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andnowforthekicker Heather Whinna email heather@rightrightright.com

The Second City Improvises 24 Straight Hours To Raise Money For Letters To Santa

For Immediate Release: December 1, 2003, Chicago, IL

The Second City in conjunction with andnowforthekicker is proud to announce a very special benefit event The Second City That Never Sleeps: Letters To Santa - 24 hours of improvisation by Second City performers, alumni and guests that will raise money to provide holiday gifts for families in need on Tuesday December 9, 2003 8:30pm at The Second City etc (1608 N Wells.) Tickets will cost $10 and will be available at the door December 9 & 10th 2003. No advance tickets are available.

Every year parents and children write letters to Santa asking for food, winter clothes and toys. Those letters end up at the main post office. We will pick up 10 of those letters and make their Christmas extra special this year. One unique twist on this charitable event is that the Second City staff will actually be delivering these gifts on Christmas day.

This is the third year Second City will be holding this benefit. As with the first two improv marathons, a cast of improvisers will take the stage for the entire 24 hours. They will be playing improvisational games, long-form scenes, monologues, and anything else to keep them awake. This brave group of Second City improvisers will be supported by hourly appearances by other well-known Chicago improvisers and Chicago musicians who will share stories or play songs to inspire the improvisation. Some confirmed improvisors include current Second City cast memebers Andy Cobb, Keegan-Michael Key and Rebecca Sohn, as well as alumnus TJ Jagodowski. Confirmed musicians are listed below; more names will be added in the next two weeks.

The show will begin at 8:30pm on Tuesday December 9, 2003 and will end at 9:30pm Wednesday December 10. There will be a live band and an opening party on Tuesday December 9. The admission price of $10 will guarantee you entry throughout the entire 24-hour event. Creative and typical raffle prizes will also be awarded. This year will include extra special raffle prizes and a couple of tremendous auctions. Please let everyone know to bring your checkbook, just in case! Last year Steve Albini donated for auction a day of his time in his studio, Electrical Audio. Jeff Tweedy auctioned a song written for the winner about the winner. We are working on special raffle prizes from friends who cannot be in town for the event, and they should be impressive. We will have some out-of-town “celebrity” friends participate via specially recorded monologues.

For more information please contact me at the numbers listed above. The public can get more detailed information from Second City at www.secondcity.com or by calling 312.664.4032. You may print my email address if you like, but please do not print my home phone number.

Sally Timms & Jon Langford
Robbie Fulks
Billy Corgan
Jeff Tweedy
Steve Albini
The Blisters in their first live performance starring Spencer Tweedy (age 8 ) Henry Moser (age 9) Dylan Johnson (age 11)

musicians performance times confirmed:

Tuesday
Jeff Tweedy 10:30pm

Wednesday
The Blisters 5:30pm
Billy Corgan 7pm

I will continue to edit this post in the next couple days and add performance times-

heather wrote:why did a fucking smiley face show up in my post?

I fixed it for you.

Now, that's the right idea. I thought all the good-will had been removed from the holiday season by ruling of the Supreme Court. Delivery on Chistmas is a very nice gesture. Looks like a fun event. This should stay up top for a while longer, methinks....

I moved this topic to the General Discussion area and am posting to keep it toward the top of the list.

This is awesome. I wish that i was in chicago to see this. This needs to get some more promotion. Perhaps Russ or Heather could change the title of the topic? Forgive me really doesn't grab attention. I only checked it because i am procrastinating. Also, i think something like this warrants a plug on electrical's homepage. Wait better check that it isn't there already. Nope it isn't. Russ you really should put some sort of banner or announcement up. If you don't, and you don't have a good excuse, then i will kick you in the nut when you come home.

-Ryan

tonhtubra wrote:This is awesome. I wish that i was in chicago to see this. This needs to get some more promotion. Perhaps Russ or Heather could change the title of the topic? Forgive me really doesn't grab attention. I only checked it because i am procrastinating. Also, i think something like this warrants a plug on electrical's homepage. Wait better check that it isn't there already. Nope it isn't. Russ you really should put some sort of banner or announcement up. If you don't, and you don't have a good excuse, then i will kick you in the nut when you come home.

-Ryan

Thanks for the suggestion. I called it Forgive Me because I always feel gross about personally promoting shows on websites, but this is for a good cause and I probably just have to get over it.

tonhtubra wrote:i will kick you in the nut when you come home.
-Ryan

Thanks. Looking forward to it.

Are the gifts starting to show up at Electrical yet? What's the big one this year? Wasn't it the giant Princess Barbie last year?

Chris Garges
Charlotte, NC

I am tearing my hair out in frustration at not being able to come to Chicago on these days. Will the footage eventually be made available for purchase or rental? I want to see The Blisters so badly, it hurts!