Second City's 'Black and Highly Flavored' Celebrates Black Comedic Excellence

The sketch comedy revue features an all-Black cast and creative team, offering hilarious and insightful content for diverse audiences.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Second City's latest 'Black Excellence' show, 'Black and Highly Flavored,' is a triumph of inclusive and uproariously funny sketch comedy. Directed by Julia Morales, the revue features an all-Black cast delivering nearly two hours of timely, cultural, and silly sketches that showcase the immense talent of the performers. From a Black ICE agent justifying his job to a teacher's white history lesson, the show strikes a balance between thought-provoking commentary and pure comedic madness, proving that sketch comedy belongs to everyone.

Why it matters

Sketch comedy has historically been a predominantly white art form, but Second City has made strides in recent years to improve its inclusivity. 'Black and Highly Flavored' is the fourth iteration of the theater's dedicated 'Black Excellence' shows, providing a platform for Black writers, performers, and creative voices to shine. The revue's diverse audience also raises questions about whether such spotlighted shows should be featured more frequently to reach new and underrepresented communities.

The details

The nearly two-hour revue features an excellent ensemble cast delivering a mix of timely, cultural, and silly sketches. Highlights include a Black ICE agent justifying his job to his wife, a 'Black Herstory' rap celebrating figures like Rosa Parks and Harriet Tubman, and a teacher guiding students through a 'white history' lesson featuring celebrities like Tom Hanks and Cher. The cast showcases their comedic talents throughout, with standout performances from E.J. Cameron, Lauren Walker, Jillian Ebanks, Kimberly Michelle Vaughn, Tyler Vanduvall, and Jason Tolliver.

  • Black and Highly Flavored runs Thursdays and Fridays through March 20, 2026 at Second City in Chicago.

The players

Julia Morales

The director of Black and Highly Flavored.

E.J. Cameron

A cast member who portrays a Black ICE agent and a teacher in the revue.

Lauren Walker

A cast member who shines in various sketches, including one where her character wants to redo an embarrassing social interaction.

Jillian Ebanks

A cast member who plays a new employee aiming to promote a taco truck to target lesbians in one sketch.

Kimberly Michelle Vaughn

A cast member who portrays a dancer named Chariot auditioning to back up Janet Jackson.

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What’s next

Black and Highly Flavored will continue its run at Second City in Chicago through March 20, 2026.

The takeaway

Second City's 'Black and Highly Flavored' revue demonstrates that sketch comedy can be an inclusive art form that celebrates the immense talent and comedic excellence of Black writers, performers, and creative voices. The show's diverse audience also suggests a need for more spotlighted opportunities to reach underrepresented communities and challenge the historical whiteness of the genre.