The world-famous Second City theatre is proud to announce the launch of "The Second City's Neighborhood Tour." This humorous and historic walking tour of Chicago's Old Town neighborhood will begin on July 19th, 2009 at 4pm and will continue every Sunday and Wednesday through October 4, 2009.
The Second City has been a cornerstone of Old Town for several decades, so it is appropriate that they show off their home turf. Written by Margaret Hicks, an experienced Chicago tour guide and writer, the tour both entertains and informs while highlighting the architecture, history and development of Old Town as well as various Second City alumni haunts and the stories that go with them.
The walking tour begins outside The Second City theatre on North Wells Street and will wind its way through the Old Town neighborhood. The tour ends inside The Second City theatre and will give patrons the chance to view the lobby photo display that documents 50 years of comedy at The Second City
"We're thrilled to present this smart and funny tour of our Old Town neighborhood, especially as the theatre enters its 50th year," says Jenna Altobelli, a Second City Producer overseeing the project. "We've always felt that having fun and being smart don't have to be mutually exclusive and we really wanted to showcase our neck of the woods. So many great Chicago stories have sprung from this part of the city and so many of our alumni have been fixtures in the neighborhood - it's a great fit." Tour writer and guide Margaret Hicks adds, "The great thing about The Second City tour is that it has the history and architecture facts that you can get on other tours, but it's also very dynamic and a lot of fun. We don't mince words and we love to laugh - it's a tour in the classic Second City style."
On December 16, 1959, The Second City began producing cutting-edge satire and wickedly funny improvisation, creating a template for thousands of actors, comics, writers and directors across the nation and the world. The influence of The Second City has permeated the skin of our culture, as seen in countless films and television series. A quick look at the alumni of The Second City shows the tremendous influence the theater has had:
Alan Arkin,
Dan Aykroyd,
John Belushi,
Peter Boyle,
John Candy,
Steve Carell,
Stephen Colbert, Chris Farley,
Tina Fey,
Robert Klein, Shelley Long,
Bill Murray,
Mike Myers,
Gilda Radner,
Joan Rivers,
Martin Short and
George Wendt. The Second City has made its living on the unshakable belief that the audience is as smart as you let them be, that the actors need to work at the top of their intelligence, and that there is nobility in goofing off.
Tickets for "Second City's Neighborhood Tour" are $15.00 per person. They may be purchased directly from The Second City box office at 1616 N. Wells Street, by phone at 312-337-3992, or via The Second City web site at
www.secondcity.com. If purchased over the phone there will be a two-dollar service fee. Tours can have up to fifteen participants and advanced reservations are recommended. The tours are every Sunday and Wednesday at 4 pm and last from one hour and 30 minutes to two hours. The walking pace is suitable for all ages. Additional days/times are available for groups -- call Jenna Altobelli at 312-664-4032 for more information or to request a special reservation for larger groups
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