The Second City

Comedic Theatre Icon, Improvisation Pioneer, Global Entertainment Influencer

Travels From Travels From:
Illinois, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

The Second City Biography

Taking its name from the title of A. J. Liebling's derisive profile of Chicago in "The New Yorker," The Second City opened on December 16,1959. Success was instantaneous. The Second City has been touring the world with its trademark satire and wit for over sixty years. The Second City currently operates resident theatres in Chicago, Toronto, and Detroit, as well as three touring troupes out of its Chicago theatre.

Though still far from being venerable, The Second City has become a North American theatrical institution and has been the starting point for many of the comedic actors, writers, and directors working today in American film, television, and theatre. Training Centers have been established in both Chicago and Toronto. Its reputation has so far outgrown its humble beginnings that many first-time visitors are surprised at the theatre's still modest and informal atmosphere. Second City's alumni list reads like a Who's Who of American comedy, as it includes Alan Arkin, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Robert Klein, Gilda Radner, Joan Rivers, Mike Myers, Dan Aykroyd, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Martin Short, George Wendt, Shelley Long, John Candy, Harold Ramis, and more.

Featuring a blend of classic scenes, songs and improvisations performed by a six-member ensemble - augmented by a musical accompanist and sound and light director - an evening with The Second City's National Touring Company combines the best material from Second City's storied history with the brightest comic performers of the future. A typical two-act performance by The Second City features a wide variety of material on a wide variety of topics. The Second City has expanded its offerings to include various innovative formats like the "Improv Keynote" and the "Custom Video Production," enhancing corporate and organizational events with tailored humor and interactive elements.

The Second City has taken its act on the road performing at colleges, performing arts centers, clubs, theaters, fundraisers, festivals, conventions, and more. Second City's National Touring Company has appeared at the US Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado, The English Speaking Theatre in Vienna, Austria, The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Mayfest in Glasgow, Scotland, as well as countless universities and performing arts centers across the globe. The troupe continues to innovate, integrating improvisation and sketch comedy with audience engagement, making every performance a unique and dynamic experience.

BOOK The Second City

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/03/2024.

The Second City Speaking Topics

  • Customized Corporate Comedy

  • Improv Keynote.

    Audiences loathe the flat, cookie-cutter monologues posing as "keynote speeches." Our improve keynotes are interactive, funny experiences that encourage your audience to "think outside the box" and become more innovative in their careers. We start with a focus on innovation, the very element that has allowed The Second City to create award-winning productions on stage and television--then we combine presentation, demonstration, audience participation and entertainment elements in a perfect blend. Each keynote contains sharp, funny, hosting supported hilarious videos to reinforce the learning points.

  • BizQuiz: The Game Show About Your Company.

    Our customized game show, complete with an over-the-top host and competitive contestants, is a great way to convey some interesting facts and insights about your company, new products, or internal process changes. This customizable show has an open format and the Second City can even use your executives or guests to show off their knowledge on the unique details of the industry, such as "name that acronym" and "buzzword bingo."

  • Interactive Talk Show.

    Our talk show helps organizations transform what could be a series of podium speeches into an opportunity for your executives to connect with an audience. You get to pick the guests, and our host will tee-up their talking points with light questions and a little fun--will also include "commercial breaks" as live scenes throughout the show. These "commercials" are custom-written sketches that tee-up the topics of the day, generating hearty laughs and a great transition into discussions between our host, the guests on stage, and the audience who we involve via roving microphone (Thanks, Donahue!).

  • Funny Business: The Live Customized Comedy Show.

    The Second City's most popular offering, custom shows are clean, one-act revues prepared and customized specifically for your company. A third of the show is made up of original scenes crafted by our writers and based on the day-to-day life of your company and business. Additionally the revue includes equal parts "best of" Second City sketches and improvisation--all carefully chosen to fit your audience. You approve all content and we work hard to make it suitable to your organization.

  • Second City's Barack Stars.

    The Second City takes a bite out of the beltway in Second City's Barack Stars, an evening of political comedy straight from the land of Lincoln, Obama, and Blagojevich--well, two out of three isn?t bad. Featuring sketches and songs, Second City's Barack Stars provides bi-partisan hilarity ripped from the day's headlines. From the endlessly enigmatic commander in chief to his terrifyingly tiny chief of staff--political gaffes, power plays, and an insatiable media all make for the targets in Second City's Barack Stars.

Speaker Lists Featuring The Second City

FAQs on booking The Second City

  • How do I book The Second City to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like The Second City for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for The Second City, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for The Second City or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for The Second City

    Speaking fees for The Second City, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book The Second City are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire The Second City, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does The Second City speak about?

  • Where does The Second City travel from?

    The Second City generally travels from Illinois, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is The Second City’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like The Second City for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book The Second City for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host The Second City or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

The Second City is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Customized Corporate Comedy, Improv Keynote., BizQuiz: The Game Show About Your Company. , Interactive Talk Show., Funny Business: The Live Customized Comedy Show. and Second City's Barack Stars.. The estimated speaking fee range to book The Second City for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. The Second City generally travels from IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Joel Zeff, Mike Rayburn, Aaron McGruder, John Cleese and Ben Stein. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling The Second City for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP