Take a Virtual Class - The Second City

Conservatory level 1 is a deep dive into the Second City archives. Students study and analyze classic sketches to familiarize themselves with the satirical styles and genres presented on our resident stages across the years.

Students learn how to perform sketch by exploring the comedic structure of some of Second City’s most beloved archive scenes and study the elements of bold character creation.

Conservatory 1 meets once per week for 3 hours and culminates in one class performance of archive scenes during the seven-week term. This class’s show is scheduled for Monday, February 24, 2025 (dates subject to change).

Please note that this class will take place entirely online. You will be emailed a unique link for video conferencing the day of your class.

The Second City has been creating comedy through improvisation for 60+ years. Actors improvise ideas during rehearsals until they find a funny scene. This unique process has produced some of the greatest comedy writers of our time. Whether writing a sketch, screenplay, or performing improv, everything starts… with an idea.

In this 7-week course, you will learn the fundamentals of developing an idea into a premise, a premise into a pitch, and a pitch into a sketch. Below is a detailed outline of the main homework assignment and the theme for each week’s class.

Week 1: Ideas – 1 Minute Story

Week 2: Comedic Premises – 1 Minute Rant

Week 3: Pitches – Scene Pitches

Week 4: Dialogue – 1 Page of Dialogue – Opinion

Week 5: Behavior – 1 Page of Dialogue – Behavior

Week 6: Transformation – 2 Page Sketch – Transformation

Week 7: Location – 2 Page Sketch – Location

This class utilizes two platforms to engage with students: Canvas and Zoom. Each week’s lessons and homework assignments will be available on Canvas, while live classes with fellow students and the Second City instructor will be hosted on Zoom.

Each lesson on Canvas will unlock one week before the corresponding in-person Zoom class, including the first week. Additionally, homework assignments should be posted to Canvas 24 hours before each Zoom class.

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 are able to better write to the needs of a show and its cast. Writing 2 provides students with understanding of the different types of scenes found in a Second City-style sketch comedy revue. The lens of the course is focused on the Cast and the Characters. Understanding scenic formulas, writing to cast size, and character point-of-view. Students practice creating simple structures with relatable characters as they learn the building blocks of a sketch revue.Students in Writing 2 develop variety in their comedic scene creation by watching and analyzing a Second City-style revue and work on in-class exercises to write towards the need of a Second City running order. Students also work with one another to develop scenes as collaboration is a cornerstone of the Second City creation process.

Please note that this class will take place entirely online. You will be emailed a unique link for video conferencing the day of your class.

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 needs brought on by the varied talents of the cast. By filtering the lessons acquired in previous Writing levels through the lens of satire, students get better acquainted with the style and asks of a Second City-style show. Students examine various sources of inspiration such special skills of the whole cast, other cast members, and personal experiences. As students sharpen the picture of the elements and source of Second City material, they deepen their exploration and understanding of satire and practice several formats that support strong satirical premises. Students in Writing 3 continue developing variety in their comedic scenes by focusing on the needs of the cast and/or the running order. Students continue to work with one another to develop scenes by collaborating on varied satirical premises.

Please note that this class will take place entirely online. You will be emailed a unique link for video conferencing the day of your class.

Improv 3 takes the character work from Improv 2 and places it in the context of other key elements of dynamic scenes: who/what/where, beginnings & middles, platforms, setting, intro to tilts/routine breaking, and heightening.

Please note that this class will take place entirely online. You will be emailed a unique link for video conferencing the day of your class.

In Improv 4, you’ll explore advanced-level scene work and focus on synthesizing all the elements that go into strong, well-rounded, dynamic scenes: like character, emotion, ensemble, environment, relationship, status, transformation, and more. You’ll also continue to learn how to improvise group scenes, and receive an introduction to scene styles and genres.

This course culminates in a final performance that happens outside of class time. This class’s show is scheduled for Sunday June 16, 2024 (dates subject to change).

Please note that this class will take place entirely online. You will be emailed a unique link for video conferencing the day of your class.

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 City-style revue through comedic writing generated from individual contributions and group collaboration. Students take on production roles to better experience what it takes to mount a comedy show.

