 While there, he joined Playwright's Theater Club, where he put up plays with a group of other students including Mike Nichols, Elaine May, and Ed Asner.Patinkin was a member of The Second City Chicago in 1959, first serving at assistant director to Paul Sills and then succeeding him as artistic director from 1963 until 1968 eventually becoming Artistic Consultant.From 1968 until 1974, he lived in New York City working in theater, film, and writing.