Second City announces 50th anniversary panels

The Second City has released more details about its upcoming 50th anniversary celebration in Chicago this coming December. I earlier reported about their extra-special SCTV Reunion Show that's happening Dec. 11. Well, plenty of Second City Mainstage alums are coming back to party and participate in a series of panel discussions. Here is the complete list of panels for the anniversary weekend…

Saturday, Dec. 12 
10 a.m., The Colbert Report featuring writers Peter Grosz and Peter Gwinn as well as co-Executive Producer Tom Purcell

11:30 a.m., SCTV — featuring Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Eugene Levy and fellow cast members

1 p.m., "Voices of Diversity at The Second City" — featuring Chicago's own Aaron Freeman, Keegan Michael Key of MADtv and Gary Unmarried, Angela Shelton and Frances Callier of "Frangela," Suzy Nakamura of Curb Your Enthusiasm and The West Wing as well as current Second City resident company actors Christina Anthony and Anthony LeBlanc

2:30 p.m., 30 Rock — featuring cast members Scott Adsit and Jack McBrayer as well as staff writer Kay Cannon

Sunday, Dec. 13 
1 p.m., "Second City: From Stage to Screen" — featuring Jim Belushi, Betty Thomas, Bob Odenkirk of Mr. Show and more

2:30 p.m., Saturday Night Live — featuring SNL alums Tim Kazurinsky, Horatio Sanz and Rachel Dratch as well as current SNL staff writer John Lutz

4 p.m., "Second City in the Sixties" — featuring Alan Arkin, Fred Willard, Robert Klein, original cast member Mina Kolb along with Second City co-founder Bernie Sahlins and Artistic Consultant Sheldon Patinkin

Tickets for each panel are $25 and will be available for purchase at The Second City Theater Box Office at 312-337-3992 and online at www.secondcity.com beginning Thursday, Oct. 22. For more information, check out The Second City's 50th Anniversary site.

Related: Variety recently published a special section devoted to the business and legacy of The Second City at 50.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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