Book
The Second City unscripted : revolution and revelation at the world-famous comedy theater / [edited by Mike Thomas ; contributors, Alan Arkin ... [et al.]].
Record details
- ISBN: 9780345514226 (hc) :
- Physical Description: xiv, 272 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
- Edition: 1st ed.
- Publisher: New York : Villard, 2009.
Content descriptions
| Bibliography, etc. Note: | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Search for related items by subject
| Subject: | Second City (Theater company) Actors > Illinois > Chicago > Anecdotes. Comedians > Illinois > Chicago > Anecdotes. |
Available copies
- 1 of 1 copy available at Tsuga Consortium.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 1 total copy.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stroud Branch | 792.0977311 Sec | 31681002046795 | NONFIC | Available | - |
- Baker & Taylor
A comprehensive oral history of the premier comedy theater, published to coincide with its fiftieth anniversary, features favorite moments and interview segments as shared by such top contributors as Jim Belushi, Conan O'Brien, and Bonnie Hunt. - Baker & Taylor
Descriptions of Chicago's Second City comedy theater group as told to the author by troup members and historical information collected by the author. - Random House, Inc.
In 1959, a group of like-minded Chicagoans joined forces to open a hip new venue dedicated to coffee, cigarettes, conversation, and comedy. The result, a nightly cabaret featuring a troupe of inventive young actors skewering everything from politics to popular culture in witty, rapid-fire, improvised scenes, not only made delighted audiences laughâit made history.
Copping its iconic name from a New York journalistâs disparaging remark, Chicagoâs Second City theater brashly defied the role of runner-up and single-handedly made the Windy City North Americaâs cradle of comedic brilliance from which generations of household names would spring. Now, in The Second City Unscripted, a Whoâs Who of the celebrated comedy campâs alumniâincluding Alan Arkin, David Steinberg, Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Eugene Levy, Amy Sedaris, and Stephen Colbertâtell it like it was in the house that hilarity built.
Here are candid tales of John Belushiâs raw ambition and chemical experimentation, Bill Murrayâs heckler-pummeling and lady-killing, superstar Mel Gibsonâs roof-raising appearance in Braveheart regalia, and legendary director Del Closeâs shuttling between the comedic asylum he ruled over and the real one he rehabbed in.
In this unvarnished, unexpurgated, and unprecedented account, what happened onstage, backstage, and offstage at Second City isnât staying there anymore. From the smash hits and near misses to the love affairs and the bitter feuds, from the showbiz politics and pitfalls to the inspired tomfoolery and heartbreaking tragedy, The Second City Unscripted is part memoir of a cherished era, part time capsule from a comedic renaissance, and part valentine to the exquisite art of being funny. It captures like never before the history of the men and women who caught lightningâand laughterâin a bottle.
