A Note From The Director
Welcome to an Evening of Laughter and Celebration!
Dear Audience:
We are thrilled to have you with us tonight for this special performance by Salsation Theatre Company. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we invite you to embark on a journey through the colorful, vibrant, and rich tapestry of our past quarter-century. Founded with a mission to celebrate Latinx culture and provide a platform for Latinx voices in the world of comedy and theater, Salsation has been a trailblazer in promoting diversity and inclusion. The company is known for its vibrant and diverse ensemble of talented performers who bring to life sketches and performances that challenge stereotypes and provoke thought while delivering heartfelt and humorous entertainment. Salsation Theatre Company is dedicated to creating a bridge between cultures through the power of laughter and storytelling, and it continues to be a vital force in supporting Latinx artists and their representation in the arts.
What to Expect
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- Sketches Through the Ages
Tonight, you’ll experience a selection of some of the most beloved and memorable sketches from our company’s history. These pieces reflect our commitment to celebrating Latinx culture, embracing diversity, and showcasing the power of laughter as a bridge between cultures. - Diversity and Inclusion
We take immense pride in our long-standing tradition of promoting Latinx voices and perspectives in the world of comedy and theater. You can expect to witness stories and humor that reflect the diversity of our community. - Heartfelt Comedy
At Salsation, we believe in the transformative power of laughter. Our sketches are designed to provoke thought, challenge stereotypes, and, most importantly, make you laugh until your sides hurt. - Improv Comedy
When we started back in 1998, we started as a Latinx improv team. We’ll be showcasing that side of us for you tonight.
- Sketches Through the Ages
Thank you for joining us for this special evening, celebrating our 25 years of laughter, love, and Latinx culture. We hope you leave this theater with your hearts a little lighter and your spirits lifted.
Enjoy the show!
Sincerely,
Nelson Velazquez
Director, Salsation Theatre Company
CAST & CREW
 Danny Boy (Ensemble) |
Danny Boy is from Buffalo, NY where he started improv and acting. Danny has completed improv programs with CSZ Buffalo, IO, and Annoyance. Danny has also completed Second City Conservatory. Danny currently performs with the improv team Lil Daddies. |
 Ramon Charriez (Ensemble, Co-Producer) |
Ramón Charriez is a founding member and Artistic Director of Salsation Theatre Company, NFP. Ramón has been performing sketch and improv comedy in Chicago since 1996. He is overjoyed to be a part of this extraordinary cast and can’t wait for you to experience this show. A special thanks goes out you the audience for purchasing a ticket and taking the time to be here tonight in celebrating 25 years of “Comedy with a Latin Flavor.” There is no us without you. Ramón is also a part of the comedy duo Madre Mia, as well as a cast member of THOTS And Prayers. Ramón would also like to acknowledge Karla and Frida, his wife and 1st born, for always encouraging him to follow his passions. Daddy loves you. To Nelson Velazquez for all of the many hats you have worn throughout the years to help keep Salsation alive and well. I am forever in your debt. To Danny, Alex, Elena, Kenny, Hannah, Daniella, and Licinio for trusting the process and creating a wonderful & safe environment in which to play in. You all are hilariously infectious! |
 Licinio Garcia (Ensemble) |
Licinio Garcia takes the CTA around Chicago doing stand-up, performing sketch with The Scuttlebutt, and doing improv with Fire & Beer (Annoyance Theater) as well as at the Comedy Clubhouse on Saturdays. Recent credits include Rich People in Space: An Anti-Capitalist Musical (Bughouse Theater), Clock Blockers (Annoyance Theater), Fangs of Love (short film) and Ill-Conceived, Poorly Executed Housewarming Party of Aimy and Jaime (short film). He wants to thank the cast and crew of Salsation for making this such a fun show to work on. |
 Elena Aiko Li (Ensemble) |
Elena joined the improv scene out of happenstance at Second City. Originally, she was just pursuing acting but eventually found it useful for her craft. Despite being a recent graduate of Second City’s Conservatory program and Acting Lab program (under the guidance of Michael Pieper), she continues her education by working with her coaches Yeniffer Behrens and Mauricio Mendoza as she improves her skills. You may see her in an upcoming independent film: Earth to Ash. She is happy & grateful to become a part of the Salsation crew. In case you are wondering, she is an island girl who is a mixture of soy sauce and sazon and loves hanging out at the beach🌺😁🤙🏼. |
 Daniela Kriedler (Ensemble) |
