like to develop, this is the class for you. An…
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