Learn About Auditions With The Second City

Students MUST have completed Conservatory Levels 1 through 3 at The Second City in order to be eligible to audition for Grad Revue 1. No other classes can be accepted and no exceptions will be made. If you are currently in Conservatory 3, you will automatically receive an invitation to audition.  Re-auditioners to Grad Revue 1 are welcome. If it has been less than a year since taking Conservatory 3, please fill out THIS FORM and you will be added to the audition invitation once eligibility is confirmed. If it has been more than a year since taking Conservatory 3, please contact us at studentsuccess@secondcity.com to confirm eligibility. Current Conservatory 3 students may contact us at customerservice@secondcity.com with any questions or to enroll in an audition slot. 

The Musical Improv Program is for improvisers who love creating musical scenes, and are excited to use music in their comedy career. The Second City uses songs and musical improv on all of it’s stages, and learning how to do it is a lot of fun! Students who complete this program will graduate with a deeper understanding of musical improv, approached in it’s many forms – in game play, narrative, and written work. The aim is to create improvisers who can execute these skills on a professional stage at The Second City, or anywhere else. Students in this program can expect support, encouragement, and notes to grow by. 

LEVELS 1 – 2 

The first two levels of the music program focus on demystifying musical improv and it’s many elements, and turning them into executable and performable skills! Game play, making strong vocal and musical choices, song structures and rhyming; building musical scenes with authenticity, and building group songs in a fun and supportive environment. Shows are scheduled at each level, and a retention audition is held at the end of Level 2. 

LEVELS 3 – 5 

The goal of Levels 3-5 is to give the student a professional level experience of musical improv training. Game play for the audience, styles and genres, and long form narratives will be explored with an eye toward re-improvisation and lyric writing. Each level will have a show, with Level 5 culminating in previews and a four-show run of a musical variety show. 

AUDITIONS 

Please come dressed comfortably for movement and ready to sing! Walk-ins may be accommodated, but are not guaranteed. 

• Prerequisites and Eligibility

  A full year of improv training at The Second City is required. We will also consider a year long program at an approved school in conjunction with one Acting class post High School.

  Interested auditioners who have NOT completed a year of training at Second City should first submit their training information via this submission form. The approval to audition will be confirmed by a staff member or else another program will be recommended. Auditioners who have not taken classes with us are also recommended to create a student profile when applying. Students who have completed the audition requirements should submit the form or contact the Training Center to ensure the audition approval.

  Music Conservatory is an 11-month time commitment. We ask all students who are accepted be prepared to commit financially and artistically, and be ready to register for the term directly following the audition. Deferments are not allowed. If you cannot commit to this, please do not audition until you are able to commit fully.

  Please contact us at customerservice@secondcity.com with any questions about the training prerequisites or eligibility.

Students must complete the equivalent of one year of improv training at The Second City (Improv Levels 1-5 or Improv for Actors 1&2) to audition for Conservatory. It is also recommended (but not required) that Second City students take at least one acting course before auditioning for Conservatory. Detailed audition information will be distributed to Second City students during the last level of their program (Improv 5 or IFA 2).Students who have NOT completed the required Second City training may be considered for a Conservatory audition slot with at least one year of Improv training at an approved school AND at least one acting course post-high school. Interested auditioners who have NOT completed the required Second City training should submit their training information via this submission form. Approval to audition will be confirmed by a staff member, and an alternate program will be recommended if a Conservatory audition is not approved. Auditioners who have not taken classes with us are also recommended to create a student profile when applying to audition. Students who are accepted into the Conservatory program are expected to begin their studies in the term directly following their audition. Deferments are not allowed. Please do not apply to audition if you are not prepared to commit to the program. If you have previously auditioned and have not been accepted and would like to be invited to the next round of auditions, please fill out this form. We would love to see you. Audition registration will open two weeks before their set dates. Dates for our 2024 in-person auditions are: February 16, April 12, June 7, August 9, October 4, and December 6. Virtual auditions for online classes are also available, please inquire for details. Please contact us at customerservice@secondcity.com with any questions.

The Writing 6 class is holding actor auditions for their final shows. The actors will be featured in the show run for this class. Current students are invited to audition. We recommend auditioners have completed at least Improv 3 or be part of our Conservatory, Acting, or Improv for Actors programs.  

You will be asked to submit a digital headshot and resume prior to the audition. Be prepared to both improvise and do a cold read. If any materials will need to be prepared for the audition, these will be shared prior to the audition date. The auditions and all classes and performances will happen virtually for online classes, and in-person at the Chicago Training Center for in-person classes