Famed Chicago comedy club Second City has canceled all performances for this week after a fire damaged the company's offices last Wednesday.
"After a constructive weekend of cleaning and restoration from last week’s fire, The Second City has decided to cancel this week’s performances to finish work on the spaces to be sure they’re operational for talent, staff and customers," a post on the comedy club's Facebook page read.
The company said it hopes to resume performances by Sept. 7.
Classes were also canceled for Monday and Tuesday at the Second City Training Center with hopes of resuming training by Wednesday, the post read.
Second City said it plans to host a benefit concert for the Chicago Fire Department to thank them for their efforts in saving the theater.
"We cannot thank the Chicago Fire Department enough for their hard work," Second City wrote after hanging a Chicago Fire Department flag outside the theater. "What you did for our Second City family will never be forgotten."
Chicago's iO Theater opened up its offices to the Second City staff after the blaze and also offered class spaces at the theater to teachers at the company.
"The improv community is a tight one," iO Director Charna Halpern said in a statement. "I'm sure they would do the same for us."
“We have a saying backstage in improvisation: I've got your back. It tells your ensemble that you won't let them fail, that you will support them when they are most vulnerable," Matt Hovde, Artistic Director for The Second City Training Center, said in a statement. "So when friends started offering workspace, classrooms, resources, and unconditional support literally minutes after news broke of our fire, it felt like that moment on stage when you are losing it, and your scene partner looks you in the eye and gives you the gift you need to carry on. It's humbling and inspiring. We're very lucky to be a part of a neighborhood, city and theater community that has our backs.”
Four firefighters were injured while battling the intense three-alarm fire in an Old Town building, damaging the theater company's offices.
At least one other person suffered injuries from the thick black smoke that billowed near Wells Street and North Avenue, according to Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford. All four firefighters were listed in stable condition.
The fire started in a storefront at 1612 N. Wells just south of the theater in Old Town. Adobo Grill restaurant occupies the first floor of the three-story building, while apartments occupy the remaining two floors. At one point the out-of-control flames were shooting through the top of the building's nearly collapsed roof.
Upon further investigation, the Office of Fire Investigation identified an accident in Adobo Grill's first-floor kitchen as the cause of the fire. The flames then quickly traveled upwards through the restaurant's vents.
After trying to fight the flames for more than an hour, crews were still unable to put out the angry blaze and the fire was elevated to a 3-11 alarm.
The Second City theater, which launched the careers of scores of comedians and actors, including John Belushi, Tina Fey and Bill Murray, remained safe as of 2:30 p.m., but their offices were destroyed. All showings for Wednesday evening were canceled, the comedy club announced on Twitter.
As the fire spread to the roof officials worked to keep flames from spreading to nearby buildings, including nearby Piper's Alley mall and the building that houses the Second City theater, according to Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
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Piper's Alley and the Second City faculty and training center were evacuated as firefighters worked to put out the blaze, Langford said.
