Goodbye Cuñados

I’m waving good bye to the Latinx Panel Show!

Every single Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales we ever put up was a blast.

We proved the concept over and over again: get Latinx comics and artists to play trivia games and everyone will have fun, including the audience.

Latinx content from Latinx creators is more important than ever right now.

I know what it feels like to be fetishized for my identity, to have my identity turned into a commodity, and to know the difference between people laughing with me and people laughing at me.

Because of these experiences (which there never seems to be in short supply) I know the importance of Latinx art form Latinx artists. If we don’t tell our stories, someone else will, and they’ll reinforce stereotypes and tired narratives that do nothing to progress our people in America.

So, yes, everytime we did this show it was a story. It was the story of six strangers becoming friends over trivia games.

It’s still a great concept, and I’ll return to it one day when I have the time, attention, and resources it needs to be its best version possible.

Thanks to all the past panelists, and to my origin co-creators, Joe Felix and Andy Lomeli.

Thank you to my latest co-producer, Karla Espino.

Thanks to my special guest co-host, Ammy Ontiveros, for help with this last one.

Thanks to our panelists for this last one: Carmen Scott, Ricky Prieto, CJ Villagómez, and Julio Urquidi.

Thanks to The Pack Theater for this past run.

And special thanks to my sister, Melissa Funes, for the artwork, and for all the help with the social media.

I’m either winning or I’m learning, and I learned a lot on this show.

#improv #latinxcomedy #packtheater #latinxcomedypachanga

Show 51 of 2023

What Does ‘Sublime’ Mean? Find Out This Friday

Piñata Party This Friday, Match 17 at The Ledge Theatre

LA is Latin America, y’all. Ain’t no ifs and or buts about it! 

So once a month I gather my favorite Latinx comics and put up a banger of a show – The Piñata Party! (Because you know piñtas are filled with goodies?) 

Every 3rd Friday of the Month, The Latinx Comedy Pachanga gathers at The Ledge Theater for a night of comedy, poetry, and everything in between. I’ve been trying to use the word ‘Sublime’ a lot more lately, so whatever it is, it’ll definitely be ‘Sublime.’ 

What is ‘Sublime?”

of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe (thank you, Google!) 

So it’s going to be that! 

And we gotta a killer line up to! 

Featuring: 

A character bit from Andres Parada

Stand Up from Darling Izzy, Carmen Scott, Ammy Ontiveros

Poetry from Raul Herrera Jr.

A bit from Victor Bryan Olivas

A sketch reading from Marlando (Marcelina Chavira + Fernando A. Funes)

A character from Karla Espino

Music from St. Trois

Improv from Los Tamales Dulces + A Special Guest! (Los Tamales Dulces: Fernando A. Funes, Julio Urquidi, Gracie Gilb, Maia Villa, Samuel Solorio, Marcelina Chavira)

Hosted by Karla Espino + Fernando A. Funes

It’s going to be an amazing night – join us! 

#latinxcomedypachanga #theledge #latinxcomedy #bipoc #losfeliz #impro #improv #sketch #poetry #music #standup #gente #LA 

My First Show of 2023!

Love these payasos. From left to right: Fernando A. Funes, Jared Lomeli, Elizabeth Covarrubias, Joe Salas, CJ Villagomez, Linzy Beltran.

Show No.1 of 2023 is in The Books!

First show of 2023 is in the books!
Thank you to these payasos chingones for playing on Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales, the Latinx Quiz Show!

And it was awesome to play at the Pack’s new home at The Broadwater!

The Latinx Comedy Pachanga will be back on Friday, January 20th for a special variety show at The Ledge Theater! See you then!

#improv #sketch #standup #quizshow #packtheater #latinxcomedy #latinxcomedypachanga

Show 1 of 2023

I’m Hosting the Latinx Quiz Show!

Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales is Live This Sunday Aug.28th at the Pack Theater

Alright, y’all, for the first time ever I’m hosting Cuñados, Cuñadas, y Carnales – the Latinx Quiz Show!

And I’ll be supported by Joe Felix as my announcer!

We got some hilarious Latinx comics and thought provoking writers:

Marcelina Chavira – the woman of a thousand faces and writer on Super Giant Robots on Netflix!

Rubén Mendive – the host and producer of La Lista podcast, a popular and vital show highlighting Latinx writers

Linzy Beltran – one of the funniest improvisers you’ll see on any side of the Mississippi, the Equator, the Atlantic, and the Pacific!

Victor Bryan Olivas –He’s a Zonie and I love him. Dude’s also hilarious so that helps!

And it’s going down live this Sunday at 10pm at the Pack Theater!

Pre-show tickets are just $5, so get them now!

#latinx #latinxcomedypachanga #sketch #improv #standup #comedy

Dream Warrior is Alive! I Finally Read My Pilot!

I Finally Read Dream Warrior!

I read my pilot “Dream Warrior” at Re/Arte Centro Literário with the Latinx Comedy Pachanga ensemble + friends!

Man, it was a powerful moment to finally share this very personal piece of writing with the world.

Basically, a cowardly and selfish community college English teacher has to become a superhero when he inherits the mantle of “Dream Warrior” (a shaman who fights people’s demons in their dreams).

Towards the end I wanted to start crying – hearing everyone read the script in the room together with the audience reconnected me with the work in a way I didn’t expect; it took me back to the moment I finished it and accepted that I had written something special.

It was the kinda moment that felt scripted, but that there was no way I could write – validation from the universe.

Big Thanks to My Cast:

Audrey Pinto
Gio Ornellas
Frankie Estrella
Oscar Ramirez
Victor Bryan Olivas
Jonathan Farach

Thanks to Rearte LA for hosting us (host your events here! Just hit them up on IG)

Thanks to my sis, Melissa Funes, for all the help with social media and producing.

Thankfully to Chris Trovador for the amazing artwork.

And a very special thanks to the Pack Theater’s Pilot Writing Class. Keisha Zollar and Andrew Kimler guided me from start to finish with this pilot, helping me grow this seed into a beautiful garden of a pilot. If you want to write your first pilot, I highly recommend you take their “Writing a Pilot” online class ASAP.

So now what? The ensemble gave me a bunch of great notes, so now it’s time to punch up! Stay tuned for the next chapter of “Dream Warrior!”

Write the thing because writing it will change you for the better.

#latinx #latinxcreatives #latinxcommunity #latinxcomedy #latinxcomedypachanga #writer #pilot #reartela #packtheater