The Second City

Exclusive Portraits: Bill Murray Back in Chicago for ‘Groundhog Day’

CHICAGO – Bill Murray is a son of Chicagoland, born and raised in the area and beginning his career at The Second City. To honor his friend and collaborator Harold Ramis, Murray made an appearance on February 2nd, 2024, on Chicago’s Navy Pier on behalf of Harold Ramis Day and of course his classic film “Groundhog Day.”

In Memoriam Portrait: Oscar Winning Actor Alan Arkin Dies at 89

Alan Arkin, photo by Joe Arce 2012

SAN MARCOS, Calif – There was an Alan Arkin for every generation. Post World War Two adults may have seen him at Chicago’s “The Second City.” Baby Boomers remember his films “Wait Until Dark” and “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians are Coming” and Gen X saw him in “The In-Laws” (“Serpentine, Shel”), “Glengarry Glen Ross” and his Oscar winning turn in “Little Miss Sunshine.” He even did a Netflix series, “The Kominsky Method.” For every generation, for every form of acting, there was Alan Arkin. He passed away on June 29th, 2023, at the age of 89.

Podtalk: Susan Messing for the World Comedy Expo Chicago, March 25-27, 2022

Susan Messing, WCE 2022

CHICAGO – She is one of the best and most established improv artists in Chicago, the City of Yes-And. Susan Messing makes history wherever she goes, including her residency at the Annoyance Theatre with her famous “Messing with a Friend” revue, an ongoing and completely improvised hour of hilarity. Messing will be a part of the inaugural World Comedy Expo (natch), performing two shows (click link for tickets and info), MESSING WITH MASON, THE 1-Zs and plus facilitating a workshop, IMPROV FOR STAND UP.

Via Zoom: Kerry Sheenan for Inaugural World Comedy Expo in Chicago, March 25-27, 2022

World Comedy Expo 2022

CHICAGO – It’s time to laugh, and just in time the World Comedy Expo is coming to Chicago this weekend – March 25th-27th, 2022 – and is offering an international showcase of stand-up comics, improvisation, sketch, panels and workshops all on the topic of generating laughs. Kelly Sheenan of Chicago is a co-founder.

Via Zoom: Actor Jon Barinholtz on New TV Series ‘American Auto’

CHICAGO – Jon Barinholtz keeps on rolling. After having wrapped a six season run on NBC-TV’s “Superstore” portraying Marcus, he landed another role – with the same sitcom creator (Justin Spitzer) and network – as car industry executive Westey Payne in “American Auto,” which premiered last month. And all this as he co-created “Chicago Party Aunt” for Netflix.

Via Zoom: Cindy Caponera in Chicago ‘Messing with a Friend’

CHICAGO – When we last talked to author/actor/producer and Chicago native Cindy Caponera in 2017, she was working on the excellent Showtime Network series “I’m Dying Up Here,’ about stand up comics in the 1970s. She’s currently in Chicago and will appear in the ongoing “Messing with a Friend” at the Annoyance Theatre. Click MESSING for ticket info.

Via Zoom: Actress Anna Gold in ‘Broke AF’ on Amazon Prime Video

CHICAGO – These days, getting to “prime time” often means getting a film or series to Amazon Prime Video. Chicago-based actress Anna Gold got that streaming distinction, after collaborating on a TV series called “Broke AF” … created by Maurice Profitt. In Episode Three she portrays Polly, fresh from a small town and living in the big city.

DAY SIX: Podtalk, Heather Ross of ‘For Madmen Only’ at 56th Chicago International Film Fest

CHICAGO – One of the prime Chicago-centric documentaries at the 56th Chicago International Film Festival is “For Madmen Only: Stories of Del Close.” Del Close was a legendary instructor in the Chicago comedy improv scene, and director Heather Ross created this multi-layered doc of his comic force.

Podtalk: Laura Ann Parry on Her Passionate Journey as an Actor

CHICAGO – With film/TV production and stages still shut down for the most part, what are actors doing to fill the void? For Laura Ann Parry, it’s been a chance to sharpen her craft, to do “new normal” auditioning and focus on what projects are upcoming. The Chicago character actor considers it part of the overall journey.

Podtalk: Christopher Biewer of ‘Vendors,’ Screening at iO Theater Chicago, Sept. 14, 2019

Vendors, Christopher Biewer

CHICAGO – With the major league baseball playoffs on the horizon, there is no better way to celebrate than a screening of the ballgame-themed TV pilot “Vendors,” created by Christopher Biewer, directed by Joel Murray and featuring Biewer, Kim DeJesus, Tim Kazurinsky, Emo Philips and former Chicago Cub Ryan Dempster.

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