The Second City is thrilled to introduce a dynamic ensemble of performers and creatives for the 2026 Black Excellence Revue, Black and Highly Flavored. Now in its fourth year, the annual revue has grown into a highly anticipated seasonal fixture. This year’s edition embraces JOY as its guiding theme, honoring Black artistry, humor, resilience, and community.
Leading the production as director is Mainstage alum Julia Morales, making history as the first woman of color to direct a Second City Black Excellence Revue. This year’s cast features a stacked roster of standout Second City alums and rising stars, including E.J. Cameron, Jillian Ebanks, Kimberly Michelle Vaughn, Jason Tolliver, Tyler VanDuvall, and Lauren Walker. Rounding out the team are Music Director Cesar Romero and Stage Manager Charlette San Juan. Bryon Henderson returns to the production as producer.
Brimming with fresh sketches, original music, and The Second City’s signature world-class improv, Black and Highly Flavored channels joy as a form of connection, celebration, and comedy. It’s vibrant, heartfelt, and powered by a cast that invites the audience to be part of the experience.
Black and Highly Flavored runs February 5 – March 20, with performances on Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm in UP Comedy Club, located at 230 W North Ave, 3rd Floor of Piper’s Alley, Chicago. Tickets start at $39 and are available at The Second City Box Office, by phone at 312-337-3992, or online at www.secondcity.com
Want a behind-the-scenes experience? Don’t miss Black Excellence Sketch Pad, an exclusive look at the creation of this groundbreaking show. Witness the magic in progress during previews on Thursdays, January 8 through January 22, 2026, at 7pm. Tickets for these previews are just $5.
About the Artists
E.J. CAMERON (Ensemble) (He/Him/His) is an alum of Second City’s etc (Grinning from Fear to Fear and The Best Decision You’ve Made) and the Mainstage (Do The Right Thing, No Worries If Not). He’s also performed and trained at: iO and ComedySportz.
JILLIAN EBANKS (Ensemble) (She, Her, Hers) is originally from New Jersey, is a Chicago based comedian, actor, writer and producer. Past performances include America; It’s Complicated! at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Dance Like There's Black People Watching at The Woolly Mammoth Theater Company, and touring with The Second City National Touring Company #Redco. As a standup comedian, she's performed at top comedy clubs and showcases in the city.
BRYON HENDERSON (Senior Producer) (He/Him/His) is a Chicago native and a graduate of the University of Miami. He has collaborated with award-winning and nationally recognized recording artists to produce concerts, live events, and large-scale performances. At The Second City, he has produced shows including SuperAfroWavyDrippyExtra-BrilliantDopeShow, Dance Like There Are Black People Watching, Black by Popular Demand and currently manages the Second City National Touring Company as well as productions for Second City Works.
JULIA MORALES (Director) (She, Her, Hers) is a performer, writer, director, teacher, and mentor originally from Houston, Texas. She attended the University of Houston - School of Theatre & Dance and graduated from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy. Jules first studied improv comedy in Houston and later moved to New York in 2008 after receiving the NBC Diversity Scholarship to study both improv and sketch comedy. She later moved to Chicago in 2015 while performing with the Second City Theatricals on the Norwegian Cruise Line. She was a 2018 Bob Curry Fellow and was later cast as an ensemble member of the Second City Green Co Touring Company. She is a Second City Mainstage alum having completed two revues, Do the Right Thing, No Worries If Not and Don’t Quit Your Daydream. She directed the 2025 Bob Curry Fellowship Showcase, Minority Report: What Had Happened Was and she was the Associate Director for the Black Excellence show, We Always Bounce Black at Second City. She’s an adjunct teacher at The Theatre School at DePaul University Comedy Studies program. As well as the Associate House Team & Programming Director at iO Theater. She is very honored to be the first woman of color to direct the 2026 Black Excellence Show, Black and Highly Flavored.
CHARLETTE SAN JUAN (Stage Manager) (She, Her, Hers) is a Theatre Artist based in Chicago, Illinois, born and raised in Manila, Philippines. She has recently worked on Death Becomes Her (2024), MJ The Musical (2023), as well as Second City revues: Eat, Pray, Bigfoot in Love (2022-2023), Don’t Quit Your Daydream (2023-2024). She produces the All-Asian showcase at Laugh Factory, Model Majority. Currently, she is working on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and is an understudy for the Second City Touring Co. & The Devil’s in the Detours at the Mainstage of Second City.
JASON TOLLIVER (Ensemble) (He, Him, His) was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. Jason has studied and performed all over Chicago including Second City, Annoynace theater, and IO. Jason is also an ensemble member at Comedy Sportz and Revival Theater . He is also a graduate of Norfolk State University, and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
TYLER VANDUVALL (Ensemble) (He, Him, His) i making his Second City debut with Black and Highly Flavored. Tyler is originally from Atlanta, Georgia, where he earned his BA in Theater Performance, with a concentration in Musical Theater. Tyler performs around Chicago with The Spades Table, Gang Gang, Shamilton, or Baby Wants Candy.
KIMBERLY MICHELLE VAUGHN (Ensemble) (She, Her, Hers) is an award-winning filmmaker. Columbia College of Chicago grad with a BA in Theatre. The Second City Mainstage Alum. Featured in Epic Rap Battles of History as former VP Kamala Harris, and seen in Chicago MED, EMPIRE, THE CHI, and more! Proudly represented by Paonessa Talent Agency.
LAUREN WALKER (Ensemble) (She, Her, Hers) is a writer and comedian from Chicago, IL. She's written for the Emmy-nominated Book of Queer (Discovery+), RuPaul's Drag Race (VH1), American Auto (NBC), and South Side (HBO Max). As a member of the Second City National Touring Company, Lauren has traveled the country performing improv, sketch, and stand-up comedy. Additionally, she wrote and performed in the 2021 ViacomCBS Showcase and served as a consulting producer for the 2022 ViacomCBS Showcase.
The producing team for Black and Highly Flavored includes Ed Wells (CEO), Elizabeth Howard (Executive Producer), Jen Ellison (VP, Head of Creative), and Jeremy Smith (General Manager).
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 and follow The Second City on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.