Writing 5 has students write a Second City sketch revue with considerations to running order, cast, variety, theme and other aspects investigated in previous Writing levels. Students hold auditions to cast their final scripted sketch show, which is produced and performed after Writing 6. In addition to completing a final script, students take on production roles to ensure that the show is mounted efficiently and effectively.

While there is no performance at the end of Writing 5, a script is created with the intent of being performed by actors after Writing 6.

Please note that this class will take place entirely online. You will be emailed a unique link for video conferencing the day of your class.

Learn how to write monologue jokes, desk bits, remote segments, guest pieces, sketch and a variety of segments for shows like Fallon, Kimmel, Amber Ruffin, Seth Myers, Colbert, Ellen, Noah, Oliver and more. Pitch monologue jokes weekly, 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 put together your pitch packet for a talk show.

Please note that this class will take place entirely online. You will be emailed a unique link for video conferencing the day of your class.

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 up with extra segments for celebrity guests, recurring segment ideas, Fallon-type games with guests, and Sweeps weeks/big ideas for the shows like Kimmel’s “Wall of America”. Students work together more in this level, and explore and heighten each others ideas in this collaborative writer’s room environment!

Please note that this class will take place entirely online. You will be emailed a unique link for video conferencing the day of your class.

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, and submission guidelines will also be covered.

Recommended next level: Writing Satire for the Internet Level 2.

Students of this on-demand class do not need to log in at a certain time or day (like our streaming class students do), as on-demand class content, exercises and assignments are available at your convenience with assignments due weekly. Weekly assignment due dates are unique to each on-demand class and are typically due Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays.

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 their work. They will learn new forms of satirical writing and focus on rewriting, honing their style, and developing their voice as comedy writers.

This workshop is not offered every term. If you would like to be informed when it becomes available, please click here.

Students of this on-demand class do not need to log in at a certain time or day (like our streaming class students do), as on-demand class content, exercises and assignments are available at your convenience with assignments due weekly. Weekly assignment due dates are unique to each on-demand class and are typically due Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays. 

Story is everything. Whether it’s inspiration for your next script to understanding yourself a bit better, learning what makes for a great story (and how to make it uniquely yours) is ultimately what allows us to connect, engage and understand what the heck this human experience actually is. This class is for both experienced writers/performers and novices. No previous writing or performing experience is necessary. By the end of this course, you will have a strong collection of stories to choose from for wherever your storytelling journey should take you next.

Please note this course culminates in a performance outside of class time. This class’s show is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2, 2024 (dates subject to change).

Please note that this class will take place entirely online. You will be emailed a unique link for video conferencing the day of your class.

The final level of the Grad Revue process provides students with the opportunity to experience the active rehearsal process of putting up a Second City-style sketch revue.

Improvisers who have become writers now become actors as they finish shaping their scenes based on their director’s guidance and audience-tested preview performances. Students learn the importance of running order and the technical side of the process including staging, lights and sound cues, and scenic transitions. Most importantly, students learn to create as part of an ensemble, yes-anding one another scenes and surrendering ideas for the good of the show.

Grad Revue involves significant work outside of the classroom. This level has has four previews and four performances; please note they take place outside of class time. These are scheduled for: Mondays, April 1, 8, 15, and 22, tech Sunday April 28, and shows Mondays, April 29, May 6, 13, 20, 2024 (dates subject to change).

Please note that this class will take place entirely online. You will be emailed a unique link for video conferencing the day of your class.

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 film writing, demystifies the language and process of writing, and gives you the tools to begin turning your great idea into the next Citizen Kane/Troop Beverly Hills (same thing).

You’ll learn about the language of film/TV writing, the importance of deadlines, the unique qualities of a cinematic story versus a sketch, lots of screenplay formatting, how and what to pitch, and the scale of your ideas.

You’ll watch films and TV shows with a critical ear for dialogue and structure, read scripts, learn how to pitch, pitch those great ideas, and create outlines or treatments for that million-dollar sitcom or film idea. Oh, and table reads!

This course is a great introduction to the Comedy TV Pilots and Writing for Late Night programs.

Brand new to the world of Improv? This 4-week Intro to Improv online course is perfect for beginners. Students will gain a basic understanding of improv fundamentals and collaborative creativity as well as strategies for learning improv in a virtual environment. Through a combination of self-paced assignments and interactive group sessions, this hybrid learning class will prepare students to start their improv journey with a solid foundation in The Second City tradition. Some of the topics covered include: Yes, And, Agreement, Play, Active Listening, Point of View.

