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The Second City Cast & Crew of Today’s Performance – Chicago

The Second City Cast & Crew of Today’s Performance

Please silence all devices and refrain from taking photos during the performance.

Second City is a professional production employing members of Actors’ Equity Association, the union of professional Actors and Stage Managers.

Ensemble

ZOE AGAPINAN

ZOE AGAPINAN (she/her) is a California-born and Chicago-based actor, improviser and writer. She graduated from UC Santa Cruz with her degree in Theater Arts, and a minor in Economics (just in case!). She is an alumni of The Second City’s Severn Darden Graduate Program, and a 2022 Bob Curry Fellow. Besides The Second City, Zoe also regularly performs at The Saturday Show (Logan Square Improv) and The Armando Diaz Experience (iO Theater). You can follow her on Instagram @z0three! She is represented by Stewart Talent.

RICH ALFONSO

RICH ALFONSO (he/him) is excited to be a part of the Touring Company along with these amazing people! He was a recipient of the 2016 NBC/Universal Bob Curry Fellowship and has worked as a cast member for The Second City’s Black History Month Show, touring aboard Norwegian Cruise Line and as an understudy for the ETC Resident Stage. Other credits include being a featured performer in the 2019 NBC Break Out Comedy Festival, and his solo show at the Annoyance, I.C.E. Box which was featured on WBEZ Radio and NPR. He is represented by BMG Talent. Follow Rich on Instagram and TikTok @rich_alfonso

JORDAN BAKER

JORDAN BAKER (She/Her) originally from Phoenix AZ, is still not used to the Chicago winter, but she is absolutely thrilled to be celebrating the cold holidays with The Second City! You can also find her performing improv, sketch, and more across the city. Catch her in the new year at the Annoyance Theater where her sketch team Slip Dress will be hosting their newest sketch show DRESSED UP. She says “hello” to her friends, “thank you” to her family, and a big “happy holidays” to everyone!

KENNEDY BALDWIN

KENNEDY BALDWIN (she/they) is an improviser, writer and actress born and raised in Chicago. She attended Western Illinois University where she studied music business. She started taking improv classes at The Second City at the beginning of 2016 and has been in love with it ever since! In 2019, she completed the Severn Darden Graduate Program and in 2020 she was a recipient of the Bob Curry Fellowship at Second City. She now produces the smallprov show at Logan Square Improv.

ANNA BORTNICK

ANNA BORTNICK (she/her) is an actor and improviser originally from Boston, Massachusetts. She received her B.F.A. from Boston University and has trained at the Eugene O’Neill National Theater Institute. Anna also performs with the musical improv company, BABY WANTS CANDY and SHAMILTON (Edinburgh Fringe, The Second City) and is a current resident company member at iO Theater. www.annabortnick.com

DEBRA DUNCAN

DEBRA DUNCAN (she/her) is so excited to be performing with The Second City! She’s a comedian, actress and musician proudly hailing from Akron, OH. She’s understudied for Mainstage revues Together at Last, Do The Right Thing, No Worries If Not and Don’t Quit Your Daydream and is currently understudying for The Second City National Touring Company. She also co-produces and hosts the podcast, Queer Movie Night and can be seen performing at Logan Square Improv. She also has a band with her wife, The Q’s and you can check out their album, Us Who Know, which is available on all streaming platforms! Follow her on Instagram @debradbag and @debraduncan on Twitter. Thank you to her best friend and love of her life, Kayla and their pup, Bea.

TARA EGAN

TARA EGAN (she/her) is a Chicago-based actor and writer thrilled to be making her holi-debut this season. Morocco-born, Phoenix-raised, and Portland-educated, Tara is a proud Bob Curry Fellowship alumna and ensemble member of ComedySportz, the Revival, and Redacted Chicago. Offstage, she can be found teaching her cat circus tricks (he knows “sit”), thinking about Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, and planning her wedding (not to the horse from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron). Love to Mom, Vinny, and the TCs. Find her on Instagram @taraegan.comedy

GEORGE ELROD

GEORGE ELROD (he/they) is a member of Second City’s National Touring Company (GreenCo). He wrote and performed in Second City’s first original LGBTQ sketch revue, Salute to Pride: Not Safe for Werk. TV credit includes HBO’s Somebody Somewhere. Other Chicago comedy credits include, Bob Curry Fellowship (NBCUniversal/Second City), Deck the Hallmark (Second City), Let’s Make it Perfectly Queer (Second City), and Comet (iO Chicago). George is from Little Rock, Arkansas, and is an alumni of DePaul University. They are represented by Grossman & Jack Talent.

