#FIRSTLOOK: CAST & CREW OF THE SECOND CITY TORONTO’S 90TH MAINSTAGE REVUE UNVEILED

The world’s most influential name in live comedy, The Second City is thrilled to announce the cast and crew of The Second City Toronto’s 90th Mainstage Revue. Celebrated TV writer and Second City Alum Brandon Hackett directs returning ensemble members Tiyawnda, Conor Bradbury, Coko Galore, Devon Henderson, Christian Smith, and Scott Yamamura. Matt Keevins returns as stage manager and lighting designer, and Elise Wattman joins as music director.

Live Sketch Comedy! In the time-honoured tradition of The Second City, YOU are invited to become part of our creative process. For a few wild weeks, while the cast creates and hones a brand-new show, audiences have the chance to influence songs, sketches, and characters being developed in real time! Your reactions, ideas, and energy will directly impact the material in our milestone 90th revue. This limited time is a fun and exclusive glimpse into the artistry and improvisation that has defined The Second City’s legacy worldwide for 65 years.

The producing team includes Jen Ellison (VP Head of Creative), Etan Muskat (Artistic Director, Toronto), Susan Waycik (Producer), Elizabeth Howard (Executive Producer), Parisa Jalili (COO/CRO), and Ed Wells (CEO).

The Second City Mainstage Revue runs Tuesday through Thursday at 8pm, Friday and Sunday at 7pm and Saturdays at 7pm and 10pm. Performances take place at The Second City Comedy Theatre located at ONE YORK STREET. Tickets start at $39 and can be purchased at The Second City Box Office, by phone at 416-343-0011, or online at www.secondcity.com.

About the Artists

TIYAWNDA (Ensemble) [she/her]
Tiyawnda is a Toronto-based writer and performer whose main focuses include playwriting; creative nonfiction; and performing sketch, stand-up, improv, and musical comedy. Tia is excited to be a member of Second City’s Mainstage, after being part of Second City’s Tourco, and being one of the 2019 Bob Curry Fellows.

CONOR BRADBURY (Ensemble) [he/him]
Conor Bradbury is an actor and comedian who has been performing in Toronto for almost two decades. He is a founding member of multi-award-winning comedy troupe Sex T-Rex (Just For Laughs Best Comedy, Toronto Sketchfest: Best of Fest, Toronto Fringe: Best Comedy). He is a regular performer with Bad Dog Theatre (Hookup, D&D Live, Theatresports) and has recently appeared in The Howland Company’s Entrances and Exits. His film and TV credits include What We Do in the Shadows (FX), Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu) and Homeschooled (CBC). He was also once on an episode of Cash Cab. Instagram: @conorbury

NADINE DJOURY (Assistant Director) [she/her]
Nadine is beyond thrilled to be back at The Second City! Nadine is an alumna of the Mainstage where she wrote and performed in three critically acclaimed revues. She currently writes for CBC’s The Great Canadian Baking Show and co-created, wrote and starred in ABC.com/CBC Comedy’s web series, Newborn Moms, earning a CSA nomination for Best Performance. Recent television credits include What We Do in the Shadows (FX), Ghosts (CBS), Transplant (NBC) and Kim’s Convenience (CBC). Instagram: @nadined

COKO GALORE (Ensemble) [she/they]
Coko Galore is an actor, producer, host, comedian who performs across disciplines including live comedy shows, podcasts, panels, events, TV, and film. Her performance credits include The Accused (FOX), TallBoyz (CBC), Pretty Hard Cases (CBC) and Untitled Black Sketch Project. When she’s not performing, Coko Galore drinks lots of water, minds her business, and takes naps! Instagram: @cokogalore

BRANDON HACKETT (Director) [he/him]
Brandon Hackett is a Toronto-based television writer and comedian. His TV writing credits include Run the Burbs, This Hour Has 22 Minutes, Tallboyz and Shelved. Brandon is an alumnus of Toronto’s Second City Mainstage, where he co-wrote and performed in four revues, including the Canadian Comedy Award-nominated Party Today (Panic Tomorrow) and The Best is Yet to Come Undone. He is one half of the duo Hackett & Langdon (NNNNN, Now Magazine).

