Celebrating its 65th year, the world’s most influential name in live comedy, The Second City, is proud to announce the cast and crew of We Always Bounce Black: A Black Excellence Comedy Revue. Second City Alum and celebrated theater director Anthony LeBlanc leads creative on this production with a cast that includes Spencer Hodges, Kaleb Jackson, Wanjiku Kairu, Terrance Lamonte Jr., Daryn Robinson, and Brittani Yawn. Rounding out the creative team are Assistant Director Julia Morales, Music Director Tilliski Ramey and Stage Manager Devonte E. Washington.
Chicago giving you the winter blues? We Always Bounce Black is here to bring much-needed warmth. Brimming with brand new songs, sketches, and – of course- The Second City’s world-renowned style of improv, this cast of future stars are delivering an unforgettable night. The Black Excellence Revue is more than a comedy show – it’s a celebration of Black Joy. And, just like at the Apollo, you are a part of the show.
We Always Bounce Black: A Black Excellence Comedy Revue will run January 31 – March 29 on Friday and Saturday nights at 8pm in the UP Comedy Club, located at 230 W North Ave, 3rd Floor of Piper’s Alley, Chicago. Tickets, starting at $29, are available at The Second City Box Office, by phone at 312-337-3992 or online at www.secondcity.com.
The producing team includes Ed Wells (CEO), Parisa Jalili (COO/CRO), Elizabeth Howard (VP of Production), Jen Ellison (VP, Head of Creative), and Jeremy Smith (Assistant General Manager & Managing Producer).
About the Artists
Spencer Hodges (Ensemble) (she/her) is an actress, writer, and improviser from NC who is happy to call Chicago a second home. You can catch her performing around town at LSI, iO, The Annoyance, and Second City with her teams Mortal Enemies, The Mermaids, Lil Sluggers, and Hell Mash. Elon University grad.
Kaleb Jackson (Ensemble) (they/them) is a Chicago-based producer, writer, director, and Jeff Nominated actor currently understudying the Mainstage Revue “The Devil is in the Detours” at The Second City and understudied last year’s Black Excellence Show, “Black By Popular Demand.”
Wanjiku Kairu (Ensemble) (she/her) is a comedy writer, producer and singer and is thrilled to be a part of the Black Excellence 2025 ensemble. Off stage, Wanjiku works with a wide range of producers in short films, commercials and print ads. She produces her musical comedy webseries Models, as well as comedy shorts RuPaul's Space Race, and Girl Meets God. Wanjiku can also be found understudying for the latest Mainstage Show, “The Devil is in the Detours”.
Terrance Lamonte, Jr. (Ensemble) (he/him) is thrilled to be part of the Black Excellence Revue! A Chicago West Side native, Terrance has graced Mainstages in the US from ComedySportz-Chicago, Laugh Out Loud, The Annoyance Theater to international stage with Boom Chicago in Amsterdam, NL. At The Second City, he has served as an understudy for numerous productions, including “Best Decision You’ve Ever Made”, “Algorithm Nation and the Static Quo,” and “Dream Freaks Fall from Space”.
Julia Morales (Assistant Director) (she/her) 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 (AMDA). 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 alum having completed two Mainstage revues, “Do the Right Thing, No Worries If Not” and “Don’t Quit Your Daydream”. Jules performs, directs, and teaches at the Annoyance Theater and performs at various theaters in the Chicago community. She is also an adjunct teacher and director at The Theatre School at DePaul University Comedy Studies program. In 2020, she founded a nonprofit organization called the Stepping Stone Theater which celebrates diversity in the comedy community. Jules is a master movie buff, a self-care enthusiast, and an avid traveler. Follow her journey on IG @callmejules.
Daryn Robinson (Ensemble) (she/her) is a writer/comedian originally from Washington, D.C. She recently performed in The Second City’s long-running and award-winning show “She The People” and understudied The Second City e.t.c. and Touring Company. Daryn also improvises with Shamilton! The Improvised Hip-Hop Musical (Baby Wants Candy) and Improvised Jane Austen (iO Theater), and co-produces the Chicago Reader Award-winning variety show “My Best Friend is Black” (Lincoln Lodge). A proud graduate of Northwestern University (MFA ‘23), Daryn contributes jokes to The Onion.
Brittani Yawn (Ensemble) (she/her) is a performer and writer originally from Cleveland, OH and has earned her BA in Theatre from Miami University. She has toured with The Second City’s Touring Company and is an alum of The Second City Bob Curry Fellowship (2021). Some of her credits include “Oh! The Places You’ll Glow!” (The Second City, ETC), “Poison” (The Plagiarists), “The Suffrage Plays” (Artemisia Theatre), and “The Ridiculous Darkness” (Sideshow Theatre Company). She has also performed with Hell in a Handbag Productions, the Annoyance, and iO, among others.
Anthony LeBlanc (Director) (he/him) Anthony LeBlanc works at Nickelodeon/Paramount doing talent development and as an on-set acting coach on such hit shows as The Reboot of All That and The Really Loud House. He acted as Interim Executive Producer of The Second City in 2020. Previously, LeBlanc served as an Artistic Director for The Second City Inc., as well as a part-time faculty member at Columbia College Chicago. Anthony is a Second City alum who wrote and performed in two original Chicago Mainstage revues, “Taming of the Flu” and the Jeff Award-nominated America: All Better!. He has been a teacher and resident director for Second City, directing several resident stage and theatrical productions in Chicago and Washington, D.C., including “The Winner ... of Our Discontent” (Chicago Mainstage), “Soul Brother, Where Art Thou?” (The Second City e.t.c.), “Generation Gap” at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Helen Hayes-nominated “Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains)” at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. And Independently including The Magic Negro and Other Blackity Blackness as Told by an African-American Man Who Also Happens to be Black at The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. A native of Beaumont, Texas, Anthony holds a degree in Computer Science and Physics from Loyola University New Orleans. Anthony is an autistic Blerd dedicated to promoting Neurodiversity and DEI in comedy.
Tilliski Ramey (Music Director) (he/him) has music directed for three revues with the Second City in the e.t.c. Theater along with their Touring Company. He also plays at the Chicago Magic Lounge, iO, ComedySportz, and performed at The Annoyance.
Devonte E. Washington (Stage Manager) (he/him) is a Chicago native. Born and raised on the southside. He has been working in production for over 10 years. He has molded his skills by learning the aspects of designing and building shows from scratch. His Talents have been used with many events, venues and shows throughout the city.
About The Second City
The Second City opened its doors in 1959 as a small comedy cabaret and has since grown to become the world's most influential name in improvisation and comedy. Celebrating 65 years, 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.
For more information on The Second City, visit www.secondcity.com and follow The Second City on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.