Description
Book SynopsisDiscover the behind-the-scenes story of how The Second City theatre created a generation of world class great actors, directors, and writers. In the late Fifties and Sixties, iconoclastic young rebels in Chicago opened two tiny theatres—The Compass and The Second City—where they satirised politics, religion and sex. Developing scenes by improvising based on audience suggestions turned out to be a fine way to develop great actors, directors, and writers. Alumni went on to create such ground-breaking works as
The Graduate,
Groundhog Day, and
Don’t Look Up. Many of them also became stars on
Saturday Night Live.
Something Wonderful Right Away features the pioneers who founded the empire that transformed American comedy.
This new edition tells even more of the story. Included for the first time is an interview with Viola Spolin, the genius who invented theatre games that were the foundation of improvisational theatre. Also included are dozens of follow-up stories about Mike Nichols, Barbara Harris, Del Close, Joan Rivers, Alan Arkin, and Gilda Radner, plus “You Only Shoot the Ones You Love,” the story of how this book’s author, playwright Jeffrey Sweet, ended up being so involved in the community he covered that he was captured by it.
Trade Review“Jeffrey Sweet’s history of improv has been a primary source for anyone serious about comedy. It chronicles a time that changed how acting and sketch comedy performing coalesced and influenced generations. It’s also as authentic as you can get. For anyone who wants to understand modern humor, it’s essential.”
—Ben Stiller “
Something Wonderful Right Away is the Rosetta Stone of modern comedy. Nearly every comedian, actor, show, or movie that’s made you laugh in the last fifty years can trace their roots somehow to the crazy magic that Jeffrey Sweet captures in this book.”
—Thomas Dyja, bestselling author of The Third Coast and New York, New York, New York “For anyone who wants to understand the birth and development of improv as told by its brilliant, contentious creators and innovators, Jeffrey Sweet’s book is the bible. He talked to everyone; he got everything. And the addition of essential new material makes
Something Wonderful Right Away even more vivid and valuable now than it was the day it was first published.”
—Mark Harris, bestselling author of Mike Nichols: A Life “Intriguing! Shop-talk—with its mixture of practical philosophy, anecdotes and just plain gossip—is always interesting. But
Something Wonderful Right Away has all that and something else besides. A fascinating story of creativity and conflict.”
—Chicago Tribune “If you are interested in the theater, films or television, or if you just like to laugh, don’t miss it.”
—Newsday “An important book about the most important American theatrical endeavor since the Group Theater. Plus, it’s fun to read.”
—David Mamet “I could not put it down. It brought back all the sweet, tender, funny, horrendous, angry and exhilarating moments that I still have concerning Second City.”
—Joan Rivers
