Happy 50th “SNL!"

Anne Beatts, who died Wednesday at age 74, was a pioneering comedy writer who was on the original staff of “Saturday Night Live.”.

CHICAGO – Chicago’s Second City comedy theater — where performers including Bill Murray, Steve Carell and Jordan Peele honed their skills — has been put up for sale. In a statement released Tuesday, co-owner Andrew Alexander said a sale presents the opportunity for Second City to succeed well into the future. Privately held throughout its 61-year history, Second City suspended all its shows and classes in early March until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Second City is co-owned by Alexander and D’Arcy Stuart, although its president, Steve Johnston, also has a small equity share. The theater was sold once before in the years after Bernie Sahlins, Howard Alk and Paul Sills launched the comedy theater in 1959.

LOS ANGELES Andrew Alexander, the CEO and co-owner of famed The Second City improv theater, said he is stepping down after a former performer leveled accusations of racism against the comedy institution. In a lengthy letter posted on the companys website, Alexander said he failed to create an anti-racist environment wherein artists of color might thrive. I am so deeply and inexpressibly sorry,He vowed Friday that he will be replaced by a person of color. Alexanders announcement Friday followed online criticism from Second City alumnus Dewayne Perkins, an actor, comedian and writer (Brooklyn Nine-Nine). His posts followed a Second City online message of support last week for Black Lives Matter.