The world’s first improv troupe, The Compass Players, was organized in Chicago in the 1950s and grew to include Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Shelly Berman, Del Close and others. When Nichols, May and Berman left for fame and fortune, the group renamed themselves The Second City, and the eventual Director, Del Close—between his many nervous breakdowns—taught his rat-a-tat, free-association method of improv to young comedians like Robin Williams, Dan Ackroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Stephen Colbert, Andy Dick, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Shelley Long, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Gilda Radner, Amy Poehler, Harold Ramis and dozens more. This unforgettable film features cameos and tributes (sort of) from some of the funniest people in America. Del Close believed that his improv students all had a “light to share” but that they should shut off the goddamn light and listen to him.
- Year2020
- Runtime87 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUSA
- PremiereColorado
- DirectorHeather Ross
- ScreenwriterHeather Ross, Adam Samuel Goldman
- ProducerJennifer Pike, Adam Samuel Goldman, Helen Hood Scheer
- CastPrincipal cast: Bob Odenkirk, Jason Sudekis, Lennon Parham, James Urbaniak, Josh Fadem, David Pasquesi, Susan Messing
- CinematographerSimon Fanthorpe, Joseph R. Fitzgerald, Steven Poster
- EditorGeorge Mandl, Tova Goodman, Sean Jarret
- AnimatorKendra Morris
- Production DesignChristy McIrwin
- ComposerJacques Brautbar
The world’s first improv troupe, The Compass Players, was organized in Chicago in the 1950s and grew to include Mike Nichols, Elaine May, Shelly Berman, Del Close and others. When Nichols, May and Berman left for fame and fortune, the group renamed themselves The Second City, and the eventual Director, Del Close—between his many nervous breakdowns—taught his rat-a-tat, free-association method of improv to young comedians like Robin Williams, Dan Ackroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Stephen Colbert, Andy Dick, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Shelley Long, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Gilda Radner, Amy Poehler, Harold Ramis and dozens more. This unforgettable film features cameos and tributes (sort of) from some of the funniest people in America. Del Close believed that his improv students all had a “light to share” but that they should shut off the goddamn light and listen to him.
- Year2020
- Runtime87 minutes
- LanguageEnglish
- CountryUSA
- PremiereColorado
- DirectorHeather Ross
- ScreenwriterHeather Ross, Adam Samuel Goldman
- ProducerJennifer Pike, Adam Samuel Goldman, Helen Hood Scheer
- CastPrincipal cast: Bob Odenkirk, Jason Sudekis, Lennon Parham, James Urbaniak, Josh Fadem, David Pasquesi, Susan Messing
- CinematographerSimon Fanthorpe, Joseph R. Fitzgerald, Steven Poster
- EditorGeorge Mandl, Tova Goodman, Sean Jarret
- AnimatorKendra Morris
- Production DesignChristy McIrwin
- ComposerJacques Brautbar