DEVON HENDERSON (Ensemble) [she/her]
Devon Henderson has been performing with The Second City since 2018, when she was a cast member of Improv Showdown. She has also performed with Second City’s Tourco and in the Patch Company shows The Second City Totally Likes You and Take Me Out to the Improv: Spooky Edition. She is also an instructor and performer at Bad Dog Theatre, where she was a member of the 2018 Featured Players. Her Bad Dog credits include Theatresports, Super Hot Date Night, The Rat King, and Toronto, I Love You. Her comedy duo, TwoSon, wrote and performed the critically acclaimed An Evening with Devon & Jackie at the 2022 Toronto Fringe. Select festival credits: Sketchfest Seattle, Toronto Sketchfest, Vancouver Sketchfest, Improvaganza, Montreal Sketchfest, The Detroit Improv Festival, District Improv, and the Del Close Marathon. Instagram: @devonhenderson

MATT KEEVINS (Stage Manager & Lighting Designer) [he/him]
Matt Keevins is a stage manager, who specializes in improv and sketch comedy. Select credits include The Weight of it All (Toronto Fringe), An Evening with Devon and Jackie (Toronto Fringe), Something Small, Something Sweet (Hamilton Fringe), Come Here Often? (Buddies in Bad Times). He’s worked as a theatre tech at Comedy Bar, in The Second City Training Center and has understudied Mainstage and Tourco. He’s often shocked that he has made a whole career out of pushing buttons with great comedic timing!

CHRISTIAN SMITH (Ensemble) [he/him]
Christian Smith is an actor, writer, director and improviser from Toronto. Co-Creator of the CBC Digital Comedy; Soul Decision Comedy and writer for new television series Made for TV. He is one half of YouTube darlings Christian & Nat and was co-founder of popular channel Pulp Comedy alongside notable Second City alumni. Christian is also a part of award-winning sketch comedy troupe Soul Decision whose performed all around North America and Europe including JFL, JFL42, Zoofest and more! Catch him on screen in the new series Abroad, or on Run The Burbs, Workin’ Moms or You’re My Hero. Christian is also a Dad. He saved it for last because it’s the coolest and best thing he’s ever done.

ELISE WATTMAN (Music Director) [she/her]
Elise Wattman is a grammy-nominated composer and pianist who specializes in audio design for visual media. As Audio Lead for Jackbox Games, Elise created the music & sound for Let Me Finish, TimeJinx, Junktopia and Weapons Drawn. Elise has toured internationally on keyboards and her favourite venue is Preservation Hall in New Orleans. Elise served as Music Director for Second City Chicago e.t.c’s 44th revue, She the People San Diego, Deck the Hallmark Chicago, America It’s Complicated at the Kennedy Center, DC. For her work accompanying modern dance performance, Elise designed a patented digital module for live scoring. Follow her @soupysounds for kayaking and hockey fun.

SCOTT YAMAMURA (Ensemble) [he/him]
Scott Yamamura has been performing on comedy stages for over 2 decades. His screen performance credits include Transplant, Orphan Black: Echoes, and Deep Six. He has also performed in various Second City ensembles including Tourco, The Education Company, as Mainstage Understudy and now as a Mainstage cast member. Despite all of this, Scott still can’t dunk a basketball and at this point everyone agrees, it’s highly unlikely.

About The Second City
The Second City first brought its iconic improv and sketch comedy to Toronto in 1963 for a week of performances at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. After a decade of sold out shows at the 1200-seat theatre, The Second City established a permanent home in the city with the opening of “The Old Firehall” on Lombard Street. In 1976, The Second City Toronto further solidified its place in comedy history by creating the groundbreaking television show SCTV.

