Chicago style: The Second City Brings its Comedy to Florence for the First Time
by Rebecca Cross
Ever wonder what it would be like to know celebrities before they got their claim to fame? You could get that chance by attending The Second City production at the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center.
Comedians including Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell got their start at The Second City. The Second City is a comedy group that started in Chicago in 1959.
A six-member traveling troupe of comedians will perform a satirical stage show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the FMU PAC.
As the sketches change, so do the characters that the actors and actresses portray. Each actor and actress will portray several characters while on stage as the troupe performs a mixture of improv and sketch comedy. Comedy sketches are brief, 5-10 minute segments that keep audiences engaged with a breadth of themes ranging from politics to current events.
“We haven’t recently done very much comedy on our stage,” said Bud Simmons, director of the PAC. “We’re trying to help expose the audience to something new and different.”
Simmons said he wants to bring a variety of performances to the PAC to show attendees that there is something for everyone. Once attendees experience a performance at the center, the beauty of the space and the caliber of the show will inspire attendees to come back time and time again.
Whether seeing The Second City is your first performance or you are a recurring attendee, it will be a must-see performance for the Florence area, suited to a variety of ages. The Second City will celebrate 60 years as a comedy troupe in 2019.
“It’s kind of an opportunity to connect generations with that sort of sketch humor,” Simmons said. “Who knows, you might see the next Tina Fey on stage at the FMU Performing Arts Center.”
Catch The Second City for the first time in this city by buying your tickets today. Attendees can purchase tickets through the PAC’s website, over the phone or in person at the ticket office. Tickets start at $25.
The Second City performance may contain adult themes throughout. The show will be about two hours long, including an intermission.
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