The Second City Conservatory Show. Original sketch comedy and improv from the graduating class, developed over weeks of process shows and now on the e.t.c. stage in Chicago's Old Town.
"Would you rather it be mean?"
Each performance has its own ticket link. Past dates are crossed off automatically. All shows are at The Second City Chicago e.t.c. Theater.
Opening night and the three ticketed performances, ending with the graduation show.
Monday-night process shows where the material was built and tested before the run.
All tickets are General Admission. Seats are assigned by the House Manager when you arrive, based on arrival time and party size. Prices are per ticket as listed at checkout.
Two Grad Revue ensembles share the night. On the regular dates one ticket covers both; graduation night may be ticketed per group. Tap a card for a bio.
Nine performers who turned improv into a finished sketch revue.
The other Grad Revue ensemble on the bill.
"Would you rather it be mean?"
NICE SHIRT is a Second City Conservatory Graduation Show: a night of original sketch comedy written and performed by the nine people in the cast above, directed by Jeff Bouthiette. Over weeks of process shows the cast improvised, kept what landed, and rewrote it into finished scenes, songs and blackouts. What you'll see is the revue that came out the other end.
The other Conservatory Graduation Show on the bill, directed by Jess Mitolo, with Darwin Noguera on music and Vicky Diaz-Escobar stage managing. Ten performers who went through the same process: Monday-night previews, improv turned into written sketch, and a finished revue for the run.
It plays the same four nights as NICE SHIRT, and on the regular dates one ticket gets you both revues. Graduation night (Sept 21) may work differently: the two groups go on at 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM and could be ticketed separately, so check your ticket before you arrive.
The Second City Conservatory is an advanced six-level program dedicated to using improvisation as a tool to create a Second City-style revue, the cornerstone of The Second City Training Center. Students build on the fundamentals of improv, advance their scenic and character skills, explore forms and styles, and learn how to turn improvised scenes into written material for a satiric comedy revue.
Grad Revue 3 is the last level. Its ensembles perform Monday nights at the Training Center, with sets that mix original scenes and blackouts with some improvisation, and the run ends with a final graduation show. This is that show.
A classic Second City revue is original sketches and songs sprinkled with a healthy dose of improv. Fully written and rehearsed, but no two shows are ever the same.
Flyers and art made for the run. Tap to open full size.
The official programs for both revues, the same ones the QR codes at the theater point to. Cast and crew bios inside. Tap a cast card above to read a bio here without opening the PDF.
Coverage of the show and its cast. Short excerpts here; each headline links to the full article.
BroadwayWorld Chicago picked up the closing-night announcement: Monday, September 21 at the e.t.c. Theater, with WAITING FOR THE PUNCHLINE at 7:00 PM and NICE SHIRT at 8:30 PM. The piece runs through the full nine-person ensemble and the creative team, and describes the revue as original scenes, songs, blackouts and live improvisation built over weeks of process shows.
Read it on BroadwayWorld →NICE SHIRT cast member stars in the Chicago Cubs’ first scripted series: a 17-episode rom-com set over one game in the Wrigley Field bleachers, made by Cubs Productions for the team’s TikTok channel and premiered September 4. Forbes lists him alongside leads Veronica Garrubbo and Sid Kutikkad, with Angelina Dávila, Kevin Kantor and Shelby Brown.
Read it on Forbes →A 158-seat cabaret-style room on the second floor of Piper's Alley in Old Town, right next to The Second City Mainstage, home of Chicago improv and sketch comedy since 1959.
All tickets are General Admission. When you arrive, the House Manager assigns your seat based on your arrival time and how many parties are expected for that performance. All seating is at the House Manager's discretion.
The tables are close together because it's a nightclub. You'll always be seated with the people you came with, but expect to make some new friends, too.
The room holds 158: 47 premium, 76 general admission and 35 value seats, plus ADA seating.
Tier map from The Second City. Tap to enlarge.
Quick answers for anyone finding NICE SHIRT while searching for Second City, Chicago improv or sketch comedy shows this September.
Yes. NICE SHIRT is a Conservatory Graduation Show produced by The Second City Training Center in Chicago. It is the final revue of the Grad Revue program, performed by the graduating ensemble on The Second City's own e.t.c. stage.
Both. The revue is scripted sketch comedy written by the cast, built from improv over weeks of process shows, and each performance still includes live improvisation. No two nights are the same.
Inside Piper's Alley at 230 W. North Ave., 2nd floor, in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood, next door to The Second City Mainstage at North and Wells. Self-park in the Piper's Alley garage; parking is not validated.
General Admission is $12 ($12.25 on graduation night, which includes a $2.25 fee). Each date has its own link in the Dates & Tickets section above, sold through The Second City's box office site.
Shows start at 8:00 PM. NICE SHIRT shares the night with a second Grad Revue ensemble, WAITING FOR THE PUNCHLINE, and on regular dates one ticket covers both. Graduation night on Sept 21 starts at 7:00 PM with NICE SHIRT on at 8:30 PM.
The Second City does not admit children under 13, and ages 13 to 17 must be accompanied by an adult. There is no drink minimum.