Teen Sketch is a quick and fun entry into the world of sketch comedy writing. Part one of this three-part course is an exercise-based class WITH NO GRADES (woohoo!) that is all about generating ideas and exploring point of view while learning some terminology along the way. Homework includes in-class exercises, short writing assignments and posting on the Discussion Board.

Teen Sketch is open to students ages 15-18. No previous experience is required.

Recommended next level: Teen Sketch Level 2

Second City’s (virtual) Open Mic is back!

Every Tuesday at 8pm PST ● 10 CST ● 11 EST

The Comedy Gym Open Mic: Work out your bits!
Hosted by Tamale Sepp and Friends on ZOOM!
NO REGISTRATION NEEDED.
If room is not open 15 minutes after the hour, mic is canceled for that night.
Click here to join

Every Wednesday at 6:30pm PT ● 8:30 CT ● 9:30 ET

Hosted by Mayur Chauhan on ZOOM! Sign up for a CHANCE to perform. Stand-ups will be randomly selected and sent the zoom link a day before the performance.

Just want to WATCH? Simply sign up and enter “Supporting” in the “Performing or Supporting?” field! We’ll send you a link too!
Click here to join

The Homemade Jam is a fun, welcoming and encouraging improv jam for students of the Second City Community held on the first and third Friday of every month. It’s founded in Second City’s “Yes And, Creativity & Respect” philosophy and is led by Second City improv instructors Janet Davidson & Brie Watson. It’s a place to learn and grow from the comfort of home.

Sign up using this form and you will be sent the Zoom link to participate on the day of the jam.

Join Darcy Kendall for our virtual musical improv jam! Play, sing, meet new people… all from the comfort of your home. (No prior singing/music experience necessary.)

Sign up using the linked form and you will be sent the Zoom link to participate on the day of the jam.

In Online Intro to Comedic Songwriting you will learn to turn a strong point of view into a great comedic song. Work with classic song structures to strengthen your lyrics, and discover how melody and musical style can influence your songwriting. In this four-week online course, you will receive specific, personal feedback to improve your songs, whether you are writing lyrics or lyrics and music as well.

Students of this on-demand class do not need to log in at a certain time or day (like our streaming class students do), as on-demand class content, exercises and assignments are available at your convenience with assignments due weekly. Weekly assignment due dates are unique to each on-demand class and are typically due Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays.

This class teaches a solid, fundamental approach to acting that can be applied to any style or genre of material. After establishing a core process, put it immediately into practice by tackling different styles of scripts each week. Students learn and discuss key elements in scripts, as well as submit self – taped assignments with direct feedback from the instructor. Live one on one student/teacher checks-ins can be requested with your instructor by appointment if needed. Hone your process and then put it into practice through multiple genres!

This workshop is not offered every term. If you would like to be informed when it becomes available, please click here.

Join Kathleen Puls Andrade for an intensive look at the Voiceover industry and learn the skills needed to make it in this competitive field. You’ll be getting behind the mic (or phone, or laptop) to read scripts and get coaching and evaluation of your work. Then you’ll take the direction and do it again. You’ll also comment on and learn from the work of your fellow students. This is a work at your own pace class, while also meeting weekly deadlines just like you would in the business.

This class is open to anyone with an interest in Voiceover work or for anyone with an interest in bettering their communication skills for work or presentations.

You’ll learn:

• Copy Analysis
• Different kinds of script interpretation
• Understanding the message of the copy
• How your physicality affects delivery
• The Power of a Smile on the message
• Emphasizing keywords effectively
• AuditioningMic Technique
• Breathing effectively and supporting the voice
• Announcers
• Dialogues
• Gaming
• And much more!

Technical Requirements:

• Laptop or Desktop
• Music Stand (Optional)
• Audacity (Free Download, Optional)
• USB Mic (Optional)
• Video recording and sharing tool (ie. Youtube, Vimeo, Metacafe, etc)

Students of this on-demand class do not need to log in at a certain time or day (like our streaming class students do), as on-demand class content, exercises and assignments are available at your convenience with assignments due weekly. Weekly assignment due dates are unique to each on-demand class and are typically due Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays. 

