The Mary Scruggs Works by Women Festival (ScruggsFest)

Saturday, April 24th 2021!

The Second City Training Center in Chicago proudly presents The Mary Scruggs Works By Women Festival 2021. Back for its ninth year, the annual event features an evening of world premiere sketches and songs written by women and non-binary* student writers of the Second City Training Center, as well as a lineup of comedy workshops offered in the afternoon. This year’s festival will be held online.

*The Mary Scruggs Works by Women Festival exists to celebrate and amplify the comedic voices of more marginalized gender identities within The Second City Training Center community.

WORKSHOPS

We’ll show you how to write from abundance in order to land on a workable sketch premise quickly and easily. Come prepared to write and laugh!

Date: 4/24/21
Time: 1-2PM Central
Teacher: Delia Smith
Price: Free

Register here.

This hour long workshop will introduce participants to new ways of looking at the traditional comedic archetypes. We’ll focus on practical ways to use those archetypes in character creation for sketch and improvisation by thinking about commonly recognizable human traits that work across and outside of traditional concepts of gender.

Date: 4/24/21
Time: 2-3PM Central
Teacher: Anne Libera
Price: Free

This workshop is SOLD OUT!

Have you always wanted to try out improv? This workshop will get you up on your feet and take you through the basics of “yes, and” and heightening. Sign up and have the time of your life!

Date: 4/24/21
Time: 3-4PM Central
Teacher: Kimmie Companik-Warner
Price: Free

Register here.

Your friends think you’re funny. You think you’re funny. Now it’s time to try out Standup! In this workshop, we’ll cover basic joke structures and performance techniques. Take a chance on standup!

Date: 4/24/21
Time: 4-5PM Central
Teacher: Catherine Savage
Price: Free

Register here.

SHOWS

Writers/Show Winners: Charlsie Bastian, Meghan Baynes, Nora Coghlin, Maya Danzig, Rosie Kreitman, Kimberly Miller, Erin Olson, Lauren Polakoff, Allison Ristaino, Nikk Tetreault, Carrie Wagner
Director: Molly Todd Madison

“First Look” features the work of this year’s ScruggsFest winners! In “First Look” you’ll see a wide range of hilarious sketches. If you’ve ever wondered how a cruise line prepares its guests for an emergency – or if you’ve ever fallen in love with the FBI agent assigned to surveil your online footprint – this show is perfect for you. Join us for “First Look!”

Date: 4/24/21
Showtime: 7-8 PM on Zoom
Price: Free!

Register here.

Writers/Show Winners: Alia Bajorek, Renee Barry, Charlsie Bastian, Jenny Crowley, Kimberely Hosking, Lauren Kapinski, Lauren Liacouris, Alex Madda, Amy Maniscalco, Libby Marshall, Emily Sexton

“Green Light” features the work of this year’s ScruggsFest winners! “Green Light” is a hilarious sketch comedy show that features a variety of scenes. If you’ve ever wanted to be in a pitch meeting for the next “Final Destination” film – or if you’ve ever wanted to witness the havoc wreaked by an overzealous mom celebrating her birthday at Medieval Times – then you’ve gotta join us for “Green Light!”

Date: 4/24/21
Showtime: 8:30-9:30 PM on Zoom
Price: Free

Register here.

Pour yourself your favorite drink and come to the party! We’ll be honoring all the ScruggsFest writers featured in “First Look” and “Green Light.” Plus – we have a few more awards to give away. Hosted by: Jay Steigmann and Richard Scruggs.

Date: 4/24/21
Showtime: 10-10:30 PM on Zoom
Price: Free

Register here.