VEA Newport Beach, the 400-room hotel co-owned by Lyon Living and Eagle Four Partners, added a new partnership in June with Chicago’s historic The Second City — the famed improv organization that trained comedy legends John Candy, Martin Short, Amy Poehler and Tina Fey.
The Second City hosted a comedy show on June 12 at VEA, marking the first of a series of shows that will come to the hotel called “The Second City Goes Coastal.”
The institution, founded more than 65 years ago as a small comedy cabaret, is launching the “Coastal” series to expand its footprint and bring more events to West Coast audiences. Hotel representatives said The Second City executives approached VEA directly about bringing a comedy show to the hotel this year.
“Orange County is a new venture for us, and the coastal energy of Newport Beach brings exactly the fresh, lively vibe we hope to bring to every Second City show,” Creative Director Tyler Dean Kempf said in a statement.
“The region offers a strong blend of local residents and visitors, similar to the audience mix we see in Chicago,” Second City’s Colleen Fahey told the Business Journal. “We also have deep roots on the West Coast and saw an opportunity to showcase talent from our Los Angeles community.”
Sold Out First Show
The hour-long event was held before a sold out crowd of 230 at the hotel’s Sunset Lawn, which spans 8,000 square feet.
It featured five actors from The Second City program performing short-form improv and select scenes while interacting with audience members for material.
The troupe, including Edgar Blackmon, Andy Assaf, Allison Price, Braxton Brooks and Adam Peacock, made references to Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort, the hiking trails of Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve in La Jolla and “The Real Housewives of Orange County” reality show.
VEA General Manager Debbie Snavely said that the show is an example of the “immersive, unique experiences” the hotel aims to offer both guests and locals.
A venture led by Eagle Four acquired the hotel, formerly known as the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa, for $216 million in 2020 and fully renovated the 532-key property into the now 400-room VEA in 2022.
The next Second City show at the VEA hotel is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 4. Tickets are available through the Eventbrite website, starting at $50. VEA has also created two VIP room packages to go with the event.
VEA ranks No. 21 among Orange County’s largest hotel properties by room count (see list, page 30). The hotel hosts several live events including a summer concert series and has its meeting spaces regularly booked for citywide events such as the Newport Beach Film Festival and the annual Hoag Classic.
“We’re thrilled to partner with VEA for ‘The Second City Goes Coastal’ and to engage the incredible West Coast community that has long embraced The Second City,” Kempf said.
