{"id":522280,"date":"2022-12-06T22:27:45","date_gmt":"2022-12-06T19:27:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/inside-the-new-toronto-home-of-the-second-city\/"},"modified":"2022-12-06T22:27:45","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T19:27:45","slug":"inside-the-new-toronto-home-of-the-second-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-new-toronto-home-of-the-second-city\/","title":{"rendered":"#Inside the new Toronto home of the Second City"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a413b741e081\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a413b741e081\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-new-toronto-home-of-the-second-city\/#%E2%80%9CInside_the_new_Toronto_home_of_the_Second_City%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Inside the new Toronto home of the Second City&#8221;<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CInside_the_new_Toronto_home_of_the_Second_City%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Inside the new Toronto home of the Second City&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n                In 1973, the Second City opened its first Canadian location, in an old firehall in downtown Toronto. Comedy would never be the same again. The improv group quickly became an incubator for some of the funniest people in history, including John Candy, Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Catherine O\u2019Hara and Mike Myers.<\/p>\n<p>When <i>Saturday Night Live<\/i> debuted in 1975, it borrowed a handful of cast members from the Second City. Soon after, the Second City launched its own show, <i>SCTV<\/i>, beaming iconic characters like Bob and Doug McKenzie across the Canadian airwaves. Canada was the butt of every joke\u2014in the best way possible.\u00a0In 1997, The Second City moved from the aging firehall into a bigger, better venue in downtown Toronto, with a training centre and a 350-seat theatre. In 2020, after changing Toronto locations a few times, the Second City closed its doors to make way for a condo building.<\/p>\n<p>But there\u2019s reason to smile again: the Second City just opened a new Toronto location, with three theatres and nine studio classrooms, where the latest class of jokesters can hone their comedic sensibilities. The nearly 30,000-square-foot space, located at One York Street, also features a restaurant by Oliver &amp; Bonacini. Here\u2019s a look inside the new and improved Second City.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row split-images-container\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-130-2-766x431.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-106-766x431.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>At the entrance, there\u2019s a distinctive red chair and a bunch of sitting silhouettes. The red bentwood chair has been the logo of the Second City since the beginning, dating back to its first Chicago location in 1964. It\u2019s a mainstay of every stage. Improv scenes at the Second City can take place anywhere\u2014outer space, the Sahara, a train car\u2014but the bentwood chair always remains the same.<\/p>\n<div class=\"longform-fwimg-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-90.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>he Second City is located on the third floor of the building, accessible via escalator or elevator. There are three bars and a restaurant up here, along with the Second City\u2019s three improv stages and nine training centres.<\/p>\n<div class=\"longform-fwimg-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-70.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>There\u2019s banquette seating near the bar.<\/p>\n<div class=\"longform-fwimg-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-56.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>This is one of the three bars at the Second City. \u201cIt\u2019s true that the more audience members drink, the funnier we get on stage,\u201d says Carly Heffernan, creative director of the Second City Toronto. Above the bar, a neon sign reads, \u201cYes, and\u2026\u201d That\u2019s a reference to the golden rule of improv, whereby participants are supposed to accept their partner\u2019s suggestion and add something to it.<\/p>\n<div class=\"longform-fwimg-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-73.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Here\u2019s another bar, conveniently located right next to the elevators, so guests can start drinking im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>tely.<\/p>\n<div class=\"longform-fwimg-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-88.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>To the right is the main desk, where guests can buy tickets, ask for information or purchase some merchandise. Tickets for shows range in price from $29 to $69. T-shirts and sweaters cost anywhere from $20 to $40. To the left, it\u2019s Theatre \u201973, named after the year the Second City was founded in Toronto.<\/p>\n<div class=\"longform-fwimg-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-33.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Check out the inside of Theatre \u201973. It was created by set designer Camellia Koo to look like the exterior of the Second City\u2019s first Toronto location, the Old Firehall, at 110 Lombard Street. (Hence the brick and big red doors.) The maximum capacity in this room is 160.<\/p>\n<div class=\"longform-fwimg-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-26.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>This is the Main Stage, also designed by Camellia Koo. It looks sort of futuristic. The lights on the stage are LED. \u201cThey can change colour, flash and move throughout a performance,\u201d says Heffernan. \u201cIt\u2019s a party set.\u201d The main stage is where the Second City\u2019s primary cast performs eight shows a week. Max capacity: 244.<\/p>\n<div class=\"longform-fwimg-container\"><img decoding=\"async\" data-sizes=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-4.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>Comedy nerds will love the John Candy Box Theatre, the student performance space. It features the original floorboards from the Old Firehall. \u201cWhen students are on stage, they\u2019re quite literally following in the footsteps of comedy greats,\u201d says Heffernan. \u201cJohn Candy, Catherine O\u2019Hara and Eugene Levy all walked across those floorboards.\u201d<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async defer crossorigin=\"anonymous\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/news\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"2\" title=\"News\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">News<\/a> articles, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/general\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">General category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/longforms\/inside-the-new-toronto-home-of-the-second-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Inside the new Toronto home of the Second City&#8221; In 1973, the Second City opened its first Canadian location, in an old firehall in downtown Toronto. Comedy would never be the same again. The improv group quickly became an incubator for some of the funniest people in history, including John Candy, Eugene Levy, Martin Short,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":522281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.macleans.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/01.12.2022-MACLEANS-SECONDCITY-71-1-766x431.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-522280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/522280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=522280"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/522280\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/522281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=522280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=522280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=522280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}