World-class Comedy  with “The Second City” comes to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College Feb. 14 &15

 

            DURANGO, Colo. – Renowned for launching the careers of comedy greats from John Belushi to Tina Fey, the Second City Comedy Troupe brings its irreverent comedic revue to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College for two nights, Feb. 14 & 15, 7 p.m.

            A long-running improvisational comedy troupe based originally in the Old Town area of Chicago, The Second City is renown as the premier training ground for the comedy world’s best and brightest. Durango’s performance will feature some of the best sketches, songs and improvisation, including a mix of semi-improvised and scripted scenes (known as blackouts) from Second City’s 45 year history, plus showcase the comedy stars of tomorrow.

            Second City evolved originally from the “Compass Players,” a 1950s cabaret-style revue show launched by undergraduates at the University of Chicago. The troupe adopted the self-mocking name “Second City” from the title of a disdainful article by A.J. Liebling about Chicago, which appeared in The New Yorker, and the humor evolved from there.

            The original show premiered in 1959, and since that time The Second City has established itself as a Chicago landmark and a national treasure. Touring troupes take the special medley of classic scenes, songs and improvisations throughout the world, and as the organization’s promotional material guarantees, “We’re just as funny in Uzbekistan.”

            Celebrated actors and comedians who got their start with Second City include “SCTV” and “Saturday Night Live” legends Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Mike Myers, John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Martin Short and John Candy, plus Bonnie Hunt, Chris Farley, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jeremy Piven, George Wendt and Tim Meadows.

            “This is absolutely hilarious satire and cutting-edge improvisation,” said Gary Penington, concert hall managing director, who suggests that tickets might be a great, but admittedly unromantic Valentine’s Day treat. “No topic or subject matter is off-limits. Chances are if your parents asked you not to speak about it at the dinner table, it will be made fun of in the show. Sometimes we have to stop taking ourselves too seriously and just laugh.”

            Tickets for Second City – $18 for Balcony and Orchestra, and $25 for Plaza – are available on-line at www.durangoconcerts.com, at the Concert Hall’s new Ticketing Services Office, downtown at 707½ Main Ave., or by calling, 970.247.7657.  The Box Office at Fort Lewis College is open for ticket sales ONLY two hours prior to the performance.

            Discounts for children, students, seniors and FLC employees, are available only on advance sales. Full price applies to tickets purchased at the Community Concert Hall Box Office two hours prior to a performance.

The Community Concert Hall is located in the growing arts complex of Fort Lewis College.  It operates through a partnership with the college, a state-supported, independent institution of higher education, as well as the city of Durango, and with financial and in-kind contributions from generous members of the community.