STEPHEN FAUSS

Stephen Fauss (He/Him) is thrilled to be performing with The Second City National Touring Company. Stephen is Originally from Texas and studied at Columbia College Chicago. He also has completed the Second City Conservatory, The Annoyance, and the CIC improv programs. He is one member of the Improv Duo, The Yips. Stephen would like to thank his parents, Milton and Dia, for always supporting him and putting up with his bits. Find him on Instagram @stephen.is.fine

AVERY FORD

Avery Ford (He/Him) is an actor, writer, comedian from Houston, Texas. He was last seen at second city performing in the holiday show Jack Frost Roasting over an Open Fire and understudying for the Touring Company. Avery can also be seen in The Spades Table, which is an all-black monthly sketch show he created at iO Theater, or D.A.R.E. Dropouts which is the first iO House Team featuring all performers of color. Avery is so grateful for this opportunity and would like thank his director, castmates, MD, and SM for being so awesome. And finally, he would like thank his partner Imani who he couldn’t imagine his life without.

LAUREN FROST

Lauren Frost (she/her) is an improviser, stand-up comedian, and Daria look-alike from Oak Park, IL. Her stand-up and characters were recently featured in The Lincoln Lodge’s Future of Comedy Festival and in iO Theater’s annual showcases for Saturday Night Live and industry professionals. She improvises weekly with the house team Birdlady at iO Theater, and she co-hosts an open stage for improvisers of all levels at CIC Theater, where she also teaches.

DANI NICOLE JAMES

Dani Nicole James is an actor and curve model from Cochrane, Alberta, Canada. She can be seen improvising all around Chicago. She is a graduate of The Second City Conservatory and the School at Steppenwolf.

Her most recent credit is her one woman show “You Can Cry When You Get Home” which she performed at Steppenwolf Theatre Company as part of The Lookout series.

She has also modeled nationally and locally. Some favorites include Macys, Famous Footwear, and HUM Nutrition.

She is represented by 10MGMT and 10 Talent Agency in Chicago.

For upcoming shows and cute outfits Instagram: @Dani_James

MAX LAZERINE

MAX LAZERINE (he/him) is a writer, performer from Minneapolis Minnesota and is an alum of Columbia College Chicago. Max is a performer with The Annoyance’s HOLY F*CK COMEDY HOUR and can be seen around town with his sketch duo Max and Annie. You can follow this bad boy on twitter @Maxlazerine

KEVIN NOONAN

KEVIN NOONAN (he/him) is a writer and performer originally from Overland Park, Kansas, thrilled to perform with The Second City. Kevin performs around Chicago with sketch ensemble Cold Pizza Comedy (@cold_pizza_comedy), and previously performed at the Pack Theater in Los Angeles with house ensembles Very Famous and Nobody Yell At Me. He remains eligible for the NBA draft. Instagram: @kevin.noonan4

CAT MCDONNELL

CAT MCDONNELL (she/her) has performed with The Second City at sea aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines, and on land in She The People, The Best Friggin’ Songs of The Second City, Improv Brunch, and Late Night Date Night (a show she created). Cat has had the pleasure of understudying The Second City Mainstage revues Don’t Quit Your Daydream and Do The Right Thing, No Worries If Not, as well as The Second City’s BlueCo and HollyCo. She has also enjoyed directing The Second City’s National Touring Company, Late Night Date Night, Improv After Hours, e.t.c. improv show, Out of The House Party, and teaching in The Second City and iO Theater training centers. Cat is currently an ensemble member of iO’s Phony Award Winning Musical (co-created and music directed by Laura Hall of Whose Line Is It Anyway?) and the proud curator of ‘Lovesome,’ an LGBTQ+ long-form improv show.

ZOE MCKEE

ZOE MCKEE (she/her) 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, Zoe studied at Columbia College Chicago and graduated in Comedy Writing and Performance. Before being a part of the Second City Touring company (BlueCo), she understudied for the Second City Mainstage Do the Right Thing, No Worries If Not, and Don’t Quit Your Daydream. Zoe is proudly represented by Paonessa Talent. You can find her on Instagram at @zoeisaslug.