Daniela Kreidler Chicago-based Latinx actor, comedian and writer. She started her improvisation journey at the Comedy Sportz training school; a place where she finally felt her weirdness could be used for something other than annoying her family. Daniela is a proud member of the Salsation Theater Company; the longest running Latino improv and sketch group in Chicago. Daniela was also a member of Art by Artist which featured a cast of trans, non-binary, gender queer, gender non-conforming and women performers. She works with Playmakers Laboratory as their company manager and enjoys working with children and empowering by way of creative writing. When she’s not performing Daniela loves to spend time with her four year old son who keeps her active and humbled. You can catch her currently performing at IO Theater with A Bunch of Friggin Cats! |
 Alex Montero (Ensemble) |
Alex Montero attended a coworker’s sketch show six years ago and thought “hey, that looks super fun”. He has been happily stumbling through the Chicago comedy scene ever since. You may have seen Alex perform before in sketch groups Moms Love Us and ISS Hachi Machi. He also has a cooking channel on YouTube (Agitated Cooking). Alex is proud to be part of Salsation’s 25th Anniversary Celebration and hopes you enjoy the show! |
 Hannah Perez (Ensemble) |
Hannah Perez (she/her) is a Cuban American actor/writer/comedian based in Chicago.Perez performs with Improvised Jane Austen, Improvised Fairytales (Annoyance), one of ComedySportz’s House Teams, and the indie team Lung Switch. She also writes/performs/directs/produces for Gold Comedy’s Digital Team Lake Effect and writes/performs for the sketch team America Runs on Women. Some of her other favorite performance credits include Vice Principals (HBO), playing Allison in the parody musical Pocus Hocus: A Virgin’s Revenge, and performing in a reading of They Could Give No Name (Northwestern University). |
 Kenny Rodriguez (Ensemble) |
Kenny’s the cool outgoing type with the gift of gab. At an early age he found himself being the center of attention, which more often than not would lead him to the principal’s office. It was then that he realized that he had a way with people, as he would talk his way out of most situations. Often times, Kenny was referred to as a type of Renaissance man, as he was gifted in many forms of Art, whether it be Drawing, Painting, Music, Writing, Acting, etc. Currently he is lending his talents to comedy in both Sketch and Improv with training from the Second City Training Center and The Comedy ClubHouse. You can see him performing with Salsation as well as One Group Mind. |
 Nelson Velazquez (Director, Co-Producer) |
Nelson Velazquez has been involved in improvisational theatre since 2004. His current teaching duties include serving as faculty at Second City Chicago, as an instructor with Improductions, LLC, and a guest instructor at various theatres across the world. He is the former Artistic Director & current board member of Salsation Theatre Company, a 25+ year old Latino theatre company specializing in sketch and improv comedy. He currently serves as head musical director for Los Improviachis, an improvised musical mariachi band. He has trained and performed at Second City Training Center, The Annoyance Theatre, and ComedySportz Chicago and has performed with various groups across the country. He’s also a former associate producer for the Chicago Improv Festival. Nelson was also the founder of the improv program at Crown Point Community Theatre and is currently the CEO for Improductions, LLC. He’s taught workshops across the country including The Baltimore Improv Festival, The Chicago Improv Festival, The San Jose Improv Festival, The San Diego Improv Festival The Trill Comedy Festival, Melanin LatinX Comedy Festival, and The Grand Rapids Improv Festival. |
Supporting Salsation Moving Forward
As we celebrate our history, we also look toward the future. Your presence and support mean the world to us, and there are several ways you can continue supporting Latinx artists in the world of theater and beyond:
- Donate
Consider donating to Salsation which goes a long way to help produce future shows, workshops, classes, and performance opportunities for LatinX artists. Salsation is a 501C3 organization and all donations are tax-deductible. You can donate here:
https://salsation.com/donate - Stay Connected
Follow us on social media, sign up for our newsletter, and keep an eye on our upcoming shows and events on our website Salsation.com. By staying connected, you help us create a vibrant community of supporters. - Spread the Word
Share your experience tonight with friends and family. Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways to introduce new audiences to our work. - Get Involved
If you have a passion for theater, consider volunteering or participating in our workshops and programs. There are many ways to engage with Salsation beyond being an audience member. Visit our website for audition, classes, and workshop opportunities.