Philly Theatre Co Welcomes The Second City 7/13-25

The summer sizzles with hot jokes and laughter at Philadelphia Theatre Company's special presentation of THE SECOND CITY 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR, running July 13-25 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets). This special engagement 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 drawn from the archives of skits by Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, and other comedy icons, as well as work by a talented new generation of comedians.

The ensemble cast will feature Edgar Blackman, Rachel Miller, and Katie Rich, who are all returning to Philadelphia after last year's successful run in the Philadelphia Theatre Company/The Second City co-production City of Nutterly Love. They will be joined by other Second City artists Abby McEnany, Tim Ryder, and Rob Belushi (son of Jim Belushi and nephew of John Belushi).

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. Friday nights will include an additional Third Act of improv featuring favorites from the local comedy community.

Tickets, at $20 each for the first Tuesday preview and $41 for all other performances, are available by calling the PTC Box Office at 215-985-0420 or visiting PhiladelphiaTheatreCompany.org. Tickets purchased before June 30 will include a voucher for a pre-show drink in the lobby.

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 simultaneously touring the globe with their original productions and revues. 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.
Founded in 1974, Philadelphia Theatre Company is a leading regional theater company whose mission is to produce, develop and present entertaining and imaginative contemporary theater focused on the American experience that both ignites the intellect and touches the soul. By developing new work through commissions, readings and workshops-alone or in collaboration with others-PTC generates projects that have a national impact and reach broad regional audiences.

Sara Garonzik has been PTC's Producing Artistic Director since 1982, and Diane Claussen became its Managing Director in 2007. Under their leadership, PTC supports the work of a growing body of diverse dramatists and takes pride in being a home to scores of nationally recognized artists who have participated in more than 130 world and Philadelphia premieres. In October 2007, PTC moved into a home of its own, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre on Center City Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts, solidifying the Company's status as a major player on the American theater scene.

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