Second City Main Stage, Chicago, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

The Second City Main Stage is the flagship theatre of The Second City, the improv and sketch comedy company in the Old Town neighborhood of Chicago. Founded in 1959, the company moved into its Wells Street home in 1967, and its stage helped launch a long line of comedy stars.

The story behind it

Old Town was settled by German immigrants in the 19th century. By the mid 20th century, cheap and plentiful housing there had drawn artists and other creative people, which made it a natural audience for a young improv company. A group with University of Chicago ties started Second City in 1959, and the theatre settled at its present address in 1967.

The German busts on the building are older than the theatre. They came from the Schiller Theatre, a downtown German opera house whose demolition in 1961 is often said to have helped spark Chicago's architectural preservation movement. Rather than see them thrown away, one of Second City's co-founders bought the four busts. Alumni of the company include Stephen Colbert and Tina Fey, and the full list is far too long to print here.

What to look for

• The four German busts on the building are the most unexpected detail, rescued from the Schiller Theatre before its demolition.
• The marquee and entrance on North Wells Street show that this is a working comedy theatre, not a museum.
• The surrounding blocks of Old Town mix older low-rise buildings with shops, bars and restaurants, which shows how the neighborhood grew around its arts scene.
• Look at how the busts sit against the facade and think about their journey from a downtown opera house to a comedy club.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 10 to 15 minutes to see the exterior and the busts. If you plan to see a show, count on an evening.
• You go inside by attending a performance, so check the current schedule and ticket availability before you travel.
• The street is lively in the evening when audiences gather, while daytime is quieter for photos.
• Old Town and Lincoln Park are close by, so it is easy to combine the theatre with a longer walk and a meal nearby.

See it on a quest

The Oz Escape: A Wicked Glitch in Chicago brings you to this stop on foot as part of a longer route through the area. The app tells you about each place as you arrive and sets a puzzle in what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.

Rats. A Cat’s Quest Through Lincoln Park, Chicago is another way to take in the Second City Main Stage while exploring the streets around it. You walk from place to place at your own pace, hear the story of each stop and solve a puzzle on the spot. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.