Salsation Theatre Company, NFP

Prepare yourself for the full length sketch comedy revue “Ctrl+Alt+Deport”!

The cast from Salsation’s latest revue “Ctrl+Alt+Deport” will be on “The El Show” at iO (Improv Olympic) next week for an interview and to perform a couple of sketches from their show.

El Show with Alex Moffat is a web-based talk show highlighting the best the city has to offer! El Show will host local celebrities, comedians, bands, improv groups, chefs and so much more! With a combination of live, taped and improv bits, this ain’t your daddy’s El Show with Alex Moffat!

Cast of “Ctrl+Alt+Deport” on The El Show
Friday April 2nd, 2010 @ Midnight
iO Chicago
3541 N. Clark (Addison Stop on Red Line)
Chicago, IL
$5 (free for iO students)
Call the Box office at 773.880.0199 or Buy Tickets Online

What’s your history with Salsation?
I joined Salsation in 2005 roughly a year after I started training to be an actor.  I was walking around the Second City Training Center and saw a posting on a board by a Latino sketch comedy group.  Back then I had a lot more creative time on my hands so I was hungry to do everything comedy related.  So, I went out and auditioned cold reading sides with [Salsation co-founder] Ramon Charriez and [Salsation Ensemble Member] Patrick Garone in a room at a recording studio.  When I got there, I felt that Gawd reached out and told me I had this one in the bag because I was blessed to be in my home away from home – an audio recording studio!  Anyway, I got the gig and starred in “The Fanta Menace”.

I’ve been involved in Salsation ever since but mostly behind the scenes as a producer, PR manager, or ensemble member.  This show marks my return to the mainstage since “Fanta”.  I’ve done other shows in some capacity in the meantime but it’s nice to formally get back into the creative side of the group.  I’m ultra excited.

What got you started in comedy?
Well, the true love for it started back in the 2nd grade when I noticed this kid on the playground surrounded by a group of girls while he told knock-knock jokes.  I figured: ME + COMEDY = WOMEN.  So yeah, I got into it for the chicks (laughs).  The point I decided to get serious about it was after I went on a business trip back in 2004 to meet a group of my co-workers for the first time.  We all hit off pretty well and decided to meet up for dinner afterward.  There were probably 30 of us there and I felt pretty loosey-goosey from the Sprite I was drinking (I don’t drink alcohol – FUNNY!) and started riffing jokes on people at the table.  After about a half-hour, I realized I had everyone’s attention captured and effectively was doing stand-up comedy!  So, at that point, I realized I had the ability to do comedy formally.

When I got home, I figured I should probably get some training on “how to be funny” for standup.  So I typed, “Chicago comedy training” into Google and “Second City” came up.  I read that and thought, “Huh. Second City.  I’ve heard about them. SNL, right?” So, I clicked on the link and got to the Training Center site and saw “Improv” in the course descriptions thinking it was like “improv” from “The Improv” comedy clubs.  So, I signed up and showed up to my first day of class.  The instructor said, “We’re going to teach you guys how to become actors”.  I was like, “Uhm, no.  I’m here to be funny”.  Then she said, “Don’t worry, the funny will come.”  So, I stuck it out and many years later, here I am!  Yeah, it all started by accident (laughs).

What’s your favorite sketch in “Ctrl+Alt+Deport”?
Well, like everyone has said, there’s tons of great material in the show.  The show itself is well-balanced as far as who’s material made it in.  My favorite sketches include a scene exploring the double-standards we assert on people when they “experiment” in college, a sketch Jonathan & Horacio wrote about a boy and his toy, and a scene dealing with an “apocalyptic”  first date.

What does the future hold in store for you?
Well, at this point all I’m concerned with is finding more opportunities to allow my fragile ego to grow. (laughs) No, seriously, I’m going to be launching a few more opportunities for Salsation this year for touring and the fall curriculum.  I  have plans to expand my love of music improv and bringing that to the masses once again.  I also have the seeds of a one-man show I need to write and put up sometime late this year.  I’m also doing shows for my Courageous Rue and Static Republic projects while juggling forays into jazz.   Other than that, nothing.

