Find The Perfect Acting Class For You

Whether you’re interesed in acting or improvisation, we know that one of the keys to success is being present, connected, and grounded in the emotional reality of the moment. In a Second City mainstage revue, the comedy doesn’t just come from the written scenes, the jokes & the premises… the truly deep audience laughs that people remember for years come from great performances.

In our first level, we’ll help you immerse yourself in improv exercises designed to broaden your emotional range. You’ll discover how emotionally committing to a scene can help engage the audience, leading to truly memorable performances.

We’ll also explore recognizable human behavior, an essential asset for comedic actors, and start working with neutral scenes that can help you explore the dramatic side of comedy. We’ll touch on the work of Viola Spolin and Sanford Meisner as we explore established techniques in this level.

Our curriculum focuses on improvisation to help you master these skills, and we recommend students take at least one 7-week improv course before joining this class to get the most out of the experience. At the end of this level, you will be prepared to do a cold read at a mock audition using what you have learned.

Character work is the core of great comedy and storytelling. Understanding your character’s motivations and how they express themselves is paramount for any actor. Creating a character in close collaboration with writers, directors, and fellow actors, can be the most generative part of the actor’s process. Whether your character is an extension of your natural energy or requires bold physical, vocal, and movement choices, authenticity remains key in both comedy and drama.

Our class encourages actors to explore a wide range of choices, drawing from various toolboxes and disciplines to create compelling and unforgettable characters. Monologues will be a focal point, teaching you to deliver with energy, dynamism and unwavering commitment.

In this level, topics covered include:

– Introduction to Character and Point of View (POV)

– Exploring Monologues

– Character through Movement and Voice

– Introduction to Chekhov’s Techniques (Body/Voice as an instrument)

– Understanding Status Dynamics

– Introduction to Stanislavski’s Principles (Behavior through actions)

– Monologue Lab: Refining Your Delivery

– Monologue Presentations: Showcase Your Talent

Elevate your acting skills and join us for Acting 2. Register now and explore the art of authentic character creation in comedy and drama.

For over 60 years, The Second City has been archiving scripts and video from all of the resident stage revues. In this class, students will be assigned scenes and monologues from this collection to workshop and perform. When actors are handed a script, before they can start thinking about character and performance, they must first understand how the scene works. This deeper scene analysis allows actors to make appropriate choices with their performance to help fuel the engine of the scene. Once the character’s role in the scene becomes clear, the character development begins. When working with text, actors will learn to break down a script and identify emotional reactions and behavior within the performance. It’s easy to give off a natural performance when it is your own words, but translating that ease to someone else’s words is an entirely different skill. Actors will be expected to memorize scripts at this level. The class will culminate in a 40 minute showcase of Second City archive material. You must complete Acting 1 & 2 before taking this course.

Like the first level, Improv for Actors 2 helps trained and post-grad actors who are interested in further exploring improvisation and learn how to be a better actor. However, IFA-2 also empowers these actors with the tools for advancement in the improv community. Completion of Improv for Actors 2 fulfills the prerequisites for the Second City Conservatory auditions.

In Improv for Actors 2, students build improvisational skills while creating characters. They discover how those characters and their points of view affect a scene.

Students work on 2-person and 3-person scenes. They learn how to develop the intricacies of scenic structure including the various initiations, beats, and endings. This class culminates in personal feedback and audition prep for the Second City Conservatory Program.

In today’s entertainment industry, improv and the ability to work without a script has become an essential tool not only for rehearsal, but for performance on screen and stage, as well as auditioning. Improv for Actors 1 is for people interested in how to be a better actor. IFA-1 is geared toward both working and post-grad actors who are looking to expand their craft with skills of improvisation. It’s also a great option for people with a theater degree or background in the dramatic arts to have fun with new people in a new environment.

IFA-1 covers the fundamental elements of scene work, creating environment, and scenic transformation. Students acquire skills that can be applied to scripted and non-scripted work. Students become more improvisational in written moments and more confident when they improvise.

Students work on building ensemble, object work, and the essence of a good improvisational scene. Using games, exercises, and other play, students explore relationships, character motivation, and heightening techniques to create compelling scenes and characters purely out of improv.

Improv for Actors 1 is for students with a theater degree, currently enrolled in a full-length collegiate theater program, or have the equivalent amount of professional training and/or experience. Students must submit an acting résumé for consideration to be placed in IFA-1. Please submit a résumé through our online application.