Kids Need a Laugh? Second City's Improv Classes, Shows and Camps is Great Medicine

Second City’s Classes, Comedy Camps, and Shows Bring Smiles – and Big Laughs – to Kids All Over

There’s been a laugh shortage in our household, and our friends at The Second City have extended an open arm to bring back laughter and joy to our community.

If you’re not familiar with it, for over 60 years, The Second City has been renowned for entertaining and educating millions in its theaters and classrooms. Its roots are just a few hours north in Chicago and it remains headquartered there.

The famed comedy institution has adapted its improvisation-based shows, classes, and corporate services to create real-time, interactive, and socially “together” virtual experiences available to audiences worldwide {and straight to your Champaign-Urbana area home; how convenient!}.

After watching Second City’s family-friendly “really awesome improv show” on a recent Thursday afternoon with two kids ages 8 and 11, it’s clear that using videoconferencing is NOT an impediment to Second City and its talented actors.

Rather, they have embraced it, and in fact are thriving. The show held my kids’ (very limited) attention span and kept them wanting more. They were engaged and responded to prompts and tried to volunteer, albeit unsuccessfully this time.

The Second City’s virtual improv workshop was everything one could hope for during an in-person workshop: creative, interactive, and most of all – kid accessible. The actors kept things moving, using a combination of live volunteers (that’s brave anytime but seriously brave in Corona time!) involvement via the chat, and games. And best of all – it’s free (for the foreseeable future.) (Weekly through at least June 25; register in advance here).

Here are the top three ways for families to get engaged with The Second City’s virtual programming (and better yet, laughter):

1) Free family friendly improv shows. Seriously awesome and fun! Every Thursday at 1 pm. This past Thursday, we tuned in – our review is above. (Weekly through at least June 25; register in advance here).

2) Virtual comedy camps. From five-day camps, to one-day camps, to one-time drop-ins, there’s plenty of options to fit every family’s needs. For kids ages 4-18 and in three time zones. Perfect for beginners!

3) Kids classes – improv, acting, comedy, music and more. A special focus on teens! Way too many options to list here. Find all the info you need for online kids and teens classes HERE.

For the complete listing of online adult, kid, and teen classes, including one-time drop-in opportunities, visit secondcityonline.com. Classes start at $25, while camps (one day to five days) start around $100 and go up.

“It’s incredible to see how well our work translates to this platform. There are so many people who have yet to experience The Second City, and it’s so rewarding to our talent and staff to get back to work online and give the world a taste of what we do,” says Andrew Alexander, CEO and executive producer of The Second City.

Want to get a taste of it? Watch here:

Thanks to The Second City for partnering with chambanamoms.com.