Philadelphia Theater Co Presents THE SECOND CITY, Closes 7/25

Back by popular demand, Philadelphia Theatre Company will present Chicago's legendary comedy theatre THE SECOND CITY from July 13 - 25 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). This special performance will feature some of the best sketches, songs, and improvisations from The Second City's 50 year history. Dipping into the past as a bridge to the present, the show will feature scenes created by Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Tina Fey, as well as a talented new generation of comedians.

With a special preview performance on Tuesday, July 13 at 8:00 PM, performances are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 8:00 PM, Saturdays at 2:00 and 8:00 PM, and Sundays at 3:00 and 7:00 PM. Opening night is Wednesday, July 14 at 8:00 PM.

Tickets are $20 each for the first Tuesday preview and $41 for all other performances. Tickets, which go on sale February 15, are available by calling the PTC Box Office at 215-985-0420 or visiting PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.

The Second City celebrates 50 years of cutting edge satiric revues as well as their reputation as a launching pad for generations of comedy superstars. The Second City continues to develop the leading voices in comedy while touring the globe. Founded in Chicago in 1959, The Second City has become the premier training ground for the comedy world's best and brightest. Their alumni list reads like a Who's Who of American comedy, and includes: Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, Peter Boyle, Harold Ramis, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, George Wendt, Martin Short, John Candy, Bonnie Hunt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Horatio Sanz, Ryan Stiles, Jack McBrayer, Tim Meadows, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey and countless others.

"We are delighted to be working again with the talented folks from The Second City who were such wonderful and funny collaborators last year," said Sara Garonzik, PTC's Producing Artistic Director. "They helped us prove that July is the perfect opportunity for both theater and comedy-lovers to come down to Center City on a summer night to have laugh-out-loud fun!"

Philadelphia Theatre Company's season continues with the world premiere of Golden Age by Terrence McNally, currently running through February 14; Kathleen Turner in the world premiere of Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins by Margaret Engel and Allison Engel March 19-April 18; and August Wilson's first major play Ma Rainey's Black Bottom May 21-June 13.

Philadelphia Theatre Company is Philadelphia's only not-for-profit professional theater dedicated exclusively to producing world and regional premieres of works by contemporary American Playwrights. Sara Garonzik has been the company's Producing Artistic Director since 1982, and in 2007, Diane Claussen became its Managing Director. Philadelphia Theatre Company continues to experience ever-increasing national impact, having produced 34 world premieres of new American plays and musicals in its 34 seasons. Recent world premiere productions include: Unusual Acts of Devotion by Terrence McNally; The Happiness Lecture by Bill Irwin; Nerds://A Musical Software Satire by Jordan Allen-Dutton, Erik Weiner, and HAl Goldberg; Some Men by Terrence McNally (later produced at the Second Stage); Adrift in Macao, a musical by Christopher Durang and Peter Melnick (produced at Primary Stages); Bruce Graham's According to Goldman; Jeffrey Hatcher's A Picasso (later produced at Manhattan Theatre Club); Daniel Stern's comedy Barbra's Wedding (moved to the Westside Arts Theatre in 2003); John Henry Redwood's No Niggers, No Jews, No Dogs (later produced at Primary Stages); J.T. Rogers' White People; David Ives' Lives of the Saints; three-time Tony Award-winning Master Class by Terrence McNally, starring Zoe Caldwell; Bunny Bunny by Alan Zweibel (Lucille Lortel Award, 1997); and the American premiere of Birdy by Naomi Wallace, among others.

Philadelphia Theatre Company has received numerous "Best Theater Company" citations from media sources such as the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Magazine, Philadelphia Weekly, Philadelphia Style Magazine, and Philadelphia City Paper. Since 1995, Philadelphia Theatre Company has received 135 nominations and 36 awards from Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards.

Philadelphia Theatre Company is in its third season at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, designed by the award-winning firm of KieranTimberlake Associates LLP. This state-of-the-art venue on Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts was built as the result of an innovative partnership between PTC and Philadelphia developer Carl Dranoff. The project promotes the city's leading arts district both regionally and nationally and represents a model for civic development that capitalizes on the ability of the arts to reinvigorate urban districts for residential and commercial revival.

For further information on Philadelphia Theatre Company, call 215-985-0420 or visit PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org.

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