The Second City has been the incubator for American comedy for over sixty years. It opened on North Wells Street in 1959 and has since produced an extraordinary roster of alumni: Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, and Steve Carell, among many others. The Chicago mainstage hosts a rotating revue that mixes scripted material with improvised scenes; the smaller e.t.c. stage next door is where newer material is tested.
The late-night Friday and Saturday free-form improv sets after the main show are especially good value. The Old Town neighbourhood around it is pleasant for a pre-show dinner, and the Wells Street corridor has enough bars to make a full evening of it.