Author: Jozie Hunter
APRIL 12 | 8PM
Must be 21 or older to attend. Doors open one hour prior to show start time.
It all started with children’s games.
Rooted in the groundbreaking improvisational games of Viola Spolin, The Second City opened its doors on a snowy Chicago night in December of 1959, and a comedy revolution began.The small cabaret theater has grown to become the most influential and prolific comedy empire in the world, developing an entirely unique way of creating art and fostering generation after generation of superstars.
Co-founded by Spolin’s son, Paul Sills, along with Howard Alk and Bernie Sahlins, The Second City was experimental and unconventional in its approach to both theater and comedy. Almost immediately, alumni of The Second City, including Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Fred Willard, Gilda Radner, Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, launched the theater into the international spotlight.
In 1976, Second City launched “SCTV,” which has been hailed as one of the greatest sketch comedy series of all time. The two-time Emmy winner featured an all-star cast made up of Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Catherine O’Hara, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, Joe Flaherty, and Rick Moranis.
Today, The Second City is home to a world-class entertainment company, continuing to produce premier talent in all three of its locations–Chicago, Toronto, and Hollywood–and entertaining more than one million audience members a year. From Steve Carell to Keegan-Michael Key, Stephen Colbert to Tina Fey, Chris Farley to Mike Myers, Second City’s imprint is all over film, television, and beyond.
In addition to its stages, Second City Touring Companies perform electrifying revues and original productions across North America and abroad. Our creative collaborations have produced thrilling and critically acclaimed work in partnership with organizations like the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Norwegian Cruise Line, the New York Comedy Festival, and the Chicago Bulls.
Second City Training Centers in Chicago, Toronto, Hollywood, and online teach thousands of students a year, and the opening of the Harold Ramis Film School in 2016 gave the world the first film school dedicated to comedy. Finally, Second City Works is an industry leader in bringing improv-based methodologies to businesses and organizations of all types.
We hope you enjoy the show…after all, it’s been almost 60 years in the making.
Dates:
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Sat, April 12th from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
MAY 10 | 8PM
Must be 21 or older to attend. Doors open one hour prior to show start time.
Comedian Bobcat Goldthwait first appeared on the David Letterman Show at the age of 20 and has an ongoing career as a writer, director, actor, voice actor, and stand-up. As a comedian, Bobcat has starred in numerous HBO/Showtime specials, performed in venues worldwide, and even went on tour as an opening act for the band Nirvana. Well-known for his roles in “Scrooged” with Bill Murray and as Zed in the “Police Academy” franchise, Goldthwait has become a well-respected Award-Winning Director, too.
His directorial works include feature films World’s Greatest Dad, starring Robin Williams, Willow Creek, starring Bigfoot, God Bless America, Windy City Heat, Sleeping Dogs Lie, and the documentaries Call Me Lucky and Joy Ride. In addition to being a 4x Sundance Alumni, Goldthwait’s films have played internationally, including the Deauville Film Festival and San Sebastian Film Festival. Bobcat has been honored with the German Independent Honorary Award at the Oldenburg Film Festival for his collective works and was awarded “Filmmaker on the Edge” at the Provincetown Film Festival by his hero John Waters.
His TV direction includes his series, Misfits and Monsters, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Community, Maron, Those Who Can’t, and many more. Goldthwait has directed numerous standup comedy specials for folks like Patton Oswalt, Marc Maron, Ron Funches, Kyle Kinane, Cameron Esposito, Mo Willems, Gary Gulman, Hari Kondabolu, Eugene Mirman, and Pete Davidson to name a few. Bobcat is currently working on several new film projects and has started his autobiography.
Dates:
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Sat, May 10th from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
MAY 3 | 8PM
Must be 21 or older to attend. Doors open one hour prior to show start time.
The Pork Tornadoes are without a doubt, one of the most well-known and loved party bands of the Midwest. They are known for putting a unique spin on all of your favorite songs, spanning 5 decades and 4 different genres. This highly in-demand band will blow you away with an electic mix of covers ranging from Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5 and Beyonce, all the way to Lizzo, The Killers, Morgan Wallen, Coolio and Phil Collins. Their debut EP peaked on the Apple iTunes Pop charts at #20 and has been streamed over 2 million times.
They recently achieved viral success with the 5th-most viewed cover of ‘Tennessee Whiskey’ on YouTube and an impromptu performance of ‘In The Air Tonight’ with a drum line that was featured in Rolling Stones Magazine. Performing music that people of all ages and musical backgrounds can enjoy, crowds of fun-loving music fans continue to attend every Pork Tornadoes concert that they can. With over 20 million views on their videos and more than 100,000 social media fans worldwide, it’s time for your to check out this band so you can see what the fuss is all about.