PHYLICIA McLEOD

PHYLICIA McLEOD (she/her) is an improviser, writer, voice over actress, and teacher based in Chicago, IL. She began her comedy career at Second City Chicago and completed the conservatory & Bob Curry Fellowship programs. You can hear her as she co-hosts the podcast Unlearning or in her head learning how to read Tarot Cards.

PRESTON PARKER

PRESTON PARKER (he/him) is thrilled to perform with The Second City National Touring Company. Originally from the northwest suburbs of Chicago, previous credits with Second City include The Best Friggin’ Songs of the Second City, and understudying for the Mainstage and Touring Company. Other sketch work has been featured at Austin Out of Bounds Festival, Chicago SketchFest and Austin SketchFest. He also writes and composes original musicals, including The Election of William Henry Harrison (Best Ensemble, Premier Premieres Festival), When Jared Met Ivanka, and Titanic 2042 (Best Musical nominee, Chicago Reader). He is the proud Champion of the 2019 ESPN1000 Holiday Parody Song Contest. You can follow him on Instagram @prestonleeparker to see too few photos of himself and way too many photos of his cat, Kuzco. Overwhelming love and gratitude to Bianca, Ashley, Shelby, Dad, and Mom, always

CASSIDY RUSSELL

CASSIDY RUSSELL (she/her) has been doing improv since middle school (cool!). She’s a member of Chicago’s longest running improv team, Deep Schwa, as well as Annoyance Theatre house team Sight Unseen. She directs plays and teaches improv around Chicago, and in the summer she gets to teach comedy classes in Alaska at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp (an actual dream!). Touring with the Second City is another actual dream, and she’s very, very happy to be doing it. Cassidy has pretended to eat chicken on camera so many times and was once in a commercial where all four of the other actors were cats. She’s appeared in multiple (multiple!) local car commercials. Follow her on Instagram @ramblingcass IF YOU WANT.

CAT SAVAGE

CAT SAVAGE (she/her) is thrilled to be performing with The Second City National Touring Company. Originally from Massachusetts, Cat is an alum of Brown University. Her TV credits include Chicago PD where she rocked a commanding sergeant bun with a middle part. She teaches improv at Second City, DePaul University, and for corporate folks all around the country. A recent reviewer said she “lives up to her name.” She is represented by BMG Talent. Find her on instagram @cath.sav

ANNIE SULLIVAN

ANNIE SULLIVAN is a writer, performer, and all-around sweetheart originally from Kansas City and an alum of Columbia College Chicago. She is a cast member of The Second City’s National Touring Company, as well as a performer on the improv team Devil’s Daughter, and a member of The Annoyance’s weekly sketch show, HOLY F*CK. Follow them on Instagram @whitemystery95 or follow her on the streets of Chicago.

ROSS TAYLOR

ROSS TAYLOR (he/him) is originally from St. James, Missouri and studied theater at Mizzou. Favorite Second City credits include: National Touring Company, performing at the Kennedy Center and Lyric Opera and understudying the e.t.c. Ross teaches improv at the Second City and Annoyance Theater, and performs weekly at the Annoyance with Missed Call and Tuesday Musical Improv. @rosstaylornyc

RILEY WOOLLEN

RILEY WOOLLEN is an actor and writer from Brooklyn, New York. He received his degree in comparative religion at Reed College before moving to Chicago to study improvisation. When he’s not touring with The Second City, he loves to perform with Swim Test and The Orbit at iO Theater, both of which he helped found. Riley is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent. You can follow him at @Riley_Woollen.

Production and Creative Teams

CARISA BARRECA (Director, she/her) is honored to be Directing Blue Co! She is an alum of The Second City’s resident stage, where she wrote and performed in three critically acclaimed revues. Most recently she was honored to direct the 111th Mainstage Show, Don’t Quit Your Daydream! Along with the Mainstage, she also directed the award-winning show She The People, Second City’s SING OUT and Deck The Hallmark. She has had the honor of performing at Lyric Opera of Chicago with Sir Patrick Stewart and Reneé Fleming in The Second City’s Guide to the Opera at Goodman Theatre; The Kennedy Center with Twist Your Dickens; and wrote and performed in Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Second City’s collaboration The Art of Falling. Follow her @Cinderisa.

JEFF GRIGGS (Director, he/him) is the author of the book Guru; My Days with Del Close and a Director/Performer/Teacher at Second City. He’s a faculty member of the Second City Film School and is a professor at Depaul University and Columbia College. He has performed improv and sketch at theaters around the world and is a current director for the Second City Touring Company.

