Insider's Map to The Second City History

By Ashley Shafer

Celebrating over 50 years of funny, Chicago-based improvisational comedy troupe, The Second City, is well known for stirring up snickers with its satirical sketches. It is compiled of 11 full time touring ensembles, performing short scenes, songs and improvisational sketches at venues across the nation.

The Second City has theatres in Chicago and Toronto, as well as training facilities in those cities and Hollywood. The Second City Training Center is the largest school of improvisation and sketch comedy in the world. The "Harvard of humor," as The New York Times calls it, offers acting classes to comedians of all experience levels.

The Second City gained admirable clout in the 1970's when it contributed well-known comedians and alumni Bill Murray and John Belushi to Saturday Night Live television. Today the legend continues with SNL starlets Tiny Fey and Amy Poehler, also former Second City Citizens. Overall, Second City has contributed over two-dozen actors and writers to SNL.

Last December the comedy troupe kicked off its 50th birthday bash with "The Second City Alumni: One Night Only," which featured panel discussions and a series of classic sketches including a piece by Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell.

The Second City: Can You be More Pacific? has been specially crafted for its debut at the Laguna Playhouse. This show promises to deliver an avalance of laughs that will highligh the most comedic and relevant elements of what it means to be behind the Orange Curtain.

Second City Citizens: Alumni of the Second City include...

• Bill Murray


• John Belushi


• Dan Aykroyd


• Tina Fey


• Stephen Colbert


• Alan Arkin


• Gilda Radner


• Steve Carell


• Chris Farley


• Bonnie Hunt


• Mike Meyers


• Amy Sedaris


• Sean Hayes


• Martin Short


• Joan Rivers


• Rachel Draft

For more information on The Second City and to watch videos of The Second City sketches visit http://www.secondcity.com/

Can You Be More Pacific? at the Laguna Playhouse

SECOND CITY COMES TO ORANGE COUNTY

WITH THE WORLD PREMIERE OF
CAN YOU BE MORE PACIFIC?
THROUGH APRIL 11 AT THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE

LAGUNA BEACH, CA - March 5, 2010 - Get ready for an outrageous evening of laughter when internationally acclaimed sketch-comedy troupe, The Second City, comes to Orange County March 16 - April 11, 2010, with the World Premiere of Can You Be More Pacific?, a custom-crafted production for The Laguna Playhouse that lampoons Laguna Beach and Orange County.

This show promises to deliver an avalanche of laughs that highlight the most comedic and relevant elements of what it means to be behind the Orange Curtain. Whether you're a life-long OC resident or a recent transplant, you'll see yourself, your neighbor or your favorite plastic surgeon lampooned on stage. From real housewives to theme park mania, this California adventure is a wild comedy ride that doesn't require a toll road.

Two Second City writers - Andy Cobb and Marc Warzecha - spent four days in OC soaking up the culture and talking to local celebrities, journalists, newsmakers, and muckrackers about the good, the bad and the ugly in and around OC. They soared over Irvine in the Great Park Balloon, ate tacos from a taco truck in Santa Ana, peered among the pews of the Crystal Cathedral, scoured Surf City, toured Newport Coast and cruised the toll roads.

Now, armed with fresh fodder and a renewed sense of what makes OC such a funny county, Andy and Marc have concocted a crazy sketch comedy show called Can You Be More Pacific? that's guaranteed to keep audiences laughing all night long.

Can You Be More Pacific? is the sixth regional-specific show created by the Second City, and celebrates the comedic troupe's successful 50-year history of zany comedy that has fostered such talented legends as Joh Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Stephen Colbert, Mike Myers, Amy Poehler, and Tina Fey.

Two Minutes of Theatre: The Secret Life of Girls

Our interns, Ashley and Janelle, have been busy creating new episodes of Two Minutes of Theatre with the Laguna Playhouse!

Exclusion, gossip, rumors and cliques are just some of the bullying issues explored in 'The Secret Life of Girls.' Our interns go behind the scenes and interviews the cast about their experiences with teen bullying.

The Boxcar Children Audition Notice

The Boxcar Children
Directed by Kelly Herman
Adapted by Barbara Field from the novels by Gertrude Chandler Warner
(For all ages)

One warm night four children stood in front of a bakery. No one knew them. No one knew where they had come from. Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny are orphaned and in danger of being sent to different foster homes. The four siblings run away and make their home in an abandoned railroad boxcar. Pursued by the authorities and a mysterious stranger, the children discover the rewards and perils of life on the run, as well as the joy of keeping their family together.

Youth & Mid-Teen Roles:
• Henry Alden (male) 14 - 16
• Jessie Alden (female) 14 - 16
• Violet Alden (female) 12 - 14
• Benny Alden (male) 10 - 12
• The Kid (male or female) 10 - 12
• Ensemble Children: homeless from Hooverville

Older Teen & Adult Roles:
• Mr. Alden (grandpa of children)/Officer Banning
• Sarah Calder
• Mrs. Alberts/Mrs. Truman (Sam's Mother)/Baker Woman
• Dr. Sam Truman/ Sheriff
• Cookie (male or female)
• Big Mike (male or female)

Prepare: A memorized 1 - 2 minute monologue & bring current photo, resume & conflicts

Schedule:
Auditions:
Friday March 12, 6:00 - 8:00pm
Saturday March 13, 11:00am - 5:00pm

Callbacks: Sunday March 14 (by invitation)
11:30 - 3:30pm Cold Readings

First Rehearsal:
Monday March 15, 7:00pm (Rehearses Eve & Sat)

Tech:
Tues & Wed, Thurs April 20-22 5:00pm - 11:00pm

Production Dates:
April 23 - 26 Weekend Performances & Matinees (7 Performances)

School Day Matinees:
April 23 - 26 Friday & Monday at 10:00am

ALL Auditions are appointment only!
Please call Wally Ziegler at (949)472-0061

Auditions are held at the Laguna Playhouse Production Center
23402 South Pointe Drive, Laguna Hills