An online, go at your own pace Personal Storytelling course.

Understanding the basics of a good, compelling story is essential to life, essential to connection, essential to whether you want to write a memoir, give a Ted Talk or share a story piece for The Moth. Understand your story and you’ll understand everything!

This online course is designed for any skill level – no writing or performance experience necessary. Once completed, you will have all the tools needed to craft your story in a compelling, engaging and passionate way.

Students of this on-demand class do not need to log in at a certain time or day (like our streaming class students do), as on-demand class content, exercises and assignments are available at your convenience with assignments due weekly. Weekly assignment due dates are unique to each on-demand class and are typically due Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays.

Develop yourself as a solo comedic performer by writing and workshopping your own material. By understanding how earlier stand-up comics evolved, students experiment outside their comfort zone and experiment in a variety of styles until discovering their own unique style. Students will be encouraged to perform in local open mics when possible, and upload performance videos to YouTube or Vimeo. They will also be required to provide both supportive and constructive feedback for their fellow students.

Each week will require 2-3 hours of time to read up on assignments, respond to classmates, and create material. Though it is strongly encouraged that you attend open mics, you can record your set at home.

Students of this on-demand class do not need to log in at a certain time or day (like our streaming class students do), as on-demand class content, exercises and assignments are available at your convenience with assignments due weekly. Weekly assignment due dates are unique to each on-demand class and are typically due Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays.

Do you have funny personal stories to share? In this four-week course, you will learn to write about humorous experiences in your own life. We will discuss how to make your stories interesting and relatable to other people.

We will brainstorm ideas and develop them into personal essays. You can write about daily observations or perhaps you have a larger, more important story you’ve been wanting to tell for a long time.

We will analyze personal essayists and what funny techniques they use to capture an audience’s attention. By looking at what gives other writers a unique perspective on life, you can develop your own voice as a writer. We will also discuss where you can publish these types of personal essays.

This course is for people who want to share their experiences while being funny at the same time. Everyone has a unique story to tell and this course will help you figure out what your story is and how to tell it in a confident manner.

There will be an online discussion board to create a supportive classroom community in addition to individualized feedback. No experience is necessary — all are welcome!

Students of this on-demand class do not need to log in at a certain time or day (like our streaming class students do), as on-demand class content, exercises and assignments are available at your convenience with assignments due weekly. Weekly assignment due dates are unique to each on-demand class and are typically due Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays.

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 help you understand your feelings and improve your quality of life.

Topics discussed will include sadness, relationships, anxiety, conflict, and anything else you would like to share. We will brainstorm ideas and develop them into stories. This course is for people who want to share emotional experiences while being funny at the same time.

We will analyze comedians and writers who speak in a truthful yet humorous manner for inspiration. By looking at what gives other writers a unique perspective on life, you can develop your own voice as a writer.

There will be an online discussion board to create a classroom community in addition to individualized feedback. We encourage all experiences and highlight the idea that there is no “right” way to express yourself creatively.

Students of this on-demand class do not need to log in at a certain time or day (like our streaming class students do), as on-demand class content, exercises and assignments are available at your convenience with assignments due weekly. Weekly assignment due dates are unique to each on-demand class and are typically due Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays.

Intro to Writing for TV is for anyone who wants to learn the essence of writing for television or anyone with a great idea for a series who needs help putting it into (properly formatted) words. This on-demand course gives you a strong foundation for TV writing structure, demystifies the language and process of writing, and gives you the tools to begin turning your great idea into the next Sopranos/30 Rock/Fill In Your Favorite Show Here.

You’ll learn about the language of TV writing, the importance of deadlines, the unique qualities of a televised story versus sketch, how and what to pitch, and the scale of your ideas. You’ll watch TV shows with a critical ear for dialogue and structure, read scripts, learn how to pitch, pitch those great ideas, and create outlines for that million-dollar sitcom.

Students can expect to review lectures, perform exercises/assignments and provide feedback to other students for 3-5 hours a week.

This courses uses our Learning Management System, Canvas. Students will also need a wifi connection, a computer, and access to basic writing software (Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Final Draft, or the like).

Students of this on-demand class do not need to log in at a certain time or day (like our streaming class students do), as on-demand class content, exercises and assignments are available at your convenience with assignments due weekly. Weekly assignment due dates are unique to each on-demand class and are typically due Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays.