ANNE LIBERA (Director, she/her) is an Associate Professor and coordinates the degree in Comedy Writing and Performance at Columbia College Chicago. She is an Artistic Consultant and Director of Comedy Studies for The Second City. She served as Director of Pedagogy for The Second Science Project in partnership with the Center for Decision Research at the University of Chicago. Her directing credits include: The Madness of Curious George, Computer Chips and Salsa, The Second City Goes to War, Are You There God? It’s Me, Katniss Everdeen, and Second City touring productions all over the world.

Anne has presented on topics in improvisation and comedy for Aspen Ideas Festival, Code Conference, Chicago Ideas Week, Twitter, and guest lectured at the Stanford Business School and Northwestern University. Her book Funnier: A Theory of Comedy with Practical Applications will be published by Northwestern University Press.

Twitter:@AnneLibera1

Julia Morales 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 sketch and improv 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 also has great involvement at various theaters in the Chicago community. She is also an adjunct teacher at The Theatre School at DePaul University Comedy Studies program. Jules is a master movie buff, a self-care enthusiast, and an avid traveler. Follow her journey on IG @callmejules.

Laurel Krabacher wrote and performed in five revues at The Second City: Grinning From Fear to Fear, The Best Decision You’ve Ever Made, Great Altercations, Eat Pray Bigfoot in Love and The Devil is in the Detours. She performed with the Second City Touring Company.

TONY BELSITO (Musical Director) is a Chicago-based musician and performer originally from Duluth, Minnesota. Previous MD credits include Second City’s HouseCo, TourCo, SuperAfroWavyDrippyExtra-BrilliantDopeShow, and Dance Like There Are Black People Watching. Guitarist for Kid Copter, studio musician for Ersatz Records, and releaser of original music streaming under my name, Tony Belsito. If you’d like to know more, just ask. Yes, you can have a link to the playlist.

MICHAEL OLDHAM (Musical Director, he/him) is a composer and pianist who weaves artwork, story, and imagination into his work. Whether experimenting with looping videos on Instagram as the “parts” of a piece that anyone can play (Music In Segments – 2018), utilizing repeating gif images of old silent films as inspiration for a twelve-movement work (Music In Gifs – 2019), translating great works of art into music (Suggestion Box: Art – 2020, The Egon Schiele Pieces – 2021), writing art songs, musical theater, pop songs, or commercial ad work, Michael’s thirst for unusual storytelling through music is never quenched.

SAM SCHEIDLER (Music Director, he/him) teaches and performs at The Second City, and can be found playing with Baby Wants Candy, Shamilton, and Deep Schwa. In his spare time, Sam plays board games, NYT crosswords, and takes care of his two cats.

LISA McQUEEN (Music Director / Pianist) Lisa toured for many years with The Second City National Touring Company, also holding MD position for sit-down runs at Atlanta’s Alliance Theater, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Rochester’s GEVA Theater, La Jolla Playhouse, Barbados Holder’s Festival and Boom Chicago Amsterdam. She was Music Director for the Off-Bway Production of Wildmen! with George Wendt and The People vs. Friar Lawrence at Chicago Shakespeare with Keegan-Michael Key. She recently played a leg of the National Tour of WHOSE LIVE IS IT ANYWAY? featuring Ryan Stiles. A long time Annoyance Theater Ensemble Member in Chicago, Lisa has composed numerous original musicals there including Shark Tank, the Musical, Forty Whacks, Tiny Fascists: Tiny Facsists, and Raven and The Messenger among others. You can see her perform in PHONY AWARD WINNING at iO Theater, (co-created with Laura Hall) as well as FAKING THE BAND at the Revival Theater. Lisa is a working jazz pianist in the Chicago area and leads the Rolling Stones tribute band, The Rolling Clones.
lisamcqueenmusic.com

BREE BARTMAN (Stage Manager, she/her) For the past 10 years, she’s been hiding in the shadows at several theaters around Chicago, including The Second City and the long running show, Bye Bye Liver. When she’s not at Second City, you can find her slinging sass at Ed Debevic’s! Please enjoy the show!!!

