Severn Darden
Severn Darden was a performer with the Compass Players and an early member of The Second City ensemble in Chicago, appearing in the company's 1961 Broadway production "From the Second City," for which he received a Tony Award nomination. Known for his philosophical and surrealist lecture character, he was regarded as one of the most inventively intellectual performers of the early Second City generation. He died on May 20, 1995.
Recommended Reading
Books are ordered from the strongest direct connection outward to broader relevance.
The Funniest One in the Room
The Lives and Legends of Del Close
Kim Howard Johnson
Fifty Key Improv Performers
Actors, Troupes, and Schools from Theatre, Film, and TV
Matt Fotis
The Second City Unscripted
Revolution and Revelation at the World-Famous Comedy Theater
Mike Thomas
Something Wonderful Right Away
An Oral History of The Second City and The Compass Players
Jeffrey Sweet
Impro
Improvisation and the Theatre
Keith Johnstone
The Art of Chicago Improv
Short Cuts to Long-Form Improvisation
Rob Kozlowski
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Severn Darden. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/people/severn-darden
The Improv Archive. "Severn Darden." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/people/severn-darden.
The Improv Archive. "Severn Darden." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/people/severn-darden. Accessed March 17, 2026.
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