The Second City Toronto

The Second City Toronto opened in 1973 as a Canadian branch of Chicago's famous improvisational comedy theatre, bringing the Second City model of sketch and improv training to Toronto at a time when the city had few dedicated venues for developing comedic performers. The Toronto operation quickly became more than a franchise outpost, developing its own strong roster of performers and its own comedic identity distinct from its Chicago parent.

A pipeline to SCTV and beyond

Second City Toronto's stage and training program became the direct pipeline for the cast of SCTV, the Toronto-based sketch show that launched in 1976 and drew heavily on Second City talent including John Candy, Catherine O'Hara, Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin. That connection continued for decades afterward, with Second City Toronto alumni regularly going on to Saturday Night Live, film and television careers, cementing the theatre's reputation as one of the single most important comedy training institutions in Canada.

Sources

• The Canadian Encyclopedia — Second City
• Wikipedia — The Second City

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