The Second City is celebrating 65 years, and they’re bringing their legendary laughfest to Paramount’s Copley Theatre, 8 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, for a two-week summer run, June 17-28, 2025.
The Second City 65th Anniversary Show showcases some of Second City’s audience’s favorite songs, sketches, and characters written by some of the famed company’s illustrious alumni. We’re talking comic legends like Catherine O’Hara, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Amber Ruffin, Stephen Colbert, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Tim Robinson, Joan Rivers, Eugene Levy, Adam McKay and so many more.
With material handpicked from Second City’s iconic comedy archive and brought to life by its all-star ensemble, audiences will see why The Second City remains the world’s most influential name in comedy for 65 years and counting.
Tickets are $43, and are on sale now at ParamountAurora.com, by calling (630) 896-6666, or in person at the Paramount Box Office, 23 E. Galena Blvd. in Aurora. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days. This production is for audiences 18 years and older. Children under 12 are not allowed. There are only 10 performances and they will sell out, so buy while you can.
About The Second City
Rooted in the groundbreaking improvisational games of Viola Spolin, The Second City opened its doors in December of 1959, and a comedy revolution began. 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 like Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Fred Willard, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi launched it into the international spotlight.
In 1976, Second City launched “SCTV,” one of the greatest sketch comedy series of all time, with 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 home to a world-class entertainment company, continuing to produce premier talent in all three of its locations--Chicago, Toronto, and Hollywood – and entertaining more than one million audience members a year. From Steve Carell to Keegan-Michael Key, Stephen Colbert to Tina Fey, Chris Farley to Mike Myers, Second City’s imprint is all over film, television, and beyond.
In addition, Second City Touring Companies perform electrifying revues and original productions across North America and abroad. Second City has partnered with organizations like Aurora’ Paramount Theatre, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Cruise Line, the New York Comedy Festival and the Chicago Bulls.
For more, visit secondcity.com.
About Paramount Theatre
Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., is the center for performing arts in Aurora, the second largest city in Illinois. The beautiful, 1,843-seat theater, graced with a strong 1930s Art Deco influence and original Venetian décor, nationally known for its high-quality productions, superb acoustics and historic grandeur, has been downtown Aurora’s anchor attraction since 1931. Since launching its own Broadway Series in 2011, Paramount has amassed more than 37,000 subscribers, making it the largest subscription house in the U.S.
Paramount Theatre is one of five live performance venues overseen by the Aurora Civic Center Authority (ACCA). ACCA also programs and manages the 165-seat Copley Theatre, home to Paramount’s BOLD Series, at 8 E. Galena in the North Island Center; Stolp Island Theatre at 5 E Downer Place, Suite G, with a critically acclaimed immersive production of Million Dollar Quartet; RiverEdge Park, downtown Aurora’s outdoor concert venue at 360 N. Broadway; and Paramount School of the Arts, all in downtown Aurora.
Paramount Theatre continues to expand its artistic and institutional boundaries under the guidance of Tim Rater, President and CEO, Aurora Civic Center Authority; Jim Corti, Artistic Director, Paramount Theatre; a dedicated Board of Trustees and a devoted staff of live theater and music professionals.
For the latest updates, visit ParamountAurora.com or follow @paramountaurora on Facebook and Instagram, and Paramount Theatre on LinkedIn.