The effort to revitalize 35-year-old Second City took a big step forward with last week’s opening of the improv company’s 80th revue, Pinata Full of Bees (reviewed by Jack Helbig in Section One). For this newest production Second City’s trademark skit-blackout-skit formula was dumped in favor of a format in which segments flow more smoothly. The new format also includes characters and plot points that recur throughout the evening, a tactic that Second City producers hope will keep audiences more involved.
Best of Chicago voting is live now. Vote for your favorites »
“We felt there was a need for change,” says the show’s director, Tom Gianas, adding, “The old format had been imitated by many other groups and seemed sort of stale.” One reason Second City began tinkering with the old approach is the concern that large numbers of local fans had begun to tune out. While Second City has long been a destination for summer tourists, it needs solid hometown support to survive lengthy Chicago winters. “We wanted to make the place more interesting for local audiences, and we knew we needed to break some rules,” says Second City owner and executive producer Andrew Alexander. Unless there is a huge audience revolt, Alexander says, the changes initiated in Pinata Full of Bees will be carried through in future revues.
Hed TK