Dates:
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Sat, May 3rd from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 | 11AM-9PM
Get 4 egg rolls and 8oz of fried rice for $12.95 or $8.88 with activation of offer on January 25 ONLY!
Must activate offer at a Rewards Center Kiosk to receive the $12.95 Fuel Feature for $8.88 from 11am-9pm on January 25, 2025 only. Limit one person. While supplies last. Must be 21 or older. Gratuity and tax not included.
APRIL 26 | 8PM
Free Show
Must be 21 or older to attend. Doors open one hour prior to show start time.
Whiskey River was born in 2022 and came out swinging with their modern country flare. Whiskey River is one of the fastest rising country cover bands in the Midwest. In less than 3 years Whiskey River has had HUGE milestones as they have embarked on their musical journey.
In 2023 Whiskey River was named winner of the Omaha Choice Awards for live band, a big accomplishment for the band their first year out. In 2024 the band was named 1st place winner by the Omaha Choice Awards for live band, and also named Omaha‘s Best winner for Local Band of 2025. The success in less than 3 years is something amazing for the cover band. Whiskey River brings you some of the most modern hits you hear on the radio and gives you that new country feel. They are booking fast in 2025 as they are in high demand.
Dates:
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Sat, April 26th from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
MAY 2 | 6PM & 9PM
Must be 21 or older to attend. Doors open one hour prior to show start time.
Don’t expect rabbits out of hats! Reza’s show merges Las Vegas caliber production with the most incredible cutting-edge magic in existence today. Reza has garnered a world-wide buzz and loyal fan base with his passion for creating signature grand-scale illusions such as making motorcycles and helicopters materialize out of thin air!
Reza’s unique brand of illusion has landed him on popular reality shows across 31 countries, including recent US TV appearances on A&E’s Duck Dynasty and The CW’s Penn & Teller : Fool Us.
Audiences can expect to witness such mega illusions as a people levitating, a record breaking recreation of Houdini’s most famous stunt, and the appearance of a real helicopter, live on stage.
More than a magic show, Reza infuses stage of the art production elements, masterful comedic timing, and numerous interactive & inspirational moments, allowing the audience to experience the magic first hand. Perhaps Reza’s greatest secret is his uncanny ability to communicate his performance art on such a personal level.
Young and fresh, Reza’s new show, “Edge of Illusion,” has earned various awards including “Magician of the Year.” Reza is intriguing, engaging, and captivating. He isn’t just a magician. He is a world-class entertainer.
Dates:
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Fri, May 2nd from 6:00 PM to 6:00 PM
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Fri, May 2nd from 9:00 PM to 9:00 PM
APRIL 19 | 8PM
Must be 21 or older to attend. Doors open one hour prior to show start time.
TOAST is the No. 1 Tribute in the world to the 70’s hit band, BREAD!
With a surprising fidelity rarely heard from a live tribute band, their sound is often described as “spot on” to the original recordings. Audiences everywhere rave about closely their live performances sound like the cherished records they listened to back in the day.
“BREAD VIRTUALLY INVENTED soft rock in the early Seventies, and the group’s biggest hits — ‘Make It With You,’ ‘If,’ ‘Baby I’m-a Want You’ and ‘Everything I Own’ — remain staples on lite-rock radio.” – Rolling Stone
TOAST takes the audience on a journey back in time, engaging a spectrum of emotions; from the tender moments that tug on the heartstrings to the upbeat classics that compel them to jump out of their seats and dance. And when combined with the timeless music of Bread, this concert has “risen” to the top as one of the absolute favorites of audiences everywhere!
Dates:
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Sat, April 19th from 8:00 PM to 8:00 PM
FEBRUARY 1
Must be 21 or older to attend. Doors open one hour prior to show time.
Get ready to rock for a cause!
Join us inside Anthem at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City for an unforgettable night of music, fun, and philanthropy at “miracles in anthem” – a benefit concert supporting the Miracle League of Sioux City!
Come enjoy some of the best music in the area featuring Above The Covers, one of northwest Iowa’s premier cover band, and an exclusive opening performance by the one and only Ben Erdmann. This is a night where music and community come together to make a real difference.
Not only will you be rocking out, but you’ll also have the chance to bid on amazing items during our silent auction, all while helping us continue our mission to provide children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to play and experience the joy of teamwork.