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.

Class Work Examples: Week 2
1. Create a skillset scene based on one of the two skills you chose from the post directly below yours in the Discussion Board. Use that abundance work and take a big risk! Remember, no one is actually performing this, so you are free to write something wild. It doesn’t matter if the person who wrote the skill is a master or novice, or if you chose flame-throwing and the theater wouldn’t allow it.
Just write.

2. Freewrite for 10-15 minutes daily, and post those journals in the Journals Section.

Commitment: 2-3 hours per week, 8 weeks

Technical Requirements: Final Draft is always great, but sending scenes in PDF is required.

Recommended next level: Sketch Writing Level 4

Students of this on-demand class do not need to log in at a certain time or day (like our streaming class students do), as on-demand class content, exercises and assignments are available at your convenience with assignments due weekly. Weekly assignment due dates are unique to each on-demand class and are typically due Fridays, Saturday, or Sundays.

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.

Class Work Examples: 2-Person relationship sketches aren’t just scenes with two random people. The purpose of a relationship sketch is to explore the dynamics, emotions, wants and needs of people who are related by blood, are in a love or friend relationship or are even in work, school, neighbor relationships.

Choose a person from your life that you know very well. You have strong feelings for this person. Those feelings could be love or hate, but they are strong! For 10 minutes write about how you relate to this person. Is it easy–like this person can read your mind or finish your sentences? Is it hard–like this person misunderstands everything you say or constantly fights with you. Explore your history. Explore your feelings. How do you talk to this person? Do they have particular catch phrases?

The purpose of this exercise is to analyze YOUR OWN relationship in order to understand that a Relationship Sketch is more than two folks just making us laugh. The purpose is to explore how they relate or don’t.

Commitment: 2-2.5 hours per week (30-45 minutes for the lesson, 30-75 minutes for the assignment)

Technical Requirements: PDF-formatting software. Final Draft or any other script writing software (Celtx, Scrivener, etc.) is recommended but not required.

Recommended next level: Sketch Writing Level 3

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” to “Clash of Context” to “Inappropriate Response.” This course is conducted by e-mail and online correspondence with a Writing instructor.

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 your original ideas.

About the instructor: Sophie Kohn is a writer and comedian from Toronto. She was the head writer and editor of the CBC Comedy satirical website for four years, and her humour writing has also appeared in The New Yorker, McSweeney’s, and Chatelaine, and well as various programs on CBC Radio and TV. Her more serious long-form writing has been featured in Hazlitt, Outpost, and The Globe and Mail, and she was a finalist at the 2018 National Magazine Awards. Sophie performs standup regularly around Toronto and produces a monthly show called Forever Jung where comics do a set and then get analyzed by a therapist. She is a graduate of Second City’s conservatory program and Ryerson’s School of Journalism.

Please note that this class takes place in Central Time.

Discover the comedic magic of The Second City, where comedy writing meets improvisation in a one-of-a-kind creative process! For over 60 years, we’ve been honing our craft, using improv as our secret writing tool to bring laughter to our stages.
In our four-week Intro to Comedy Writing online course, you’ll embark on a journey to find your funny bone and unlock the art of writing comedy using improvisational techniques. From sketches to screenplays, TV pilots to essays, and even improv performances, it all starts with that hilarious idea. This course covers essential topics including: Point of View, Game, Satire, Recognizable Human Behavior, The Social Unconscious, and Meta comedy, introducing you to the tools to craft comedy that leaves audiences in stitches.
This hybrid class learning experience combines self-paced assignments, interactive group classes, and a wealth of curated written and video resources. You’ll share your work with the class weekly, receiving valuable feedback from your Second City instructor. You will be sent a Zoom link and Canvas login (our virtual class portal) prior to your first day of class. The expected time commitment outside of class is 1.5 hours per week.
Once you complete the course, your instructor will guide you on the next best step for your comedic voice to flourish. Whether you’re drawn to Sketch Comedy, Comedy TV Pilots, Writing Satire for the Internet, or Late Night TV content, we’ve got exciting paths awaiting your talent. Get ready to unleash your comedic genius in this fun introductory course. Join us, and let’s find the funny together!