There are more than 30 million Latinos in America.
So many people, so many stories.
“I’m kind of the guy that’s been sent here to do the Latino chronicles of their experience in the United States,” says playwright and actor Rick Najera.
For the last six years, Najera has been telling stories of his people through “Latinologues,” comic set performances that show the perspectives of Latinos who come from all types of lives.
Najera, who developed “Latinologues” at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, says he has created 40 to 50 separate “Latinologue” monologues, featuring characters ranging from cops to revolutionaries, from the ordinary to the outlandish, from busboys to mothers.
“One of the biggest human emotions is the sense to be understood, the need to be understood,” explains Najera, 35. “The reason I put it in monologue form is that many Latinos in this country feel isolated and misunderstood. But they still want to tell their stories. And that’s kind of the great thing about the show, is that some pieces are bittersweet, some are very serious, and some are very comical.”
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Najera adds that “Latinologues” is always changing, because he’s always putting in new characters that he bases on people he’s met during his travels around the country and around the world.
“I think only two or three monologues remain from the last show,” he says. “I take something from the old that really worked, that people happened to love, and then I write new monologues, create new material.”
The show is filled with characters that Najera says need to have their experiences explored, so that audiences can relate to their struggles and triumphs.
“I almost feel when I’m writing that I’m a lawyer and my client is the character,” he says. “And I’ve got to give him his day in court. And that’s I think what I’m most proud of in my writing, is that the characters are refreshing and they have dignity and they get their time in court.”
Najera has been a performer for about 20 years, starting as an actor in his native San Diego. One of his earliest breaks came when he was hired to work with Second City alums led by Avery Schreiber and Severn Darden, who came to San Diego to prepare a PBS show that needed actors who could also write. Najera was selected along with another actor — Whoopi Goldberg.
From there, Najera developed a love for writing, especially play writing: “When I’m doing theater that’s probably when I’m truly in my element.”
But that didn’t stop Najera from being lured to writing for television, and he soon found himself one of the most in-demand writers around, thanks to his work on comedy shows “In Living Color,” “Townsend Television” and “Culture Clash.”
Najera decided to develop the concept that would eventually become “Latinologues” because he wanted to “show the huge spectrum that Latinos are in the United States. And that’s kind of been my mission.”
“What we can show on stage is huge, it’s varied,” he says. “We have everything from Puerto Ricans to Cubans in our show, to all the variations of Latinos — [and from] from gay to straight.”
Najera had another, ulterior, reason for putting “Latinologues” on stage.
“I wanted it to be a showcase and an opportunity for established Latino actors and stars, as well as up-and-coming people, new people that I discovered.”
When Najera began to create and write pilots for potential television shows, network executives often told him that his projects were great but they couldn’t be cast with Latino actors because the executives didn’t know of any qualified performers.
So Najera used “Latinologues” to illustrate the wide talent pool of Latino actors that there were out there. But it wasn’t just for up-and-coming performers. Erik Estrada, Edward James Olmos, Liz Torres, Jimmy Smits, Maria Conchita Alonso and other established names have given “Latinologue” performances. The show itself has been prominently displayed in the Latino Laugh Festival.
Comic Jacob Vargas, who can currently be seen in the hit comedy “Next Friday,” has been working with Najera and “Latinologues” for more than two years, “and he’s blossomed as a comedian to where I think he’s one of the finest comedians in the country,” Najera says.
The International Latino Cultural Center presents “Latinologues,” starring Rick Najera and Jacob Vargas.
Shows are performed Thursdays through Sundays at the Victory Gardens Theater, 2257 N. Lincoln Ave. through April 2. For tickets and other information, call 773-871-3000 or 773-652-8901.
The standup lineup
Here’s who’s working comedy in the area. Current sets are scheduled to run through Saturday; all new acts begin on Thursday unless otherwise noted. Lineups are subject to change.
Comedy has come to the HotHouse, the popular South Loop music room. “Forgotten City,” being dubbed as the “urban `Saturday Night Live,’ ” features sketch comedy and improvisation, and is slated also to include music and comedy games like “Who Wants to Be a Black Millionaire.” A show is set for Wednesday at the HotHouse, 31 E. Balbo Drive. Call 312-362-9707.
The maniacal Pauly Shore, who just came out with the comedy CD “Hollywood We Have a Problem,” is making special appearances Friday and Saturday at Zanies-Vernon Hills, 230 Hawthorn Village Commons, Vernon Hills; 847-549-6030.
Meanwhile, the caustic wit of Dave Attell, whom no greater source than Bobby Slayton calls a “lunatic,” will be on hand at Zanies’ downtown club, 1548 N. Wells St. (call 312-337-4027) through Sunday.
WGCI-FM morning host “Crazy” Howard McGee is scheduled to make an appearance with his new radio co-host Tony Sculfield at the Art Bar, 215 W. Chicago Ave., on Friday; call 312-339-6861.
Steve Moris takes a night off from hosting Comedy Comedy shows at the Best Western/Midway Hotel in Elk Grove Village (he’s doing them each Saturday this month), to headline the club’s prime location at the Radisson Hotel Lisle-Naperville (3000 Warrenville Rd., Lisle) Friday and Saturday. For show times and reservations, call 630-226-9700).
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Appearing at Riddles Comedy Club, 15750 S. Harlem Ave. in the Continental Shopping Center in Orland Park (call 708-444-0234) is local legend Paul Kelly, with special guest Andrew Gaufman, and Orlando Reyes as your host and emcee.