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'THE SECOND CITY' PERFORMING AT STEELSTACKS JULY 15-17

DATE: May 20, 2011

Legendary Chicago Comedy Troupe Will Also Offer Improv Classes for Kids and Adults

BETHLEHEM, PA— It's a weekend of a million laughs when Chicago's legendary comedy theater troupe The Second City performs July 15-17 at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem. Shows will take place in the Fowler Blast Furnace Room July 15 at 8 p.m., July 16 at 7 and 10 p.m., and July 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets at $30, $25 and $22 and go on sale May 24, 10 a.m., to ArtsQuest Members and May 27, 10 a.m., to the public. They will be available at www.artsquest.org and 610-332-3378.

Founded in 1959, The Second City has become the premier training ground for the comedy world's best and brightest. Its alumni list reads like a who's who of American comedy and includes stars such as Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, Peter Boyle, Harold Ramis, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, George Wendt, Martin Short, John Candy, Bonnie Hunt, Tim Meadows, Chris Farley, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Horatio Sanz, Ryan Stiles and others.

The Second City's performances at the ArtsQuest Center will feature some of the best sketches, songs and improvisations from the troupe's 50-plus year history. In addition, the troupe will teach special improv classes for children and adults throughout the weekend. Registration fee per class is $30 for ArtsQuest Members and $35 for the public. Registrations for the children's and adult beginner classes may be made at www.artquest.org or 610-332-3378; individuals interested in the adult master class must apply via resume to ArtsQuest Programming Manager Ryan Hill at rhill@artsquest.org.

CHILDREN'S IMPROV CLASSES

• Ages 4-8: July 16, 10:30 a.m.
• Ages 9-12: July 16, 12:30 p.m.
• Ages 13-18: July 16, 2:30 p.m.

ADULT IMPROV CLASSES

• Adult Beginner Class (ages 18 and up): July 16, 4:30 p.m.
• Adult Master Class (ages 18 and up: July 17, 11:30 a.m.

An evening with The Second City provides audiences with the chance to see comedy stars in the making, while enjoying absolutely hilarious satire and cutting-edge improvisation. No topic or subject matter is off limits for The Second City, so if your parents asked you not to speak about it at the dinner table, chances are it will be made fun of in an evening with this amazing comedy troupe.

For more information on The Second City at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, visit www.artsquest.org.

ABOUT ARTSQUEST

ArtsQuest™ is a Bethlehem, PA-based nonprofit dedicated to presenting music, arts, festivals, cultural experiences and educational and outreach programs that aid in economic development, urban revitalization and community enrichment. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest®; the Banana Factory® cultural arts and education center; and the ArtsQuest Center and SteelStacks™ arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest's programming reaches more than 1.5 million people annually.

For more information on ArtsQuest, visit www.artsquest.org or call 610-332-1300.

CONTACT:

Joe Butera, Capital BlueCross, 717-541-6139 or joe.butera@capbluecross.com.

Mark Demko, ArtsQuest, 610-332-1342 or mdemko@artsquest.org