If you could be meet any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?
Here’s my list of people:

What’s your history with Salsation?
I’ve known about Salsation for a number of years now, and I’m glad to finally be working with them! I guess my first encounter was back in about ’06 or ’07. I auditioned to be a part of the ensemble and made it in, but unfortunately I was unable to commit because of my crazy work schedule at the time. Then, a few months ago, my buddy Nelson Velazquez invited me to be a part of Salsa Sketch Day, a one-day improv and sketch writing marathon where at the end of the day you actually get to perform the material you’ve co-created for a paying audience. Needless to say, it was one of the funnest days I’d had in a long time. Then I auditioned for CTRL+ALT+DEPORT, and the rest, as they say, is history.

What got you started in comedy?
I got started in comedy (specifically improv) by total accident. I knew all my life that I loved laughing and making people laugh, but it wasn’t until college that I actually thought of doing it in a public fashion. Here’s the story: One fine day as I was walking through the the student center, I ran into an old buddy of mine that I hadn’t seen since 8th grade graduation. We caught up, and he got me to come with him to the meetings of the amateur student theater club, Alamo City Actors’ Guild (my university didn’t have a theater department). I attended these meetings without any intention of ever acting. I just wanted to make friends. However, they convinced me to play the two smallest parts in their summer play: the butlers in “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde. During rehearsals, I met a girl named Christina Houle who was in an improv troupe called ComedySportz. Before rehearsals and during breaks, she would teach us improv games, and I was instantly hooked. In fact, I remember looking forward to rehearsals more for the improv games than for actually rehearsing! When ComedySportz San Antonio had auditions, I made it in and I’ve never looked back.

What’s your favorite sketch in “Ctrl+Alt+Deport”?
That’s a tough question to answer. I’ll have to be lame and mention more than one. The first that comes to mind is called “Can You Hear Me Now?” by Nelson. I think it’s a great commentary on the marginalizing impact of language barriers in our society, and should hopefully make people think twice next time they feel judgmental about people’s ability, or lack thereof, to speak English. Next is “Cape Day” by Mary  because it shows that there are different kinds of power in relationships. Even if one person is technically the boss, or has some sort of higher status, they can still have the lower hand. Finally, I’m just going to have to say “Photographer” because I wrote it, and sketch writing does not come easily to me. So, that one makes the list simply because I’m happy something I wrote made the show!

What does the future hold in store for you?
(In a Yoda voice) Difficult to see. Always in motion the future is… (In a Frankie voice) Honestly, I’m not quite sure. I do hope to establish enough of a career in the performing and creative arts to make a nice living at it. I wouldn’t even turn down being rich and famous (though not TOO rich and famous). One thing I do feel fairly sure about is that I’m going to live some place warm and sunny.

If you could be meet any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?
I love hanging out with people who have something to offer. That thing could range from a fun attitude or a warm smile to challenging ideas and concepts that make me see things in new ways. Right now, I think I’d like to meet Italo Calvino, a famous Italian writer. He wrote some really fascinating and smart stuff, and I’d love to pick his brain.

What’s your history with Salsation?
I was introduced to Salsation through Salsa-Sketch 2009. That was an incredible day and all around fantastic experience for me as a performer. I am so happy to be working with Salsation again and have a little more time to put the show together.

What got you started in comedy?
Nelson Velazquez got me started in comedy. Well, not just him, but the entire dramalicious music-improv group, Recapitulation. Since then I have been training at the Annoyance. “Ctrl+Alt+Deport“! will be my first full-fledged sketch show!

What’s your favorite sketch in “Ctrl+Alt+Deport”?
SPOILER ALERT: Well, there’s one that I’m partial to about this fellow who’s come up with a secret formula. Even with the SPOILER ALERT, maybe I shouldn’t say too much more…

What does the future hold in store for you?
I have a hard time answering this kind of question. Who knows? I’d like to say, “More good things.” Yeah, let’s just say “more good things” and maybe some things that are not so good, but we’ll deal with those. Like I said, I have a hard time answering this kind of question!

If you could be meet any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?
I used to always say Patrick Stewart…until I really did meet him. I got his autograph and then was so star-struck , I ran away! So, I’m not sure if he would remember me – maybe I should meet him again?