Live music: featuring Ben Erdmann and Above The Covers!
Silent auction: bid on exclusive items and experiences!
make a difference: support The Miracle League and help provide opportunities for our amazing athletes this night is about more than just great music—it’s about creating miracles in our community. your presence helps us SAY YES to giving everyone the chance to play!
Don’t miss out – rock for a cause, and let’s make a difference together!
APRIL 4 | 8PM
Must be 21 or older to attend. Doors open one hour prior to show start time.
Celebrated folk-Americana act The Nadas have amassed a loyal and dedicated following over the past three decades for their engaging live shows and distinctive 70s-meets-90s sound. Blending twangy, Stones-era “country honk” with raw, alt-rock energy and wistful, folk-leaning melodies, their music is as alive as it is authentic. Over 30 years of making music together, The Nadas have shared the stage with The Beach Boys, Bon Jovi, Big Head Todd and Barenaked Ladies, been inducted into the Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame, sold over 300,000 albums (even in a time when you can’t buy a CD player), earned praise from a wide range of major publications (including Playboy), and written the theme song for their hometown—twice. They’ve also developed a laid-back, narrative approach to songwriting, drawing inspiration from acts like The Head and the Heart, Avett Brothers, Indigo Girls, and Tom Petty, to explore the everyday joys and heartaches that make up a life.
Old friends and music industry veterans Mike Butterworth and Jason Walsmith founded The Nadas in the early 90s, bonding over a shared mixtape while students at Iowa State University. Initially playing the folk circuit as an acoustic duo, they added drums and bass as the band moved toward a grittier alt-rock sound. By the mid-2000s, their songwriting began to embrace more radio-friendly, pop-leaning territory, laced with anthemic choruses, compelling guitar riffs, and a refreshing sense of humor. With the addition of bassist Brian Duffey, drummer Brandon Stone, and Perry Ross on keys, guitar, and percussion, the Nadas have grown into a lively and idiosyncratic band that emphasizes sound and mood over genre. “We’re embracing it all, not sticking ourselves into one specific category,” says Walsmith, adding that perhaps this flexibility and a strong dedication to their families, friends and fans have helped the band stand the test of time. For Butterworth, it’s about connecting with people: “We’ve always written songs from the heart, and our fans have grown up along with us, learning as we learn, going through similar experiences and facing the same hardships. We’ve been able to evolve and experiment with our sound over the years, as the circumstances of our lives change.”
Now poised to drop their new, full-length album Come Along for the Ride this year, The Nadas continue to explore life’s twists and turns through their unique brand of compulsively listenable Americana. From the album’s driving, Jakob Dylanesque opening track “Other Side of the 45” (a song whose chorus evokes the kind of spontaneous singalongs that only happen on long, open-windowed road trips), to the simple fun of “Smashing the Squiers” (a punchline-turned-anthem about making the most of life as a minor league, working-class rock band), there’s an effortlessness to the songwriting that feels anything but stagnant. These are songs that serve as invitations, asking listeners to start over, push on toward the dream, hop in the car, join the parade, get back on the bandwagon, and move forward into the unknown. Each track expands organically, built around a relatable, narrative backbone and laced with lyrics that conjure nostalgia for the way things are now. Down-to-earth, dynamic, and easygoing, Come Along for the Ride is the perfect soundtrack for life as it’s happening.
Dates:
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Fri, April 4th from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM
FEBRUARY 15 | 7:30PM
Must be 21 or older to attend. Doors open one hour prior to show start time.
Mohammed “Mo” Amer is a celebrated Palestinian-American stand up comedian and award-winning writer. Currently starring in the acclaimed Netflix series MO, a semi-autobiographical series. MO was ‘certified fresh’ by Rotten Tomatoes with a rare 100% from critics and was named one of the best shows in 2022 from The New York Times and NY Magazine. The series also garnered Amer a Gotham Award, 2023 Peabody Award, AFI Honors and a Television Academy Honor. The highly anticipated season 2 of MO is due to be released January 30th, 2025 on Netflix.
Mo also co-starred in the Hulu show Ramy, where he plays Ramy’s cousin, who owns and operates a diner, where many of the show’s characters congregate. Alongside his TV success, Amer co-starred with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the DC blockbuster Black Adam, bringing humor to the DC comic. Known for his global reach, Amer has toured in over 40 countries, and his stand-up specials, Mo Amer: The Vagabond and Mo Amer: Mohammed in Texas, are both available on Netflix.
Dates:
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Sat, February 15th from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM