Dan Aykroyd News

Dave Thomas and The Second City will present TAKE OFF, EH!, a star-studded intimate evening featuring performances from some of Canada's biggest names in comedy and music on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 on The Second City Toronto's Mainstage, with proceeds going to 'Jake Thomas's Road to Recovery' and Spinal Cord Injury Ontario.

Shaffer is best known for the 30 plus years he spent as David Letterman's musical director and bandleader, but on Saturday, May 6th at 8 p.m. this world renowned musician takes center stage at The Ridgefield Playhouse!

On May 12, Chicago's legendary sketch and improv comedy theater returns to South Orange Performing Arts Center, One SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ at 8 p.m. with "We're All In This Room Together." Full of the live and in-your-face entertainment Netflix can't provide, this must-attend show features improvised comedy, audience interaction, and of-the-moment sketches and songs from The Second City made famous by superstars like Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray and more. Never the same show twice, join us in the "Room" where it happens during this special one-night engagement.

Building on the momentum of another highly successful season in which NBC once again ranks #1 in adults 18-49, the network has announced the rollout of an ambitious summer schedule that includes the premiere of new dance competition series “World of Dance” with judges Jennifer Lopez, Derek Hough, NE-YO and host/mentor Jenna Dewan Tatum; the return of the #1 show of summer, “America's Got Talent,” with new host Tyra Banks; and the network's obstacle course sensation, “American Ninja Warrior.”

NBC is bringing a late-night institution to primetime with a four-episode order for SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE: WEEKEND UPDATE, which joins the schedule starting Thursday, Aug. 10 at 9 p.m.

The family of actress Susan M. Grozier led a $40,000 campaign to renovate the Des Moines Community Playhouse's Green Room in her honor. Nearly 200 individuals and corporations from throughout the United States contributed to the campaign, including Dan Aykroyd & Donna Dixon, Jim Belushi, Better Than Ezra Foundation, and Live Nation Worldwide. Grozier's family, project donors, and volunteers will be in attendance at a dedication of the new space, 5:00-7:00 PM, Thursday, Mar. 9.

In this supercharged political environment, we are buffeted with tweeted grotesqueries daily. We ask ourselves where is the humanity in this?

The Ridgefield Playhouse and Pepsi Rock Series Powered by xfinity are going to rock your world with musical legend Paul Shaffer and the Most Dangerous Band on Saturday, May 6 at 8 p.m.  Paul Shaffer may be best known as David Letterman's musical director and sidekick for the past 33 years, but his illustrious career goes far beyond the Ed Sullivan Theater.  Paul began his career working with Stephen Schwartz in 1972 as musical director for the Toronto production of "Godspell." From there he went on to spend 5 years with the original cast of "SaturdayNight Live" where he was the band leader and performer - most notably for his parody of Don Kirschner.  Shaffer occasionally teamed up with the "Not Ready for Prime-Time Players" off the show as well, including work on Gilda Radner's highly successful Broadway show and as the musical director for John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd whenever they recorded or performed as The Blues Brothers. In 1984, Shaffer played keyboards for The Honeydrippers, a group formed in 1981 by former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, and performed on the hit single "Sea of Love" which reached #1. 

GOOD FORTUNE, Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell's bio-doc is an uplifting tribute to the humanity and philanthropy of John Paul DeJoria and a case for how accumulated wealth can be used to build a better world. GOOD FORTUNE is one of the featured films at the 2017 Sedona International Film Festival, February 18th through the 26th.

According to the Chicago Tribune, film star and Second City alumnus Mike Myers (Austin Powers, Shrek, Wayne's World) will play improv great Del Close in a new biopic produced by the Windy City comedy institution. Myers was, fittingly, one of Close's students.

Second City Hollywood is starting 2017 off combatting xenophobia, racism, and misogyny with satirical comedy.

Christie Hsiao, Founder and CEO of SERENITY MEDIA GROUP, a global entertainment company devoted to creating high quality film, TV, and digital media projects that uplift and inspire.  Serenity uses fun, engaging popular fiction and non-fiction projects to educate, provoke thoughtful inquiry, and spread positive messages.  What sets Serenity apart is the resources and relationships Christie has cultivated within the China/US industry.

Second City's proactive, edgy and downright hysterical Black Side of the Moon at Woolly Mammoth Theatre is an honest conversation about race and gender in America. Using comedy and spoken word, this sketch show mixes astute societal observations with original skits

National Chorale, New York's premier professional choral company, under the Artistic Direction of Everett McCorvey, continues its 2016-2017 Season at Lincoln Center with Beethoven's Symphony #9 and the World Premiere of a musical adaptation of Goodnight Moon tonight, November 18, 2016 at 8pm at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC.

National Chorale, New York's premier professional choral company, under the Artistic Direction of Everett McCorvey, continues its 2016-2017 Season at Lincoln Center withBeethoven's Symphony #9 and the World Premiere of a musical adaptation of Goodnight Moon.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theater Festival, will honor Tony and Grammy Award winning composer and lyricist Duncan Sheik, Casting Director Tara Rubin, and former NYMF Board Member and Treasurer Frank Troutman at its 2016 Gala hosted by Mo Rocca on Sunday, November 13 at the Edison Ballroom in Midtown Manhattan (240 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036).

National Chorale, New York's premier professional choral company, under the Artistic Direction of Everett McCorvey, continues its 2016-2017 Season at Lincoln Center with Beethoven's Symphony #9 and the World Premiere of a musical adaptation of Goodnight Moon on Friday, November 18, 2016 at 8pm at the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, NYC.

 There have been many imitators, but there is only one duo in North America sanctioned by Dan Aykroyd and Judith Belushi to don the official hat and sunglasses and walk in the legendary footsteps of Jake and Elwood Blues.  Discovered in Las Vegas, performers Wayne Catania and Kieron Lafferty capture the infectious humor and unbridled spirit of the Blues Brothers like no one since John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd walked the stage.

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts presents a first class production of Alfred Uhry's prize-winning drama DRIVING MISS DAISY. Expertly directed by renowned Washingon, DC-based actor/director Rick Hammerly and starring Karen Grassle from LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE in the title role, Riverside's DRIVING MISS DAISY charms and warms the heart.

The Second City Hollywood is proud to announce the first annual Diversity in Comedy Festival occurring October 21, 22, and 23, 2016 in Los Angeles, located at 6560 Hollywood Blvd. 90028.