GENEVA, NY – Get ready to laugh at the Smith Opera House this fall! The Smith is putting the spotlight on comedy with a lineup of hilarious acts that will put Geneva in stitches. Tickets to The Second City, HYPROV, and “Cooking with the Calamari Sisters” are available now at thesmith.org.
The iconic sketch comedy group, The Second City, kicks off the season with Laugh Harder Not Smarter on September 20! The Second City opened its doors in 1959 as a small comedy cabaret and has since grown to become the world’s most influential name in improvisation and comedy. Their illustrious alumni list includes John Belushi, John Candy, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Keegan-Michael Key, Eugene Levy, Tim Meadows, Bill Murray, and Mike Myers. Laugh Harder Not Smarter features classic sketch comedy and songs from the company’s rich history as well as fresh new favorites.
The laughs continue with HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis on September 26, featuring Whose Line Is It Anyway? star Colin Mochrie alongside world-renowned hypnotist Asad Mecci. The 90-minute live show combines hypnosis and improv – two art forms that have mystified and entertained fans, skeptics and everyone in between – for a totally unique comedy experience.
The night begins with Mecci inviting 20 audience volunteers on stage to be hypnotized. From there, the most responsive participants team up with Mochrie to create improvised scenes – all while under hypnosis. The result: an original, hilarious, and unforgettable night of comedy.
Get ready to mangia at one of TWO performances from fan-favorites The Calamari Sisters on October 4 and 5! The larger-than-life Italian duo presents Cooking With The Calamari Sisters, where family history, failed dishes, and food fights come to a boil during this live “broadcast” of an (imaginary) public access cable cooking show. The sisters sing and dance to such beloved Italian favorites as “Volare,” “Come On A My House,” “Botcha Me,” “Que Sera Sera,” “That’s Amore,” and of course, “Mambo Italiano!” as they try to make it through their final broadcast together in one piece.
The Second City presents Laugh Harder Not Smarter
Saturday, September 20 at 8:00 PM (doors at 7:00 PM)
Tickets: $29.31–$50.83 (fees included)
HYPROV: Improv Under Hypnosis
Friday, September 26 at 8:00PM
Tickets: $39.56–$65.69 (fees included)
Cooking With The Calamari Sisters
Saturday, October 4 at 7:00 PM
Sunday, October 5 at 2:00 PM
Tickets: $39.56–$61.08 (fees included)
All tickets can be purchased online at thesmith.org, in-person at our box office, or by calling (315) 781-5483. The Smith strongly urges patrons to purchase only through these official channels, as third-party websites may sell invalid or overpriced tickets.
The Smith Center for the Arts, stewards of the historic Smith Opera House, provides diverse arts and educational enrichment opportunities year-round for Finger Lakes residents and visitors. To learn more about events offered by The Smith Center for the Arts visit thesmith.org, or visit or call our box office for phone and in-person sales, 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday. The Smith Opera House is at 82 Seneca St. in Geneva, NY. Please email boxoffice@thesmith.org or call (315) 781-5483. Finger Lakes Public Radio, WEOS, is the media sponsor for the Smith Center for the Arts.
