Days and Nights at The Second City: A Memoir, with Notes on Staging Review Theatre

by Bernard Sahlins

Book Overview

On December 1, 1959, in Chicago, a small band of classically trained actors, directors, and musicians came together to create what became-and remains-a legendary home of comedy: The Second City. Very quickly it achieved an international reputation as a center for comedic performance. It served as the training ground for hundreds of important writers, actors, and directors: Bill Murray, John Belushi, Alan Arkin, Mike Nichols and Elaine May, John Candy,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566634318
• ISBN13: 9781566634311
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: Ivan R. Dee Publisher
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 8.8"

Customer Reviews

An important perspective on an important topic

Bernie Sahlins was producer and sometime director of Second City for the first 25 years.The first part of the book is a memoir of his days at the theatre. I enjoyed this enormously as I know a lot of the people to whom he refers, but I wonder if somebody without this familiarity would get quite as much.The second part consists of his notes on putting together sketches and shows. While this is not a comprehensive guide, much of what he has to say here has not appeared in the other key improv books. I think anybody building sketch material from an improvisational base would do well to pay attention. You don't have to agree with everything he says to learn from him. All in all, very much worth your attention.