 |
| History |
 |
| TONY ALCANTAR (left) AND DAN CASTELLANETA (right) on the set of "Behind the Camera: The Charlie's Angels Story". In 1982 both Tony and Dan were students at the world famous Players Workshop of the Second City. Both went on to perform with the SECOND CITY, Dan in Chicago, Tony in Toronto. For 14 seasons and counting Dan has been a household "voice" as Homer Simpson on the wildly popular "The Simpsons" |
 |
| In 1991, a young skinny Sean Hayes (with braces!) studied under Tony at the Players Workshop of the Second City. Eventually the braces came off and the kid became a standout comic actor and Emmy Winner! |
 |
| ""Stephanie studied under me at the Players Workshop of the Second City in the 90's. She was (and is) one of the best character actress I know. I was honored to eventually perform with her several years later and was thrilled when she became a member of THE SECOND CITY in Chicago. It's no wonder that this versatile actress is a mainstay of MAD TV as well as a writer. Because of her past successes and amazing character work, I expect even greater things from her in the future. If you don't know her work, watch her show and keep an eye out for future successes!" |
| Since the late 50's Chicago and comedy have gone hand in hand. Born in the back room of a bar near the University of Chicago, THE COMPASS PLAYERS (with Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Barbara Harris, and Shelley Berman as the core) gave birth to THE SECOND CITY whose alum are beyond compare: Alan Alda, John Belushi, Dan Ackyroyd, Chris Farley, Joan Rivers, and Gilda Radner, to name few. When SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE searches for new comic talent it goes first to Chicago's THE SECOND CITY, so it's no wonder that their rost?ers have many of the same names! But where did these comic giant?s get their first training before THE SECOND CITY and SNL? In the early '60's Josephine Forsberg began teaching improv forming her Players Workshop of the Second City. It is here that many of those future Hollywood standouts got their "basic training" of improv which would serve them throughout their careers. Feeding THE SECOND CITY, SNL, and a vast array of Hollywood productions, this world famous school has among its thousands of students: Bill Murray (SECOND CITY, SNL, LOST IN TRANSLATION, more) Bonnie Hunt (SECOND CITY, LIFE WITH BONNIE, CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, BUG'S LIFE, JUMANJI, JERRY MCGUIRE, BEETHOVEN, RETURN TO ME, more) Rob Smigel (HEAD WRITER SNL, more) Bob Odenkirk (SECOND CITY, SNL, MR. SHOW SHOW, more) Christine Zander (WRITER SNL, PRODUCER THRID ROCK FROM THE SUN, more) Harold Ramis (SECOND CITY, GHOSTBUSTERS, STRIPES, more) Tim Kazurinsky (SECOND CITY, SNL ABOUT LAST NIGHT, more) Shelley Long (SECOND CITY, CHEERS, BRADY BUNCH MOVIE, more) George Wendt (SECOND CITY, SNL, CHEERS, more) Joe Liss (SECOND CITY, THAT 80'S SHOW, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, more) Peter Boyle (SECOND CITY, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, more) Robert Townsend (THE HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE, METEOR MAN, THE FIVE HEARTBEATS, more) Steve Rudnick & Leo Benutti (Screenwriters of SPACE JAM, THE SANTA CLAUSE I & 2, more) Branden Tartikoff (Former president of NBC and Paramount) Betty Thomas (SECOND CITY, HILL STREET BLUES, BRADY BUNCH MOVIE, I SPY, more) Charna Halpren (PRODUCER OF IMMPROVOLYMPIA, more) Martin de Maat (THE SECOND CITY, Artistic director THE SECOND CITY TRAINING CENTER, more) Dan Castellaneta, Sean Hayes, Tony Alcantar and many, many more! For over 40 years this style of improv training has been turning out stars. IMPROVCHICAGO is patterned after this Chicago-style of improv so you can play as the pros did. . .all while staying here in Vancouver! |