AMANDA LEO (they/them) has been in the theater game for most of their life, and is thrilled to be spending time stage managing, producing, and directing this year. This has been especially true since starring their own production company, Destined For Chaos Productions, which will be putting up two original reviews this year. You will find Leo stage managing various things throughout the building, including the long-running shows, “Baby Wants Candy” and “RIFF”. You can also see Leo performing around town, often doing music improv, which they have enjoyed since graduating Second City’s Music Improv Conservatory last year. Leo is happy any time they are doing something in a theater and is thrilled to be a part of this show! Check out their productions
@destined_for_chaos

REBECCA GILMAN (Stage Manager, she/her) divides her time between stage managing, directing, and acting. Since arriving in Chicago, she has stage managed the world premiere of Malapert Love with the Artistic Home (2023 Jeff Award for Best New Work) and has been working as a stage manager for The Second City and iO Theater. Rebecca received her BA in theatre from UAA in 2015. Directing credits include Little Women: The Musical (2021), Grounded (2021), and The Crucible (2019) with the Kenai Performers. Favorite acting credits include Missy Miller in The Marvelous Wonderettes (Addie Camp Dining Car 2022), Maxine in Night of the Iguana (UAA Theatre and Dance 2014), and Sister Aloysius in Doubt: A Parable (TTR 2014). Favorite stage management credits are Gravidity (TTR 2014 and VTC 2014) along with [title of show] (2013), Other Desert Cities (2015), Antony and Cleopatra (2016), and The Great American Trailer Park Musical (2017) at Cyrano’s Theatre Company.

Noah Elman (Stage Manager) is thrilled to be working on his first holiday show with Second City! He can be seen all over the Second City building, stage managing and designing numerous productions, including the sold-out run of Dunkin’ Presents: Ring Lights & Lattes. Outside of Second City, he directs and designs all across the city, including Mudlark Theatre, Boho Theatre, and Music Theater Works, and serves as the Artistic Director of Strawdog Theatre Company where he has directed several shows including their currently running production of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins.

BRYON HENDERSON (Producer, he/him) is a Chicago native and Producer for the Touring Company. He has his Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami, FL with emphasis on Music Business and Performance in Voice and on Viola. He has worked with many award-winning and national recording artists to produce live events and concerts. Bryon has worked for Second City Works and served as Producer for SuperAfroWavyDrippyExtra-BrilliantDopeShow, and Dance Like There Are Black People Watching. He is currently co-starring in the life-long comedy of marriage, 3 kids and a dog.

Paige Mackey (Producer, she/her) started out at Second City in the comedy camps at age 11. A career motivated child, she knew she wanted to stay in the building as long as possible. 14 years later and Paige pinches herself every day. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago in May of 2022 with a degree in Comedy Writing and Performance, as well as a minor in Marketing. Throughout college she worked in the summer camps and then the box office, with the Sunday morning box office shift being her favorite (and least productive). With a life spanning across 8 states, TourCo felt like the perfect launching point into the production world. Now moving into resident and children’s programming, Paige is excited to reach new audiences closer to home. When Paige isn’t squinting at a spread sheet, she can be found walking by the lake thinking thoughts.

Understudies

AARON ALICEA

AARON ALICEA (he/him) is from the infamous Long Island, NY. He started doing standup in Columbus, OH in 2019, then moved to Chicago during the pandemic in 2021 (surprisingly an awful time to make such a massive life transition) and began exploring other comedy mediums. He has vast performance experience in improv, sketch writing, acting, and music from several theaters he calls home, like The Annoyance Theatre or The Pack Theater in LA. He has performed in hundreds of shows around the country, was a recipient of the Bob Curry Fellowship at Second City in 2023, is currently on the all-Latine comedy troupe Escándalo at iO Theater, and is working on several projects he’s excited to show you all. Follow this goofy, unmedicated Sagittarius on Instagram @theaaronalicea for updates.

P.S. he loves his mom, dad, and siblings for all of the unending support and patience in him “figuring it out”.

LEXI ALIOTO

LEXI ALIOTO (she/her) is thrilled to be performing with The Second City. She has recently performed with SC as an understudy for the e.t.c. revue, Oh The Places You’ll Glow!, as well as Rudolph Runs Wild for the kiddos. Notably, she has been a cast member of Second City’s She The People both at home in Chicago and on tour with residencies in Boston & San Diego. She is an alumni of Second City’s Severn Darden Graduate Programs TWISTY and Infinite Sundaes. She has improvised, written, and acted across many Chicago stages, including: The Revival (BLANK! The Musical), The Annoyance (Bite Sized Broadway), Drunk Shakespeare, and Theater Wit. She is proudly repped by Grossman & Jack Talent. Follow her @aalioto92.

