The Second City's 55th Anniversary Tour Stops in San Diego Tonight

The Second City is known as the world's leading comedy theater and improvisational troupe, delighting audiences for more than five decades. Celebrating their 55th Anniversary this year, The Second City will be opening their vault to share some of their greatest comedy sketches created by the biggest comedic names in the industry. These acts, mixed with new material and spoofs by today's talented troupe, will tour to Poway and get audiences laughing all evening. The Second City performs tonight, March 28 at 8:00 pm at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts. This will be an evening of laughter and fun for all!

The Second City has developed an entirely unique way of reaching audiences through creative and comedic performances. Their techniques include an experimental and unconventional approach to comedy theatre, making them leaders in the industry. It is this creativity and unique comedic vision that has earned The Second City the title of "most influential and prolific comedy troupe in the world."

The Second City has garnered a reputation for developing the finest comedic voices in North America, with a superstar list of alumni that includes: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Eugene Levy, Harold Ramis, Steve Carell, Mike Myers, Martin Short, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, John Candy, Bill Murray, Amy Poehler, Chris Farley and current Saturday Night Live cast member, Cecily Strong, to name but a few.

Established in Chicago in 1959 as an improvisational comedy troupe, The Second City has grown well beyond a single stage. With residencies in Chicago, Toronto and Los Angeles, they have grown to become the largest training center for improvisation and acting in the country, serving more than 13,000 students a year. The Second City Training Center follows the traditions developed by the ground-breaking and innovative men and women who have gone on to become legendary performers in show business. The curriculum encourages students to continue their growth and development of skills in comedy and improvisation, thus introducing future comic legends to the world.

Today, The Second City boasts a national touring company, improvisational school and theatrical programs. The Second City's television program, SCTV, ran from 1976 to 1981 and is hailed as one of the greatest comedy series of all time. They are industry leaders in the corporate world with Second City Communications, a company that brings improv-based methodologies to the corporate sector.

The Second City theater was founded as a place where comedic scenes and stories were created on the spot and unscripted live in front of an audience. During its start as a comedy theater, their comedy style tended towards satire and social commentary. This comedy style has since changed with time. However, the format has remained consistent. Second City revues feature a mix of improvised and scripted scenes with new material developed during the unscripted "improv" sessions during the second act. Many of these second act scenes are created based on audience suggestions. Described by The Glacier as "brazen and full of life," Second City performances "second to none. Each performance is unique, and that's one of the greatest things about seeing one of their shows."

Adult tickets range from $33 - $39. GEICO Youth Tickets are $14 with purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets are on sale now by visiting www.powayarts.org or by calling or visiting the Poway Center for the Performing Arts Box Office, at 15498 Espola Rd., Poway. Box Office hours are Fridays from 12:00pm to 5:00pm, Saturdays from 10:00am to 3:00pm and two hours before curtain. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more by calling 858-668-4797. Dinner on the Plaza is now available for a full evening of entertainment. Dine under the stars prior to the performance with a gourmet, buffet meal catered by Cafe? Merlot. Dinner on the Plaza tickets are $25 and include one complimentary beverage (wine, beer or non-alcoholic). Tickets to The Second City are required for admission to dinner. Heaters are provided on cool evenings.

The Poway Center for the Performing Arts Foundation is a 25 year old non-profit organization that offers professional performing arts events, including concerts, dance performances, theater productions, and a children's theater series. The Foundation operates through a special partnership with the City of Poway and the Poway Unified School District.

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