The Second City

The Second City is a theater group in Chicago. The troupe is the most well known outside of Chicago, based in the city's theater group. Under the same name and taking cue from the Chicago group is a group in Toronto has emerged that produced the television show Second City Television.

The group was founded in Chicago in 1953 as Playwrights Theatre Club. The current name comes from an article in the New Yorker magazine about Chicago, which was published in 1949. It is used since the year 1959.

Instead of traditional pieces to play is improvised.

Many former members of the group have subsequently starred in the television comedy show Saturday Night Live. Well-known former members include, without limitation:

• Alan Alda
• Dan Aykroyd
• Ed Asner
• John Belushi
• Shelley Berman
• Stephen Colbert
• Tina Fey
• Bonnie Hunt
• Elaine May
• Bill Murray
• Mike Nichols
• Gilda Radner
• Harold Ramis
• Joan Rivers
• David Rasche
• Horatio Sanz
• Ryan Stiles (Toronto)
• Rebel Wilson
• Mike Myers
• Dan Bakkedahl