The world’s most influential name in live comedy, The Second City, proudly announces the cast and creative team for its 114th Mainstage revue. Returning to the Mainstage is audience favorite Bill Letz, joined by Second City e.t.c. alum Eddie Mujica, Second City Touring Company alums Preston Parker, Cat McDonnell, and Zoe McKee, and Yazmin Ramos, a member of the inaugural Second City New York ensemble.
Mainstage and e.t.c. alum Carisa Barreca leads the team as director, alongside Stage Manager Devonte E. Washington and Musical Director/Sound Designer/Composer Ryan Miera.
In the time-honored tradition of The Second City, audiences are invited into the creative process. For a limited time, a brand-new revue is developed live onstage, offering a rare look at the comedic heartbeat of the theater. Shaped by audience energy and inspiration, scenes, songs, and characters are created in real time, offering an inside look at how comedy has always been made on the same stage that has launched generations of iconic performers.
The producing team includes Ed Wells (CEO), Elizabeth Howard (Executive Producer), Jen Ellison (VP, Creative), Jeremy Smith (General Manager), Thomas J. Troup II (Producer, Resident Stages) and Paige Mackey (Producer).
The Second City’s 114th Mainstage Revue plays Tuesday - Thursday 8pm, Friday - Sunday 7pm and Fridays and Saturdays 10pm. Located at 1616 N. Wells St., Chicago. Tickets, starting at $40, are available at The Second City Box Office, by phone at 312-337-3992 or online at www.secondcity.com. An official press opening will be announced at a later date.
About The Second City
The Second City opened its doors in 1959 as a small comedy cabaret and has since grown into the world’s most influential name in improvisation and comedy, celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2024. The Second City's stages, Touring Companies, and Training Centers across North America have proudly been the launch pad and artistic home for many of the funniest performers, writers, directors, and comedic minds on the planet. As well, for decades The Second City's corporate education and entertainment arm, Second City Works, has supported global businesses using the same methods pioneered on its stages to drive individual growth and organizational improvement.
For more information on The Second City, visit www.secondcity.com, www.secondcityworks.com and follow The Second City on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
About the Artists:
CARISA BARRECA (Director) (she/her/hers) is thrilled to be directing the 114th Mainstage revue. A Chicago native and longtime member of The Second City, Carisa has been performing, writing, creating, and directing there for over 15 years. As a director, her credits include the Jeff Award–nominated revues Best Kept Secret: Tell Everyone! and Don’t Quit Your Daydream! She also directed and associate-directed the Helen Hayes Award–winning show She The People, and has proudly helmed The Second City’s National Touring Company (Blue), SING OUT, and Deck the Hallmark. Outside of The Second City, Carisa is the proud founder and Artistic Director of Matter Dance Company, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
BILL LETZ (Ensemble) (he/him/his) a Southside Chicago native who loves being a part of this city’s wonderful comedy community. He's so happy to join the Mainstage ensemble along with his amazing and mega talented castmates. He is a proud graduate of Second City’s Conservatory and Musical program as well as iO’s Training program. He has been a part of many great shows and teams but some of his favorites include Daffodil, Ghost Car, Tubbs Ave, pH, Improvised Gilmore Girls, and The Treehouse Pipers. Some of his favorite years were spent with his beloved touring company, Mighty Mighty BlueCo.
CAT MCDONNELL (Ensemble) (she/her/hers) is a writer/performer based in Chicago. She’s an alum of The Second City National Touring Company (BlueCo!) and an ensemble member of 'Improvised Broadway' at iO. She's the proud creator of ‘Shovel Face' (a solo show) and 'Lovesome' (an LGBTQIA+ variety show), and spends a lot of her time creating content for live events. Cat has directed for The Second City (also BlueCo!) and taught in The Second City and iO training centers.
ZOE MCKEE (Ensemble) (she/her/hers) is a comedian and actor originally from Oklahoma City. As a black, queer, big, hot, funny lady, her greatest passion is making others laugh! With big dreams in her funny bone, she graduated from the Comedy Studies program through Columbia College & The Second City. Before joining the 114th Mainstage, Zoe was a proud member of the Second City Touring Company (BlueCo) and understudied for the 110th and 111th Mainstage Revues Do the Right Thing, No Worries If Not, and Don’t Quit Your Daydream. Zoe is represented by Paonessa Talent.
EDDIE MUJICA (Ensemble) (he/him/his) is a Cuban-American actor, writer, director and Emmy-winning producer originally from Hialeah, Florida (305!). He is thrilled to return to The Second City, having previously performed in two critically acclaimed e.t.c. revues (Apes of Wrath, Soul Brother Where Art Thou?), and the National Touring Company. Eddie has written and appeared on shows for CBS, NBC, HBO Max, Peacock, and Jordan Peele's Monkeypaw. You can catch his award-winning short films, DREAMER and THE CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS, online. His latest, LOCO, was supported by Sundance and will premiere in 2026.
PRESTON PARKER (Ensemble) (he/him/his) hails from the northwest suburbs of Chicago and is honored to be a member of the 114th Mainstage ensemble alongside this incredible cast and crew. He is a proud alumni of the Second City Touring Company (Mighty Mighty BlueCo), and studied at The Second City, iO, The Annoyance, Dr. Woods Guitar Emporium, and five separate community colleges. Preston is represented by Paonessa Talent.
YAZMIN RAMOS (Ensemble) (she/her/hers) is an actor/comedian/writer who has been performing all over NYC but is back in her hometown, Sweet Home Chicago! She most recently performed with Second City New York’s Inaugural Mainstage Ensemble in Ruthless Acts of Kindness and is an alum of The Second City National Touring Company (BlueCo!). Other Credits: Seven Up: A Sketch Comedy Showcase (That’s Normal Productions - LA & NY) The Revolution Will Be Improvised at The Kennedy Center, The Second City’s She The People (San Diego, Boston, Chicago) Hitch*Cocktails (High Stakes Productions) and small roles on TV. She is an Assistant Director for TJ Pieffer’s “Prairie Park”, a play in development (NYC). She has also worked as a staff writer/on-screen talent for MeTV. Represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.