Theater FAQs
The Second City does not admit children under the age of 13 unless specifically noted. Children 13-17 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
You can purchase tickets online at www.secondcity.com, over the phone at 800-896-8120, or in person at our box office. Tickets can be purchased with all major credit cards and with cash in person.
All tickets are General Admission at this time. When you arrive at the theater, our House Manager will assign you a seat based on your time of arrival and how many parties are expected for that performance. All seating is based on the discretion of the House Manager.
When you arrive at the theater, our House Manager will assign you a seat based on your time of arrival and how many parties are expected for that performance. All seating is based on the discretion of the House Manager.
Our tables are closer together because it’s a nightclub. You’ll always be seated with the people you came with, but expect to make some new friends, too.
When a couple hundred people enter a small room at once, the temperature increases anywhere from 8 to 12 degrees…quickly. Even the finest HVAC systems in the world can’t handle that kind of rapid transition well.
It’s also important to consider that the temperature *on stage* is dramatically different for the actors than it is for you, our audience. Not only are they under hot lights, but they’re constantly moving around…and no one bought tickets to watch a bunch of overheated actors pouring sweat.
So bring a jacket!
The Second City does not allow for any refunds. All sales are final. In rare cases, and based on availability, we may be able to move your ticket to a future show.
The Second City respects the individual needs of every single guest who joins us for an experience, including guests requiring accessibility accommodations. The Second City offers services, which can be found on our accessibility page and requested in advance by contacting our Customer Service Team 7 days a week.
By Phone: 800-896-8120
By Email: You can also send a request via email to customerservice@secondcity.com
When requesting access or purchasing tickets to an accessible show, please indicate which service(s) you are in need of for us to best accommodate you. We look forward to welcoming you!
First, let’s define a few terms so we’re all on the same page:
Sketch comedy: Scripted, well-rehearsed scenes that we never, ever call “skits.” (And most of us are mighty touchy about that one.)
Improv: The unscripted, spontaneous, collaborative art form Second City is famous for.
Stand-Up: The classic one-comic-on-stage-with-a-mic-telling-jokes routine. Think Jerry Seinfeld against a brick wall.
A classic Second City revue is made up of original sketches and songs sprinkled with a healthy dose of our world-famous improv. Second City productions are fully written and rehearsed, but no two shows are ever the same.
Our resident stages feature Second City’s headline performances and professional Second City talent. Revues showcase a collection of comedic scenes, characters, songs and more that have been honed and developed by our world-class ensemble. Revues at Second City are hilarious, thoughtful, smart and polished, and they often feature moments of unscripted improvisation, creating a one-of-a-kind night of live theater. These theaters are not available to rent for outside performers.
Our studio theaters may feature:
– Guest Performances: These non-Second City productions are original works created and produced by guest performers and ensembles. With limited runs in The Second City’s Studio Theaters, these performances allow for complete creative freedom and may feature artists of any experience level.
– Training Center Student Performances: These performances feature Second City Training Center students currently enrolled in classes and showcase the skills developed through our various creative programs, including improv, acting, stand-up, music and more.
– Training Center Productions: These are ongoing weekly performance opportunities meant to give Second City Training Center students and graduates more experience on stage.
These theaters are available to outside performers to rent. If you would like more information on renting a studio theater, please contact Stephanie Case at scase@secondcity.com.
We are a casual establishment. You are welcome to get swanky or get comfy in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Whichever way you’re comfortable.
Call a Customer Service Representative at 800-896-8120 during regular business hours. You can also send us a chat from 9am-10pm CST Monday through Thursday and 9am to 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. These are real humans happy to help answer all of your questions. Just click the red chat icon located on the lower right corner of our website.
Classes FAQs
It depends what you’d like to do. The Improvisation Program is a great jumping off point. We also have Improv for Anxiety, Public Speaking and Acting as great first options. Or if you’re looking to go the writing route, we have the Writing or Stand Up Programs. If you have completed a full year of improv training (equivalent to our Improv Program) from another training centre and you have completed a post secondary acting course, then you are eligible to submit for our Conservatory Program. If you need any help deciding which classes to take, just give us a call at 416-343-0011. We will always be happy to chat with you about your interests and goals and figure out the best place for you to begin.
While both of these core programs use similar improvisational techniques derived from the teachings of Viola Spolin, the focus for the performer is different. In the Improv program, we teach you how to work, play & perform without a script. In the Acting program, we show you how to use those improv skills to be a better, more present actor. Later levels of the Acting program also incorporate scripts and memorized text including scenes from the Second City Archives.
Only some advanced programs like the Sketch Conservatory require auditions, though some specialized classes and workshops may have prerequisites.
Because the Training Center itself is not an accredited institution of higher learning, just an awesome professional training center, students are generally ineligible for college credit. We also cannot file the paperwork for international students to obtain student visas. However, if you are currently enrolled in college, we have this amazing program called Comedy Studies which is an accredited college program that we run in Chicago in partnership with Columbia College. This is a semester-long study in comedy for which students do receive college credit
We offer classes in our Kids and Teens Program for students ages 4-18. Students must be at least 19 to attend classes in our adult programs or at least a high school graduate, but there is no upper age limit. Even Betty White could come take a class (although we know she doesn’t need it)!
We require payment at the time of registration in order to hold your spot in the class. Tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable. We accept Mastercard, Visa, Amex, cash, or cheque. PAYMENT PLANS AVAILABLE! Pay for your class in installments. Register online and set up your own payment plan, or inquire with the office.
Yes! You can find more information here.
Tuition fees are non-refundable and non-transferrable. If you have a conflict with your schedule, please contact our Customer Service team as soon as possible to see if any arrangements can be made. Transfers may be subject to a $25 transfer fee.
We have lots of classes, and sometimes we have multiple sections of the same class running at the same time. In those cases we add various words to the class names so you know which class you belong to. If you are continuing to the next level of a program on the same day and time, please enroll in the same word group.
If you have to miss a class, please reach out to our Customer Service team for options. We do not offer scheduled makeup classes but will assist you as best we can. Make sure to contact your instructor for any material you may have missed. Try to get to every class, so that you don’t miss class content, and can advance to the next level of your program!
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.
It takes a great deal of training and experience to become a member of our professional company. Most of the resident actors have trained and performed for a number of years before being hired by The Second City. Although many of the resident company actors are graduates of The Training Center, completion of any program does not guarantee employment with the company.
The most direct answer is the Conservatory, our cornerstone training program designed to give you first-hand experience in the Second City method. It caters to the aspiring professional, and it qualifies you to audition for our house teams and other advanced programs. Admission is by audition only and requires some previous experience, so you may need to start with training in our Improvisation program. However, great Second City actors also have to be able to perform scripted material and create believable characters on stage (try our Acting program), and on the resident stages they write their own material (try our Comedy Writing program). And they all have to be comfortable with music and singing (we have a variety of music classes!). These programs can be great preparation for the Conservatory, but students also frequently enroll in them after graduation from the Conservatory to round out their skills and deepen the understanding of their craft. The bottom line is all of the programs here will give you practical experience that will make you a creative powerhouse.