FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Info:
Janice Rodriguez
Las Locas Comedy
773-330-2520
[email protected]
laslocascomedy.com
Las Locas Comedy Makes History With The First Annual Latina Comedy Festival
Las Locas Comedy is Chicago’s only monthly Latina stand-up comedy show. After four years of standing-room-only shows across the city, the show graduated to a highly-coveted spot at the world-famous Laugh Factory Chicago in 2021. Now, they’re leveling up once again by putting on the first ever Latina Comedy Festival.
Chicago, IL August 15th, 2022 – Las Locas Comedy hosts the first annual Latina Comedy Festival at The Lincoln Lodge (2040 N. Milwaukee Ave.) on Saturday, August 20th, 2022 at 6 pm. Voted Best BIPOC Show by Lady Laughs Comedy in 2020, Las Locas Comedy is proud to present over 15 local Latina/e comics in one night. From heavy hitters like Eliana La Casa (Comedy Central Latinoamerica), Deanna Ortiz (The Lincoln Lodge), and Soli Santos (Zanies) to up-and-coming talent like Hilary Jimenez (Laugh Factory), Remy Gonzalez (Laugh Factory), and Anna Lucero (The Lincoln Loft), the festival welcomes a wide range of comics and comedic styles.
In an industry where Latinas represent less than 1% of comics booked at comedy clubs across the country (The Comedy Club Database), Las Locas Comedy is committed to elevating diverse female voices. Now in its fifth year, Las Locas Comedy is expanding their programming to include an annual festival in honor of National Latina Day. The first iteration of the festival will present short, rapid-fire sets on one stage in an hour and a half from a total of 18 local Latina and nonbinary Latine comics. Producers have plans to grow the festival each year to include multiple dates, stages, and comics from across the country. A feat made possible by the network they’ve built across the country with Latina comics from cities such as L.A., Austin, New York, Denver, and Miami.
Las Locas Comedy believes the fight for representation creates a ripple effect in the comedy scene, propelling underrepresented talent to national comedy clubs and beyond. “In this political climate and with the specific issues facing the Latinx community today, we thought it was really important to give a voice to Latina talent as well as have a platform where we could discuss important current events and cultural issues through comedy,” said Las Locas Comedy founder and producer, Janice V. Rodriguez
Rodriguez, Martínez, and their crew of “Locas” have proven time and again that there is a market for comedy written by and performed by Latinas in an industry that continues to be dominated by the white male narrative. “It was so refreshing to see women of color on stage putting on a hilarious set and filling the room with such positive energy,” says one fan in a review on the group’s Facebook page. “It’s a must see show and I plan to spread the word and keep going to shows to give my support.”
Tickets are available at www.LasLocasComedy.com/tickets and more “loca” content can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube at @laslocascomedy.
About Las Locas Comedy
Las Locas Comedy is a Chicago-based monthly comedy showcase centered around Latinas and female comics of color. The show was founded by comedians Janice V. Rodriguez and Soli Santos in 2017 to provide a platform for Latina comedians and female comedians of color. The debut show was standing room only and their popularity has continued to grow with each subsequent show. Las Locas Comedy is currently produced by Rodriguez and comedian Jess Martínez . Las Locas Comedy received the inaugural Lady Laughs Comedy Award for Best BIPOC Show, has been Chicago Reader Recommended and dubbed a “Must See Comedy Event” by Red Eye and selected to perform as part of Steppenwolf’s Lookout Series in 2019.
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