EMILY ANDERSON

EMILY ANDERSON (she/her) is a comedian and actor who studied Theatre and Creative Writing at Northwestern University. Favorite credits include Her Honor Jane Byrne (Lookingglass Theatre), understudying The Second City mainstage and e.t.c. revues The Devil Is In the Detours and Best Kept Secret: Tell Everyone!, and solo show Mean to Me: An OCD Odyssey. She improvises with Whirled News Tonight (iO Theater), improv duo ME Time, and impersonates her own mother as the creator/host of the variety show, Doing Our Moms. Emily is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent. You can follow her on Instagram: @emilytheobsessed and @doingourmoms

KRISTEN AVILES

KRISTEN AVILES (she/her) is from the beautiful sunshine place of Staten Island, NY. After moving to Chicago in 2017 she is now a Chicago based comedian, improviser and beautiful singer. You can currently catch her sometimes in Clued-in (Second City), Shamilton (Second City), The Mermaids (Annoyance) or as an understudy for Alex Bellisle in Great Altercations right here in the e.t.c! If you want to follow along and see where she will be next, you can follow her on everything @kris10aviles

HOLLY BARRAS

HOLLY BARRAS (she/her) was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana, but spent a lot of her childhood skipping rocks around Oklahoma before moving to Chicago in 2017. She graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 2021 and is a Comedy Studies alumni. She can be seen performing with the Annoyance Ensemble Team Modern Crimes, and independent team Smoochers. She is currently an understudy for Second City’s Touring Company. Other performing credits include Splatter Theater (The Annoyance), Trigger Happy (The Annoyance), and New Team Smell (iO Theater). She would like to thank her Dad for his constant love and support! When she isn’t performing and writing comedy, you can catch her playing Dance Dance Revolution and eating hummus (sometimes at the same time.) Follow her on Instagram @hollaycomeday

DENVER COLLINS

DENVER COLLINS (he/him) (@denverfromohio) is a writer, actor and improvisor who hails from the scenic Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio. He studied Journalism at Kent State University and taught English abroad before moving to Chicago in 2012. He joined Second City as an Understudy for the Touring Company RedCo in 2023. He performs regularly with the cast of Best of Annoyance Sketch (@bestofannoyancesketch) and iO’s improv ensemble Kohl’s Cash (@kohlscash.io). When he’s not performing, you can also see him outside riding his bike pretty much everywhere.

MIKEY FRIED

Mikey Fried (he/him) is a Chicago-based comedian, actor, and all-around stinker. Hailing from the beautiful beaches of Dayton, Ohio, Fried graduated Cum Laude from Wright State’s acting program, and graduated regularly from Second City’s training center. Fried has since become a resident actor with Two Chairs Theatre Company (Best new Theatre company, Chicago Reader, 2023) and has co-developed and performed long-form improv shows with frequent collaborator Jake Jones. Fried has acted in many productions with Two Chairs, and continues to do comedy wherever he’s allowed to with his sketch troupe, Catastrophic Success. Feel free to bother him on instagram, @mikey_j_friend

GRACE GOZE

GRACE GOZE (she/her) is a comedian, improviser, and writer hailing from Crystal Lake, Illinois. She obtained her MFA in Comedy Screenwriting from DePaul University after earning an undergraduate degree in Creative Writing from Ball State University. An alumna of The Second City’s 2024 Victor Wong Fellowship, Grace performs weekly with High Stakes Productions (Hitch*Cocktails, Clued In: The Improvised Murder Mystery) and the iO Theater house team,
D.A.R.E. Dropouts. She even hosts her very own late-night style talk show, Good Graces Tonight!. You can respectfully stalk Grace on Instagram @mazingg.

KENZIE ISZARD

KENZIE ISZARD she/her is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago. You may have seen her in Delirium at The Second City or The Spades Table at The iO Theater.

MAX KANTOR

Max Kantor (he/him) is an actor, writer, and comedian from Atlanta, Georgia. A student and graduate of both the Second City Conservatory and Annoyance Class Program, Max can be seen performing weekly at the Annoyance, monthly at iO, and previously at The Second City as an understudy for the 112th Mainstage Revue. Max attended Georgia State University and is represented by Grossman & Jack Talent. Also, he’s a huge fan of the Miami Dolphins and his favorite food is the sandwich!

