“The Best of The Second City” returns to the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) in time for Valentine’s Day, Saturday, Feb. 11 with performances at 5 and 8 p.m. It is the perfect date night or evening to enjoy with friends or that special someone. In the spirit of the weekend, Valentine’s-themed drink specials will be available.
“The Best of The Second City” features some of the best sketch comedy and songs from the legendary comedy company’s vaults updated for the modern era, as well as some new classics and trademark improvisation performed by The Second City Touring Company’s best and brightest.
For these performances the Chicago based cast will include the following:
• George Elrod, a DePaul alum who wrote and performed in Second City's first original LGBTQ sketch revue.
• Chas Lilly, a Chicago-based writer, performer, and improviser who recently produced the album “Us Who Know” for Chicago folk band The Q’s.
• Cat Savage, a graduate of The Second City Training Center’s Conservatory and Severn Darden Graduate Program, as well as iO’s training program.
• Annie Sullivan, a graduate of Columbia College Chicago who has been working with The Second City's Kid and Teen Summer Program since 2016.
• Max Thomas, raised on Chicago’s South Side, who has been seen at Steppenwolf Theatre, Black & Funny Festival, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Detroit Improv Festival, Boston Improv Festival and “Chicago P.D.” (NBC).
• Adisa Williams, a writer for YouTube News show, “Gay News” and actor/writer for web series “Bennie and Barbara,” who recently wrapped filming for Paramount’s “CBS Showcase” streaming Jan. 18 & 19.
Director is Jen Ellison; music director is Michael Oldham; stage manager is Kat Sparger.
Rooted in the groundbreaking improvisational games of Viola Spolin, The Second City opened its doors in 1959. The small cabaret theater has grown to become the most influential and prolific comedy empire in the world, developing an entirely unique way of creating art and fostering generation after generation of superstars. Co-founded by Spolin’s son, Paul Sills, along with Howard Alk and Bernie Sahlins, The Second City was experimental and unconventional in its approach to both theater and comedy. Almost immediately, alumni of The Second City, including Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Fred Willard, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, launched the theater into the international spotlight.
In 1976, Second City launched “SCTV,” which has been hailed as one of the greatest sketch comedy series of all time. The two-time Emmy winner featured an all-star cast made up of Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Catherine O’Hara, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, and Rick Moranis. Today, The Second City is a world-class entertainment company, continuing to produce premier talent. In addition to its stages, Second City Touring Companies perform electrifying revues and original productions across North America and abroad. The Second City has Training Centers in Chicago, Toronto, Hollywood, and online teaches thousands of students a year. The Second City Works is an industry leader in bringing improv-based methodologies to businesses and organizations of all types.
Tickets
The McAninch Arts Center, located at 425 Fawell Blvd. on the campus of College of DuPage, presents “The Best of The Second City” at 5 and 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11. Tickets are $30-$48. The Box Office is open Tuesday – Saturday noon – 6 p.m. and three hours prior to performance.
About the MAC
McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage is located 25 miles west of Chicago near I-88 and I-355 at 425 Fawell Blvd. It houses three indoor performance spaces (the 780-seat proscenium Belushi Performance Hall; the 186-seat soft-thrust Playhouse Theatre; and the versatile black box Studio Theatre), an outdoor venue, the Lakeside Pavilion, plus the Cleve Carney Museum of Art and classrooms for the college’s academic programming. The MAC has presented theater, music, dance and visual art to more than 2 million people since its opening in 1986 and typically welcomes more than 100,000 patrons from the greater Chicago area to more than 230 performances each season.
The mission of the MAC is to foster enlightened educational and performance opportunities, which encourage artistic expression, establish a lasting relationship between people and art, and enrich the cultural vitality of the community. For more information about the MAC, visit www.AtTheMAC.org, @AtTheMAC on Facebook and Instagram.
Support for the McAninch Arts Center is provided in part by the DoubleTree by Hilton Lisle/Naperville; Follett, WDCB 90.9 FM, a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the College of DuPage Foundation.
Established as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization in 1967, the College of DuPage Foundation raises monetary and in-kind gifts to increase access to education and to enhance cultural opportunities for the surrounding community. For more information about the College of DuPage Foundation, visit www.foundation.cod.edu or call 630.942.2462.