ML - Michigan Avenue

2014 - Issue 7 - November

Michigan Avenue - Niche Media - Michigan Avenue magazine is a luxury lifestyle magazine centered around Chicago’s finest people, events, fashion, health & beauty, fine dining & more!

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photography by the second city opposite page: billy rood Strong have stepped into the national spotlight. And with The Second City and its improv com- edy siblings (and rivals) the iO Theater and the Annoyance all undergoing impressive expan- sions, that number is likely to just keep growing. It all started in the 1950s with the formation of the Compass Players, a group of University of Chicago students and dropouts (including Mike Nichols and Elaine May) who used improv tech- niques taught by innovator Viola Spolin to create scenes based on audience suggestions in the back of a Hyde Park bar. After disbanding, cofounders Bernie Sahlins, Howard Alk, and Paul Sills opened The Second City in Old Town in 1959; it was an instant hit that spawned early breakout stars like Joan Rivers and Alan Arkin, and later Bill Murray, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and many others. After iO came along in the early '80s, The Second City added the e.t.c. theater, a training center, and, most recently, UP Comedy Club. Now comes its biggest expansion yet: In August, The Second City announced it would extend its classroom facilities into the space once occupied by the adjacent AMC Theaters, growing The Second City Training Center—already the largest school of comedy in the world—by an additional 25,000 square feet when it opens in spring 2015, bring- ing the complex's total to 75,000 square feet. "Along with our neighbors the Annoyance and iO, [the expansion] definitely cements Chicago as the epicenter of this kind of work," says The Second City CEO Andrew Alexander, a Canadian-born producer who purchased the organization from cofounder Bernie Sahlins in 1985. "There's no other city in the world that has such an infrastructure in terms of giving performers an opportunity for finding a way into this world, and so I think it has definitely put us into a world-class level." When it comes to local expansion, The Second City is technically following the pack. After find- ing out her longtime home in Wrigleyville would be leveled to make way for new development, iO cofounder Charna Halpern got to work on the group's massive new space in the Clybourn Corridor, which was unveiled in August. The organization iO differs from The Second City in that it eschews short-form exercises, or "games," in favor of the long-form structures perfected by late improv guru Del Close; the group's impres- sive 40,000 -square-foot complex boasts additional classrooms, four theaters, a full-service bar, a kitchen, and event space. Timber ceilings and skylights abound, and Jagodowski and local legend Dave Pasquesi (TJ & Dave) have been given full artistic reign over one theater. It's not hard to imagine great things happening here. "Chicago really is Mecca, and everyone's being affected by it," says Halpern. "Everyone knows Annoyance Theatre Northside institution famous for boundary-pushing theatricals. 851 W. Belmont Ave., 773-697-9693; annoyancetheater.com Chicago Underground Comedy Scene stalwart and home to alternative stand-up. Every Tuesday at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., 773-281-4444; chicagoundergroundcomedy.com The Comedy Bar Vegas-style stand-up club co-owned by Jim Belushi. 157 W. Ontario St., 773-387-8412; comedybarchicago.com The ComedySportz Theatre Short-form improv shows suitable for the entire family. 929 W. Belmont Ave., 773-549-8080; comedysportzchicago.com Comedians You Should now Slickly produced downtown joint for local stand-up. Every Wednesday at Timothy O'Toole's. 622 N. Fairbanks Ct., 312-642-0700; comediansyoushouldknow.com iO Theater Premier practitioner of long-form improv, plus sketch and more. 1501 N. Kingsbury St., 312-929-2401; ioimprov.com Jokes and Notes Bronzeville stand-up club and place to see South Side greats. 4641 S. King Dr., 773-373-3390; jokesandnotes.com Laugh Factory Slick Hollywood offshoot where local comics perform nightly. 3175 N. Broadway St., 773-327-3175; laughfactory.com The Lincoln Lodge The city's long-running home for alt stand-up comedy. Every Friday at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., 773-278-6600; thelincolnlodge.com pH Comedy Theater Andersonville theater devoted to zany parodies and high-energy improv. 1515 W. Berwyn Ave., 773-961-8214; whatisph.com Playground Theater Unfussy and unpretentious incubator for local improv talent. 3209 N. Halsted St., 773-871-3793; the-playground.com The Second City Mainstage and e.t.c. theaters Home to satirical sketch comedy revues featuring future SNL tal- ent. 230 W. North Ave., 312-337-3992; secondcity.com UP Comedy Club A hybrid room mixes headlining stand-up with sketch and variety. 230 W. North Ave., 312-662-4562; upcomedyclub.com Zanies Iconic stand-up club where legendary greats frequently perform. 1548 N. Wells St., 312-337-4027; www.zanies.com Comedy 101 These 14 essential venues are Chicago's headquarters of comedy. John Candy and Bill Murray (seen here in 1973) rose to fame as performers at The Second City. "I would lIke to play a black james bond. It's tIme, people!" –Chris Redd 116  michiganavemag.com

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