New Students Virtual

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Virtual

Welcome, New Student!

Thank you for choosing to study with The Second City Training Center.

Take our new student quiz to find the perfect class for your personality and interests.

Recommended Classes for Beginners

We’ve got classes for all ages. Try one of our classes at the legendary Second City Training Center. Sessions start every few months and fill up quickly, so book your spot today!

Improv 1 (Online)

Improv 1 introduces students to the fundamental concept of “Yes, And” in improvisation. Through group exercises and games, students will explore impulse & spontaneity, listening, being present in the moment, taking risks, finding agreement (making & accepting offers) and other basic building blocks of improvisation, all in a supportive environment that embraces the idea of trusting yourself and failing joyfully.
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Good for: Improv

Writing 1 (Online)

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.

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Good for: On Demand

Acting 1 (Online)

Whether you’re interesed in acting or improvisation, we know that one of the keys to success is being present, connected, and grounded in the emotional reality of the moment. In a Second City mainstage revue, the comedy doesn’t just come from the written scenes, the jokes & the premises… the truly deep audience laughs that people remember for years come from great performances.
In our first level, we’ll help you immerse yourself in improv exercises designed to broaden your emotional range. You’ll discover how emotionally committing to a scene can help engage the audience, leading to truly memorable performances.
We’ll also explore recognizable human behavior, an essential asset for comedic actors, and start working with neutral scenes that can help you explore the dramatic side of comedy. We’ll touch on the work of Viola Spolin and Sanford Meisner as we explore established techniques in this level.
Our curriculum focuses on improvisation to help you master these skills, and we recommend students take at least one 7-week improv course before joining this class to get the most out of the experience. At the end of this level, you will be prepared to do a cold read at a mock audition using what you have learned.
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Good for: Acting

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