Second City Announced Victor Wong Fellowship Recipients

The Second City has announced the fourth annual Victor Wong Fellowship. This specialty program was created to mentor the voices of rising Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) comedic talent. Named in honor of The Second City’s first Asian American performer and funded by the family foundation of Peng Zhao, CEO of Citadel Securities, this fellowship aims to develop the growth and visibility of AAPI talent on stage and within the production roles that bring live comedy to life. The Victor Wong Fellowship is the first program by a major comedy theatre to exclusively endow AAPI talent.

Selected for their talents and comedic perspectives, the 2026 Victor Wong Fellows include: Grace Griego, Jessica Keung, Shekinah Kurapaty, Rupesh Kumar Mahendran, Josh Mattingly, Tina Mavalankar, Purshottam Prajapati, Karan Rao, Gabbi Rae, and Angad Verma.

Under program leadership from Jonald Reyes and Showcase Director Sophia Rafiqi, with Mantra Radhakrishnan as Assistant Director, Renee Hansel as Production Manager, Kyle Anthony Cortes, M.M as Music Director and Vicky Escobar-Diaz as Deck Chief  the fellows will immerse themselves in an advanced program of improvisation and comedy, culminating in a series of public and industry showcases.

“The impact of the Victor Wong Fellowship can already be felt throughout the Second City ecosystem – with past fellows joining our professional ranks as performers, understudies, teachers and music directors,” said Julie Dumais Osborne, Vice President of the Second City Training Centers. “We can’t wait to see the incredible work of this year’s talented cohort – and to welcome their voices into the comedic fabric of this storied institution at a time when representation feels more essential than ever.”

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