ALLEN LUCAS

Allen Lucas (he/him/his) is a comedian, musician, and educator who has been performing all around Chicago, Illinois since 2015. He has degrees in Comedy Writing and Performance and Arts Management from Columbia College Chicago and has performed with many ensembles including The Armando Diaz Experience, Shamilton, and Baby Wants Candy. He thanks his family, friends, and all those close to him, as well as his enemies, who he keeps even closer. He can be found on Instagram @the_orange_allen.

DAVE LYZENGA

DAVE LYZENGA (he/him) is an actor, improvisor, and software engineer. You can find him performing all over Chicago at iO (The Teenagers, The Musical Armando, RIFF, Dreamboat), The Revival (The Living Newspaper), The Second City (Baby Wants Candy), and CSz Chicago (ComedySportz Ensemble), and up in Grand Rapids with his independent team (Pop Scholars). He has worked in Bar Harbor for ImprovAcadia, aboard a cruise ship for The Second City Theatricals, and in a Class 10 clean room for Purdue University. Recently, Dave performed right here in Dysfunctional Family Affair (u/s) and wrote a solo show all about his very own dysfunctional family (Dave Lyzenga’s A Good Guy).

CANDENCE MESSIER

Cadence Messier is a local comedian and graduate of the Comedy Writing and Performance degree at Columbia College Chicago. She improvises, writes, and performs at Annoyance Theatre, iO, and Logan Square Improv, and beyond! She regularly performs with Jackie Bass, an iO house team, and was featured in BULL, a Chicago Reader recommended play at Annoyance Theatre this summer.

LAURA MULCAHY

LAURA MULCAHY (she/her) moved to Chicago many years ago from the lakes of Saint Paul, Minnesota. She is an actor and improviser around Chicago and can be found at the Annoyance Theater, iO, and Logan Square Improv. She is also a contributor to ‘Reductress.’

ATEEQ REHMAN

Ateeq Rehman is a Chicago-based stand-up, sketch comedian, and improviser. He was named a 2024 Top Queer Comedian and was a 2024 Second City Victor Wong Fellow. He was most recently chosen to perform in the Just For Laughs Chicago showcase. He can be seen at Zanies, Laugh Factory, Don’t Tell Comedy, Annoyance Theater, and iO. He is represented by Stewart Talent.

DARYN ROBINSON

DARYN ROBINSON (she/her) is a writer and performer originally from Washington, D.C. She is thrilled to understudy for The Second City Touring Company! She also performs in other shows around Chicago, including Shamilton! The Improvised Hip-Hop Musical (Second City), Improvised Jane Austen (iO Theatre), My Best Friend is Black (Lincoln Lodge), and more. Daryn holds an MFA from Northwestern University (‘23) and her writing has been published in The Onion. Many thanks to her beloved co-producers, Mom and Dad! You can follow her on Instagram @daryn_2dream.

ANSLEY ROWELL

ANSLEY ROWELL is a Chicago based actor, writer, and improviser from Los Angeles. She got her start in improv in Second City Hollywoods youth program where she was a member of their teen ensemble, “Detention Hall”. In LA she also trained and performed with UCB and ComedySportz. She moved to Chicago to attend Columbia College Chicago, where she got a degree in Comedy Writing and Performance. After graduating, she moved to Melbourne, Australia where she spent a year teaching and performing sketch and improv. Now, she’s back in Chicago where you can see her performing all around the city! You can find her on Instagram @AnsleyRowell

AUDREY SCHIFFHAUER

AUDREY SCHIFFHAUER (she/her) has been improvising and writing and producing sketch comedy in Chicago for over ten years. She has had the privilege of performing on improv teams at the iO Theater, CIC Theater, Logan Square Improv and more. Audrey is originally from Buffalo, NY (Go Bills!), and her cat Lily could not care less about any of her accomplishments.

Gretchen Shull

Gretchen Shull (they/them) Switching right in a game of Foursquare is what sparked their joy for creating comedy, and they’ve been transfixed ever
since. They love to learn about comedy and continue to sharpen their tongue. They have trained at iO, The Annoyance, and The Second City and
are in improv shows HitchCocktails and Clued In and sketch shows Flamboyant Attachment and Sketch Playlist.

CONNER STUMM

CONNER STUMM (he/him) is a Chicago based actor and comedian. He also performs weekly at iO Theater with his improv team, Creamboy. He has written several shows at the Annoyance Theatre where he has played roles like Batman, Scooby Doo, and The Grinch. He would like to thank his dad for always supporting him.

