The Second City announces 2017 recipients of its annual Bob Curry Fellowship via NBCUniversal

The Second City has announced the 2017 recipients of the 4th Annual Bob Curry Fellowship: Terrance Carey, Dan Bazaldua, Eunji Kim, Sophia Rafiqi, LeLe Mason, Rolando Lep, Rob Wilson, Adrienne Brown, Damon Royster, Evan Mills, Atra Asdou, Jayson Acevedo, Riley Mondragon, Squeek Rangel, Brian Keys and Stephanie Branco.

Named for the first African-American comedian to perform on The Second City’s Mainstage back in 1966, the Bob Curry Fellowship is funded with support from NBCUniversal, providing tuition-free training for 10 weeks to improve diversity on The Second City’s stages in improv and sketch in both Chicago and Toronto.

This is the program’s fourth year.

One hundred and ninety-two aspiring comedians and performers who’d already completed introductory-level improv training at professional school applied for the Bob Curry Fellowship. This year’s 16 recipients of the fellowship will perform this summer — June 9-10, 2017 — at the Annual Break Out Comedy Festival.

“This program has been an extraordinary success in fostering new talent and important voices. I couldn’t be more proud of the team that is making this happen year in and year out,” said The Second City’s Andrew Alexander.

For more information please visit secondcity.com/diversity-outreach.