The Second City is an improvisational comedy enterprise. It is the oldest improvisational theater troupe to be continuously based in Chicago, with training programs and live theaters in Toronto and Los Angeles. The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959, and has become one of the most influential and prolific comedy theaters in the English-speaking world. In February 2021, ZMC, a private equity investment firm based in Manhattan, purchased the Second City.
The Second City has produced television programs in both Canada and the United States, including SCTV, Second City Presents, and Next Comedy Legend. Since its debut, The Second City has been a starting point for many comedians, award-winning actors, directors, and others in show business, including Del Close, Alan Alda, Alan Arkin, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, John Candy, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dave Thomas, Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Colin Mochrie, Ryan Stiles, Mike Myers, Nia Vardalos, Steve Carell, Jordan Peele, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Stephen Colbert, Cecily Strong, Mae Martin, and Aidy Bryant.
David Shepherd, Paul Sills, and Howard Alk founded The Second City in 1959, taking its name as a self-deprecating reference to a number of articles about Chicago. Starting as a University of Chicago student group, the theater embraced improvisation and Viola Spolin's Theater Games, developing a satirical comedy style. It gained acclaim with a Broadway revue in 1961 and expanded over the years. In 2020, it faced criticism and leadership changes over allegations of racism, leading to initiatives for inclusivity. ZMC bought the theater in 2021 after putting it up for sale in 2020. In 2022, The Second City announced its expansion to New York City, opening a new venue in Williamsburg in November 2023. The plan for reopening a Los Angeles location was later abandoned in June 2023.
