{"product_id":"the-second-city-almanac-of-improvisation","title":"The Second City Almanac of Improvisation","description":"\u003cp\u003eIt all began in a converted Chinese laundry on Chicagos north side on a cold December night in 1959. No one could have known that by the next century  The Second City would have established itself as the premier comedy institution in the world. Taking its act north  The Second City would build a second permanent home in Toronto where it would create the Emmy-Award winning television series \"SCTV.\" Pioneering the use of improvisation in developing talent and creating satiric revue comedy  The Second City has become - in the words of the New York Times - \"A Comedy Empire.\"  The Second City Almanac of Improvisation - like the theatre itself - is a collection of diverse ideas  viewpoints  and memories  written by a vast array of teachers  actors  and directors who all got their start at the legendary comedy theatre. Fred Willard recalls his introduction to The Second City style in the mid-Sixties; Tim Kazurinsky gives a hilarious visual demonstration on the art of object work; \"Saturday Night Live\" star Tina Fey talks about re-improvising material as a mode of writing revue comedy; noted director Mick Napier takes on the thorny debate between long-form improvisation and short-form improvisation. Anne Libera guides the reader through each essay by providing a road map for understanding how The Second City method of improv-based comedy has become the industry standard.  Mike Nichols  Elaine May  Alan Arkin  Joan Rivers  Robert Klein  Peter Boyle  Harold Ramis  John Belushi  Dan Aykroyd  Bill Murray  John Candy  Martin Short  Gilda Radner  George Wendt  Jim Belushi  Bonnie Hunt  Mike Myers  Ryan Stiles  Rachel Dratch  Nia Vardalos - no other theatre can boast an alumni list of this magnitude. The Second City Almanac of Improvisation provides practical instruction  personal details  and inspiration to both improvisers and their fans.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44946751782965,"sku":"ByrdShop_0810118017","price":39.81,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780810118010.jpg?v=1769964814","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-second-city-almanac-of-improvisation","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}