In December 2022, The Second City began an exciting new chapter by relocating to its state-of-the-art facility at One York Street. This move introduced three distinct theatres: The Mainstage, Theatre ’73, and The John Candy Box Theatre, each offering nightly performances that continue The Second City’s tradition of bringing laughter to audiences.

Since making a home in Toronto over 50 years ago The Second City has grown to become the most influential name in comedy launching the careers of countless Canadian comedy legends. Our illustrious alumni list includes names such as Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Mike Myers, Colin Mochrie, Bob Martin, Jerry Minor, Gavin Crawford, Kevin Vidal, Darryl Hinds, Chris Wilson, Lauren Ash, Ann Pornel, Alan Shane Lewis and so many more.

For more information on The Second City, visit www.secondcity.com and follow The Second City on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

#FIRSTLOOK: THE SECOND CITY OFFERS FREE DROP-IN CLASSES

This summer, slip into the warm, passionate, and hilarious embrace of Improv! World-renowned comedy juggernaut The Second City is offering a week-long series of free 90-minute drop-in classes from Monday, June 3rd – Sunday, June 9th, 2024.

Afraid of commitment but still craving big gains? We get it. We’ve also been burned by (more than one) gym membership contract. There is nothing to sign and no need to commit to a full term. Just come get your toes wet in the warm waters of comedy.

But… why take an improv class? Glad you asked. Here are five key reasons:

Boost That Confidence. You’ll be encouraged to think on your feet and trust your instincts. As you become more comfortable in class, you’ll naturally feel more confident in your everyday life.
Enhance Creativity. Improv is an incredible way to flex your creative muscles. The more you practice, the more innovative and imaginative your ideas will become.
Communication is a Skill. Active listening and responding to your scene partners are crucial skills in improv AND everyday life. Refining these skills can help improve your personal and professional relationships.

• Make New Friends. According to the Harvard Journal of Science*, when you show up to participate or engage in something you’re interested in, the likelihood of meeting someone who shares that interest increases by a whopping 75,000%. *Not a real publication
  Fifth Bullet Point to be discovered by you! Improv is all about discovery, spontaneity, and FUN! Jump into a class and find your own fifth bullet point (and sixth… and seventh…)
  Come have a sweaty and fun summer fling with The Second City. (Not that sweaty though, we have air conditioning. More of a metaphorical sweaty. You know what? Forget we said sweaty.)

Click here to register.

About The Second City:

Since opening its doors as a small Chicago comedy cabaret in 1959, The Second City has grown to become the world’s premier improv and sketch comedy institution. Boasting stages and Training Centers in Chicago, Toronto and New York City, The Second City has served as the training ground for some of the world’s foremost comedic talents. Its illustrious alumni list includes names such as John Belushi, John Candy, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Eugene Levy, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Suzy Nakamura, Catherine O’Hara, Amy Poehler, Gilda Radner, Sam Richardson, Joan Rivers, Amber Ruffin, Jason Sudeikis, and Steven Yeun, among countless others. The Second City has been the first name in laughter for sixty-five years.

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW CASTING ADDITIONS TO THE SECOND CITY TORONTO’S MAINSTAGE REVUE

On the cusp of commemorating 50 years in Canada, legendary comedy institution The Second City is proud to announce the cast and crew of The Second City Toronto’s 87th Mainstage Revue. Three-time Second City alumna and Canadian Comedy Award winner Kirsten Rasmussen makes her directorial debut with a familiar cast that includes PHATT al, Andy Assaf, Andy Hull, Nkasi Ogbonnah, Hannah Spear, and Jillian Welsh. Ayaka Kinugawa returns to the company as music director with Matt Keevins joining the ensemble as stage manager and Second City Alumni, Darryl Hinds joining as Assistant Director.