DOMINIC RESCIGNO

DOMINIC RESCIGNO (he/him) is a comedian, writer, and actor from Chicago. He starred as Antoni in QUEER EYE: THE MUSICAL PARODY at The Second City, where he also understudied DON’T QUIT YOUR DAYDREAM and DO THE RIGHT THING, NO WORRIES IF NOT on the Mainstage. Other credits include CHILDREN OF EDEN at the Cadillac Palace (with Stephen Schwartz!), MY FAIR LADY and DEAD MAN WALKING at Lyric Opera of Chicago, TONY N’ TINA’S WEDDING, and performances with iO Chicago, The Annoyance, The Onion, ClickHole, Walt Disney World, and more. His web series, The Dominics, has been critically ignored. Love and thanks to Cody, Lottie, and his family for all the support. www.dominicrescigno.com | @dominicrescigno

NICK WILSON

NICK WILSON (he/him) is an actor, improviser, and musician from the south suburbs of Chicago, Il. He’s a graduate of DePaul University, as well as Second City’s Conservatory program and the iO training center. He’s performed all over the city, mostly at iO, CIC and Second City, since 2016. His web series, Hammersmith: Hurdle of Dreams, for which he won Best Actor at the Chicago 48 Hour Film Project, went on to win at Filmapalooza in Paris and screen at the Cannes Film Festival.

BRIAN COOPER (Understudy Music Director, he/him) is singer, songwriter, musician, composer and educator who is originally from Nassau, Bahamas. Brian studied Music at St. Johns University for his undergraduate degree and McnallySmith College of Music where he received a masters in Piano performance. He is excited to be apart of the improv world. He teaches and performs at the Second City and the Annoyance theater. Brian Also affectionately known as Bryan Cee can be found performing with his band around town and throughout the Midwest.

SEAN SYKES (he/him, Music Director) is excited to be behind the keys playing live shows again! Sean has done musical direction for the Second City e.t.c. Mainstage, and Touring Company as well as the Bob Curry and NBC universal showcases. Sean earned a bachelor’s in Music Education at the University of Mississippi, and is happily still using that amazing diploma to teach fourth grade music at the university of Chicago laboratory schools in Hyde Park. Sean gives a special thanks to producers, the amazing cast, everyone behind the scenes, and you our audience members. Enjoy the show!

KATIE DREHER (Understudy Stage Manager, she/they)was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. She spent time in Colorado studying educational theatre before coming to Illinois to pursue a career in stage management. Her recent stage management highlights include Matilda Jr. Paramount Theatre, Three Little Pigs Chicago Kids Company. Other credits include Young Performer Supervisor Sound of Music, School of Rock Paramount Theatre. (she/they)was born and raised in Reno, Nevada. She spent time in Colorado studying educational theatre before coming to Illinois to pursue a career in stage management. Her recent stage management highlights include Matilda Jr. Paramount Theatre, Three Little Pigs Chicago Kids Company. Other credits include Young Performer Supervisor Sound of Music, School of Rock Paramount Theatre.

CHARLETTE SAN JUAN (Understudy Stage Manger, she/her) 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. & “Devil’s in the Detours” at the Mainstage of Second City.

TYLER HUGHES(he/she/they) is very excited to be working at The Second City and is celebrating one year with the company! Tyler has been a Chicago Stage Manager, Light and Sound Designer, and Technician for 4 years now, and has mostly worked at children’s theatres around the city, which means they’re completely prepared to work with improvisers. Recent credits include Stage Manager for “Cloud Man” at Filament Theatre, “Carrie” at Roosevelt University, and 3 years of “Student Body” at Northwestern University. Light Design for “Puffs” at Jones College Prep, and Light and Sound Design for “Mudpie” at Mudlark Theater and “Fraudulent LLC” at Trap Door Theatre. Tyler has also been an Educator and Teaching Technician at Northwestern University’s summer camp theatre program, NHSI Cherubs, for the past three years, and loves getting to work with and help educate the next generation of performers and technicians alike.

Grecia Bahena is a stage manager from the western suburbs of Chicago. Previous credits with The Second City include: The Best of the Second City: 65 Years of Funny; We Always Bounce Black: A Black Excellence Revue; and The Second City 65th Anniversary Show at the Cincinnati Playhouse. Other credits include the Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and The Williamstown Theatre Festival. She proudly holds a BFA in Stage Management from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and an MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises from Northwestern University.