Salsation Theatre Company, NFP

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?

What’s your history with Salsation?
I was temping in the Loop in November 2009 when I got an e-mail from a community theater audition newsletter about “Salsa-Sketch 2009.” The auditions were THAT NIGHT at Second City. I’d recently moved back to the suburbs from downstate, and hadn’t gotten a chance to explore the Chicago comedy scene yet. You have to take the opportunities when they come, and I knew this was a great one. I printed off my fake headshot (a nice picture my friend had taken of me a few years back in a bar…I’d like to thank Microsoft Paint for allowing me to blackout the Miller Lite logo in the background) and headed off to grab dinner with my sister before my audition. I was really tired, so I thought it would be a really good idea to drink 4 cups of coffee before my audition. I think it took me about a week to get back on a normal sleep schedule after that. I’d done a lot of sketch, but very little improv, so I was really nervous for the improv audition (ok, perhaps the 4 cups of coffee didn’t help). During my group’s shakedown warm-up, my shoes flew halfway across the room, and for some reason, I thought that meant they wouldn’t let me in the show. Turns out they let Polish klutzes in too, and I made it!

When the day of Salsa-Sketch finally arrived, I was incredibly impressed with the enthusiasm and focus of all the performers and crew. We all had a barrel of monkeys while creating some hilarious sketches –and all in just one day! It was my first real experience with improvisation, and I was hooked. Turns out that improv is just like writing a sketch – only really REALLY quickly. I can’t get enough now. I thought to myself, “It’s too bad I’ve only been able to share a day with these folks – they are my kind of group!” Thankfully, I was offered yet another great opportunity – being an ensemble member in Ctrl + Alt +Deport. Considering the fact that I’m not a total idiot, I took it, and I have enjoyed every minute.

I try to drink only 2 cups of coffee before rehearsals.

What got you started in comedy?
Way before I ever had an interest in pursuing sketch comedy, my high school English teacher Mrs. Lindbloom once told the class, “Why do we laugh? Because if we didn’t, we’d be crying.” I always loved performing and became a drama nerd in high school. In college, my life revolved around the Penny Dreadful Players, a low-budget student-run theater troupe. I acted with them, but more importantly, I realized how much I loved writing for the stage, and had the opportunity to have my original work showcased through the troupe (in my opinion, there is no greater thrill). It wasn’t until my senior year that I got bitten by the comedy bug though. I was going through a period of time where I felt I wasn’t being utilized or challenged enough in my troupe and sought out other projects. My friend’s sketch comedy group, Fishing with Dynamite, was having mid-semester auditions and they really needed to cast a girl in the group. I was a little hesitant at first, but I felt like I really needed to branch out. I ended up being the only auditioner cast in the group, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I was able to combine my love for laughter with my love of writing. I’ve learned, like good old Mrs. Lindbloom told us years ago, that comedy has the magical quality of transforming pain and frustration into laughter. What’s not to love?

What’s your favorite sketch in “Ctrl+Alt+Deport”?
Making this decision was harder than deciding where to go to college. Considering I was only accepted to one college, that was a true statement. Charles wrote a great, endearing sketch about two weirdos on a blind date that I particularly enjoy. Nelson also wrote a fantastic sketch that comments on the use (or lack thereof) of Spanish in today’s culture. In fact, they’re all good – pleasecomeseeourshow.

What does the future hold in store for you?
Exploring everything this great city has to offer. Learning everything I can about comedy and theater, and hopefully saving up enough scratch to take a real improv class. Continuing to take those great opportunities as they come.

Also, at some point, getting real headshots taken. Seriously, that bar picture is only gonna get me so far.

If you could be meet any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?
Because I’m indecisive, I am going to cheat and say I would host a potluck for the following people.

1) Joss Whedon. Because I’ve been a fan (nerd?) of Buffy since the sixth grade, and I think he’s a genius of contemporary sci-fi. He’s been a huge influence in my writing. I would ask him to bring pie to the potluck.

2) Amy Poehler. Two words: comedic powerhouse. I saw her perform improv at the UCB in New York, and it was truly an inspiration. She’s welcome to bring her husband along. Glazed ham.

3) Rod Sterling. FACT: TheTwilight Zone is one of the best TV series ever produced, with some of best storytelling ever. Ugh, and THAT VOICE. He’ll bring the finest bottle of bourbon.

For the record, I would make gourmet macaroni, using 3 different artisan cheeses.

What’s your history with Salsation?
(Gabe lights up a cigarette and takes a drink of the scotch he just poured) Let me tell you something. These Salsation cats are bad dudes, baby.

What got you started in comedy?
I used to play guitar and sing. Unfortunately, I was overweight and funny looking. My mom said to me, “Mijo, if you want to get a woman, get another profession”. So, comedy seemed like the obvious choice. Are we done here?

Not yet, Gabe. The people want to get to know you a bit.  So, what’s your favorite sketch in “Ctrl+Alt+Deport”?
Everyone in the cast is a genius. Were very fortunate to have 10 genius’s in the group 13 if you include Patrick, Hugo and…what the hell’s his name?….Charles.  (Checks his watch) I really got to get going.

What does the future hold in store for you?
(Gabe takes a drink again. A tear drop comes out from under his sunglasses)  I hope to make some of the money back I lost at the “Horseshoe Casino” last year. A lot of people think blackjack is not a beatable game. I’m not one of those people. One of these days, I’m going to start hitting again…you’ll see.

If you could be meet any famous person, past or present, who would it be and why?
Tree Rollins…(abruplty) Can you edit that last part out? I don’t want my wife giving me an a-whooping. Seriously, if she found out I was gambling again. (Interviewer gets up and leaves) Come on!  Give me that TAPE! Get back here!!!