Second City To Return To Stage Thursday With Special Performance For The Chicago Fire Department

(CBS) -- The Second City comedy troupe will return to its Mainstage Theater and North and Wells Thursday and will be putting on a special show for the Chicago Fire Department, Second City said in a release Monday.

The performance will be the first since a fire at the Piper's Alley complex in Old Town on Aug. 26 destroyed the Second City's offices. While the performance areas were largely undamaged, there was smoke and water damage to other public areas.

"We are so excited to be headed back to Old Town to begin performances this week," stated Andrew Alexander, CEO/Executive Producer of The Second City said in a release. "We are grateful for everyone's support and assistance - the City of Chicago, the Chicago Fire Department, The Hartford, Piper's Alley, all of the contractors, the Chicago improv & theater community and all of our friends and neighbors that have helped us through this process. In an unfortunate circumstance, we have been very fortunate."

Alexander tells WBBM's Mariam Sobh they are still assessing the cost of all the damage.

"It's in the millions," he said. "I can't quote a specific number because it's still a work in progress. There's the offices that will take a year to replace, probably."

After the special performance for the CFD, Second City will resume their regular schedule through the weekend. The UP Comedy Club will begin performances on Sept. 22 and Second City's e.t.c. will begin on Sept. 24.

Donations to the CFD's Gold Badge Society, which serves the families of widowed firefighters and paramedics, will be collected at performances through the end of the month.

Second City says classes will continue to be held at Tribeca Flashpoint College, Fourth Presbyterian Church of Chicago and Columbia College for now.