One of the most exciting times in The Second City’s creative timeline, The Second City’s 87th Mainstage Revue – and its official title -– will develop in front of the audience over a multi-week process, meaning the public will have the chance to watch and participate in the creation of comedy history at the world’s premier sketch comedy and improvisation institution. This will be the very first Mainstage production to incubate and premiere at The Second City’s newest Toronto home at One York Street, which opened at the end of 2022.

The producing team includes Ed Wells (CEO), Carly Heffernan (Creative Director), Elizabeth Howard (VP of Production), Parisa Jalili (Chief Operating Officer), and Susan Waycik (Production Manager). Tickets start at $30 and are available by phone at 416-343-0011 or online at secondcity.com. The show schedule is as follows beginning January 17, 2023: Tuesdays-Thursdays at 8pm; Fridays at 7pm, Saturdays at 7pm & 10pm; and Sundays at 7pm.

The Second City Toronto is a fully accessible facility. Wearing a mask is recommended but not mandatory.

#FIRSTLOOK: THE SECOND CITY ANNOUNCE 2022 HOLIDAY PROGRAMMING

It’s the funniest time of the year! Legendary Toronto comedy institution The Second City is overjoyed to announce its annual slate of hilarious holiday shows at a brand-new location. Don’t miss the lineup of interactive, laugh-out-loud shows at One York Street, where performances begin December 1st. The new facility features three theatres, nine Training Centre studios for student classes and workshops, and food and beverage managed by Oliver & Bonacini. Come begin a new can’t-miss holiday tradition!

Holiday 2022 programming includes:

Jingle Bell Ruckus
Thursdays at 8pm; Fridays at 8pm; Saturdays at 5pm & 8pm; Sundays at 7:30pm

The Second City’s Jingle Bell Ruckus delivers a heaping serving of seasonal satire that’s the perfect alternative to those same old holiday shows. Nothing’s off-limits: holiday film classics, family gatherings, beloved Christmas carols, and of course all things wickedly funny about winter get a seasonal skewering in this fast-paced, interactive, original comedy revue filled with style, wit, and plenty of that famous (and festive) Second City improv!

The Second City’s Guide to Surviving the Holidays
Mondays at 8pm; Saturdays & Sundays at 4pm

We guarantee yule laugh a whole latke as The Second City unwraps the most wonderful time of the year in our nut-cracking-est, jingle-bell-ing-est revue ever! Celebrate over sixty years of sketches, songs, and comedic conviviality as the next generation of comedy superstars perform our greatest holiday hits. Plus, The Second City’s famous improvisation means every show is like a snowflake: no two are alike … or are impervious to climate change.

Holiday Improv Brunch
Sundays at noon

From uproarious laughter to limitless libations, The Second City’s Holiday Improv Brunch is the gift that keeps on giving! For 3 weekends only, bring your band of merrymakers as we scramble together two of everyone’s favourites, comedy and brunch, for a scrumptiously seasonal breakfast with a totally improvised experience from the city’s finest. Whether you side on the Naughty or the Nice List, come enjoy mimosas…we don’t judge.

The Second City Mainstage – Home Sweet New Home
Tuesdays – Thursdays at 8pm; Fridays – Saturdays at 7pm & 10pm; Sundays at 7pm

There’s no place like The Second City Toronto! We welcome one and all to our brand-spankin’-new, state-of-the-art comedy complex. Make yourself at home as you take in our cast of top Toronto talent hilariously taking on everything from awkward first dates to game nights gone wrong to gender reveals to the freakin’ multiverse. From improv games to classic sketches to sizzling satire, this interactive experience is the perfect way to welcome you all to The Second City’s Home Sweet New Home … where we’ll make you feel like family (but just the kind we actually like).

Tickets start at $39 and are available at secondcity.com or by phone at 416-343-0011. The Second City Toronto’s new 28,700-square-foot space is located on the third floor of One York, a 35-floor mixed-use Class AAA building located at York and Harbour in Toronto’s vibrant South Core Business District.