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News Wed Jul 23 2014
Second City Expands, Makes "Room to Grow"
The Second City is expanding their 20,300 square feet space to accommodate even more classrooms and facilities for students. The company will be leasing the 25,000 square foot former four-screen AMC movie theater next to its current Pipers Alley location, which closed in 2011.
The Second City Training Center is already the largest school of comedy in the world, but this new development will more than double the space and provide room for their growing curriculum.
"This will give the opportunity for more student performances in front of audiences, resources to enhance their education, places to work and collaborate, and program-specific materials and technology in classrooms," said Andrew Alexander, CEO and Executive Producer of The Second City, Inc.
The announcement comes on the heels of the new TV, film and digital program the Second City Training Center made public last month. The added capacity will provide the space for state-of-the-art technology including voiceover studios, on-camera training studios and editing suites necessary for the program.
In addition to classrooms, the expansion brings two student theaters, a screening room, a student resource center, a student lounge and bar, two special events spaces and additional space for the companies' businesses.
"Not only will we be able to better accommodate our wait lists in core programs, such as improvisation and writing," said Kerry Sheehan, president of the Second City Training Centers & Education Programs, "but our newer initiatives into digital media and advanced classes for the professionally tracked student will have room to grow and thrive."