## Overview The Second City is the world’s most influential and prolific comedy theater and school, renowned for its groundbreaking approach to improvisational comedy and its role as a launching pad for generations of comedic talent[2][3]. Based in Chicago with additional locations in Toronto, Hollywood, and New York, The Second City produces nightly live shows, operates a renowned training center, and has expanded into digital media, making it a vibrant hub for both live performance and comedy education[3][6]. ## What The Second City Does The organization’s core is live improvisational comedy—scenes and sketches created spontaneously, often with sharp social and political satire[3][5]. Beyond performances, The Second City runs a comprehensive training center offering courses in improv, writing, acting, music, storytelling, and production for all ages and skill levels, both in-person and online[6]. Its business model blends entertainment, education, and media production, including television shows like “SCTV” and “Next Comedy Legend”[3]. ## History Founded in Chicago in December 1959 by Bernard Sahlins, Howard Alk, and Paul Sills (son of improv pioneer Viola Spolin), The Second City grew out of the earlier Compass Players, America’s first improv troupe[1][2][8]. The name “Second City” was a tongue-in-cheek reference to a 1952 New Yorker article that derided Chicago as culturally inferior to New York[1][3]. From its small cabaret beginnings, the theater quickly became a comedy revolution, emphasizing ensemble work, collaboration, and spontaneity over traditional stand-up or scripted comedy[5][9]. ## Key Achievements The Second City’s most significant achievement is its unparalleled influence on modern comedy. Its alumni include comedy legends such as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Bill Murray, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and many more[3]. The organization’s