ABOUT
SARA CONTRERAS
A top female comedian, actor, and writer since 1995—and one of Showtime’s 2008 ALMA-nominated (Best Comedy Special) Original Latin Divas of Comedy—continues to be a comedic showstopper at premiere comedy clubs and venues across the country.
She was Head Writer for Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s Colors of Rhina and has appeared as a commentator and writer for MTV3. Sara received an impressive N.Y. Times review for her work as a writer/monologist in the off-Broadway production Jose Can Speak in 2005. Her first screenplay Searching for Sosie is under consideration as a 6-part television mini-series, and her highly regarded one-woman show Lifelines was part of the NYC ONE Festival in 2012. She was also a creator and writer for Lugar Heights, a Latino animated series featured on Galavision.
Sara was cast for the television web-series All My Children in 2013. Television credits include Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle, 4 episodes on NBC’s Law & Order: SVU, Third Watch, and Conviction; Comedy Central’s Comic Groove; Metrochannel’s New Joke City; A& E’s American Comedy: What’s So Funny; ABC’s The View and New York Comedy Festival; SiTV’s Funny is Funny; and TNC’s Que Loco. Sara taped with Marlo Thomas for the web-series Auntie Marlo & Kate and Univision’s Spanish-language stand-up comedy special Los Locos y Revueltos. Film credits include Nick the Doorman (2012) with Nick Turturro and Close Your Eyes (2013), which was part of the Tribeca Film Festival.
Sara has performed at the New York Comedy, Marshalls Women in Comedy, Urban Comedy, and the Toyota Comedy Festivals. She has been critically acclaimed for her work with the N.Y.-based “Sistas Doing Comedy,” D.C.-based “DiverCity,” and the L.A.-based “Hot & Spicy Tamales” comedy troupes.
GWEN LA ROKA
Since first taking the comedy scene by storm in 2009, Gwen La Rŏka, pronounced [rok-uh], is proving to be one of Chicago's fastest up and coming comediennes. Her recent appearance on Chicago's ABC Channel 7's Emmy-Award winning show "Ñ Beat" is just one of the growing list of high profile coverage that is a testament to her laughter stimulating talent. A Jacqueline of all trades, Gwen's past stint with UIC's "The Vagina Monologues", Teatro Luna's ravely reviewed "Machos", and improv training at Second City Theatre has given her a grasp on acting, which she seamlessly combines to create her highly energetic comedy routine that keeps crowds laughing. Never forgetting her cultural roots and the need to relate to an audience, she incorporates real life experiences from her escapades of growing up in a Latin household to her struggles of being a skinny girl in the Windy City.
Gwen's commitment to grassroots activism and social justice has inspired her to be a comedic voice to many marginalized communities. Her devotion to various grassroots projects has made her a highly requested and in demand comedian/host for numerous events and fundraisers aimed at helping local organizations, charities, shelters, and services for the oppressed and underprivileged communities. Similarly, audiences enjoy her often quirky, real, yet clean viewpoint when raising awareness on important issues such as body image, sexual identity and even medical topics such as her scoliosis diagnoses.
Gwen's honest comedic approach, meshed with her physical humor, enables her to bring together diverse crowds from all ethnic backgrounds in solidarity, reminding us that we are all one in the same. Gwen La R?ka; she is real, she is funny - she is real funny!
AMY COLON
Hometown NJ Girl, Amy is an Educator during the day and at night she makes them laugh. She has performed at Carolines on Broadway, Gotham Comedy Club, Stress Factory and clubs in Florida. She is a member of the Contagious Laughter Improv Troupe. She was featured with Sara Contreras and Joey Vega in Latino Rebels News NYC.
JESNAIRA BAEZJesnaira was born and raised in Humbolt Park. She first stepped on the stage as a dare from a friend. After, a few open mics she fell in love with stand-up comedy. Since then she has been traveling to colleges and clubs across the states. Jesnaira has been exciting crowds with her unique brand of comedy. She was featured on 2012 TBS Just For Laughs Break Out Comics and 2013 TBS Just for Laughs Five Star Leading Ladies. She has also been selected comedian for the Que Funny on XM.
