On a frigid Chicago night in 1959, comedy history was made when The Second City theater opened its doors. To this day, the venue is considered the mecca of
theater opened its doors. To this day, the venue is considered the mecca of improv, renowned for its groundbreaking revue-style shows and, most notably, for being the pad from which countless comedic giants have launched their careers.
Improv relies on performers to construct narratives, characters, settings, and props on the fly—often directed by suggestions from the audience. As Spolin recognized, the ability to improvise is an important life skill as well as a powerful tool for creating dynamic theater. After studying under Boyd, Spolin traveled throughout the U.S. to work and teach before eventually returning to Chicago. She and a group of other young working mothers rented a mansion they nicknamedwhere they lived and raised their children together. By this time, Spolin had two children of her own, including her son
Spolin eventually rented space at the Hull House herself, teaching classes and workshops to children. It was there that Paul learned the theater games his mother invented. In college, he would follow in his mother’s footsteps, hosting workshops and teaching her theater games to his peers. Then, in 1959, Sills and two friends opened The Second City theater.
Sills asked Spolin to teach at the theater, so she did, bringing her revolutionary methods with her. And the rest, as they say, is comedy history.Zoë is a writer and journalist from Minnesota currently based in Chicago. In her free time she likes to watch TV but she usually lies and says her favorite hobby is reading. She is working towards a career that combines her passion for comedy and journalism to create a more informed and equitable world.
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