Happy 47th Birthday to the venerable Chicago cultural icon Second City, which celebrates the big four seven on Saturday, December 16. If Second City were Demi Moore, it would be undergoing about $100,000 in plastic surgery right about now, and attempting to relaunch its career with a sexy turn in an action franchise, and a hot younger husband. But it's not.

Second City performers will also be teaming up with Rosie O'Donnell for a special event on December 15 on the cruise ship Norwegian Pearl to benefit Rosie’s For All Kids Foundation.

i.O. founder Charna Halpern was cleaning out a bookshelf recently and found a long-lost note from Del Close, about the nature of improv and The Harold. It's some fascinating stuff. Check out Charna's blog entry on that topic. From her transcription:

"DEL’S NOTES ON THE HAROLD
GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. You are all supporting actors
2 Always check your impulses.
3 Never enter a scene unless you are needed.
4 Save your fellow actor, don’t worry about the piece.
5 Your prime responsibility is to support.
6 Work at the top of your brains at all times.
7 Never underestimate or condescend to your audience.
8 No jokes (unless it is tipped in front that it is a joke.)
9 Trust…trust your fellow actors to support you; trust them to come through if you lay something heavy on them; trust yourself.
10 Avoid judging what is going down in terms of whether it needs help (either by entering or cutting), what can best follow, or how you can support it imaginatively if your support is called for.
11 LISTEN"

- Elizabeth McQuern