FAQs
What does a typical week of Comedy Studies classes look like?
All classes are held at The Second City's Training Center at the corner of Wells and North Avenue in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. Classes generally begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. with an hour break for lunch at 1 p.m. A typical schedule might look something like this:
MONDAY
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Creating Scenes through improvisation
11:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. Physical and Vocal Training
LUNCH
2 - 3:50 p.m. History and Analyis of Comedy
4 - 6 p.m. Open time for rehearsals and DVD watching
TUESDAY
10 a.m. - Noon Context of Comedy
12 - 12:50 p.m. Writing Comic Scenes (lecture)
LUNCH
2 - 3:50 p.m. Acting Comic Scenes
4 - 6 p.m. Open time for rehearsals and DVD watching
WEDNESDAY
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Creating Scenes through improvisation
11:30 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. Physical and Vocal Training
LUNCH
2 - 3:50 p.m. History and Analyis of Comedy
4 - 6 p.m. Open time for rehearsals and DVD watching
THURSDAY
10 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. Writing comic scenes (lab)
LUNCH
2 - 3:50 p.m. Acting Comic Scenes
4 - 6 p.m. Open time for rehearsals and DVD watching
FRIDAYS: Almost every Friday throughout the semester, we will have special workshops and events for Comedy Studies students. These workshops are not required part of the cirriculum but are offered to Comedy Studies students as a way to enrich their experience during the semester. Past sessions have included workshops in musical improvisation with Second City musical directors, story theater with Susan Messing, talks with agents and casting directors, and special viewings of Second City archival material.
AFTERNOON REHEARSAL AND VIEWING TIMES: The Second City Training Center has free space available from 4 - 6 p.m. during the week for Comedy Studies students who wish to rehearse for class projects or to take advantage of the extensive on site library of past Second City revues, panel discussions at our 50th anniversary and many others.
Any suggestions on special items that I should bring with me to class?
Laptop computer and printer - most students find it more convenient to bring their own laptop and printer rather than using Columbia's facilities. The Second City does have a free Wi-Fi connection for students through the training center facility. If you choose not to bring a printer, there is a printer and copier available on site but you will need to have a current version of Adobe Acrobat to convert files to PDF to make sure that your scripts and documents are in proper format.
A small set of speaker that attach to your laptop and/or ipod - very useful in classroom presentations and for rehearsals.
A small stapler
Water bottle
Sticky socks - if you are uncomfrotable working barefoot in movement class.
Show clothes - for the final showcase performances during your last week of classes, you will want to gring a set of clothes similar to what our Second City resident company performers wear as their base costume in our revues. For men: generally a suit and tie with a solid colored shirt (a suit jacket with nice pants also works well) and dress shoes. For women: solid colored top with a skirt or pants (that aren't jeans or leggings) and dress shoes that you can move in (i.e. not flip flops, clogs, or insanely high heels).
Costume pieces - throughout the term you will have a variety of performance assignments, you may want to bring some costume pieces from home or budget to buy some while you are here.
Speciality pieces - if you have a talent like juggling or playing an instrument, you may want to bring along any related equipment because it could end up in your final performances.
Is there any recommended reading for the program?
The Second City Almanac of Improvisation - Anne Libera*
Process - Mary Scruggs and Michael Gellman*
The Compass - Janet Coleman
Days and Nights at The Second City - Bernie Sahlins
Improvise: Scenes from the Inside Out - Mick Napier
The Second City Unscripted - Mike Thomas
Something Wonderful Right Away - Jeff Sweet
Improvisation for the Theatre - Viola Spolin
Impro - Keith Johnstone
Truth in Comedy - Close, Halpern, Johnson
The Second City - Sheldon Patinkin
Mick Napier's mainstage journal: www.annoyanceproductions.com/mainstage.html
*These two books are required reading for the program. We will have them available for purchase here at The Second City.
