Gwen La Roka Talentosa comediante y escritora latina

Por Amelia Orozco

Gwen La Roka es una comediante originaria de aquí de Chicago y también es una escritora que sabe crear escenas maravillosas de su materia hasta tener a su público llorando de risa.  Se entrega cuerpo y alma a sus presentaciones y así es como apreciamos más su comedia. Bromea de su niñez en un hogar Latino donde su mamá la correteaba con su huarache en mano. Pero lo hace con tanta eficaz que no se requiere ese sentido Latino para apreciarla. Se burla de se misma por su estatura baja y su delgadez. Lo hace todo con la intención de animar a su público, dando entender que ella también comprende las dificultades de vivir en un mundo diverso y a veces cruel.

Gwen se convierte en tu mejor amiga porque se abre y platica de su vida personal, sus triunfos y claro, los momentos más chistosos.  Antes de su presentación en la junta mensual de Proyecto Latina en el Catedral Café (Christiana y 25 St. en Chicago), la encontrabas platicando con las participantes. Y cuando estaba en el escenario se acordaba de sus nombres y las integraba en su “show.” Utiliza transiciones tan suaves que aun cuando reían la lección claramente seguía detrás del chiste. La riza disolvía cualquier sentimiento de negatividad en el ambiente.

Ese es el tipo de ambiente que las anfitrionas de Proyecto Latina intentan crear cada mes. Irasema Gonzalez y Diana Pando tienen una larga historia de creer oportunidades para mujeres Latinas en los artes. Proyecto Latina se reúne el tercer lunes de cada mes. Las puertas siempre están abiertas para aquellas personas interesadas en participar. Se invita leer poesía, historias, chistes y canciones. No hay fin a las oportunidades disponibles. Y todo esto en un ambiente familiar. Para más información, visite el sitio de red: www.proyectolatina.org. Y llegue temprano a la próxima junta para poner su comentario en “la Caja de Chismes.”

Así como Proyecto Latina, Gwen La Roka le encanta mantenerse activa en la comunidad. Empezó su carrera haciendo un papel en la producción de “Machos” con Teatro Luna en el 2007. También la encontrarás en eventos en varias universidades. Su carera de comediante profesional sigue en marcha y muy fuerte. Recientemente, quebró barreras en ser nombrada la ganadora del concurso de Mikey O’s “Last Loco Standing” en Chicago. También ha competido con varios comediantes famosos de BET y Comedy Central y con Ana Belaval del noticiero WNG en las “Comadres de Comedy” de Chicago. Para más información sobre su carera y gira visite estos sitios de red:

www.gwenlaroka.com

www.facebook.com/GwenLaRoka

twitter.com/GwenLaRoka

by Amelia Orozco

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Chicago, IL-Gwen La Roka is a writer and performer with the ability to transform her

written word into a comedic set that has you laughing uncontrollably from beginning to end.

She pours her entire body and soul into her performance allowing you to completely grasp her

candid sense of humor. She pokes fun at her Latino upbringing. She vividly relives the scene

when her mom chased her with the huarache (some of us can relate). But she does so with such

ease that you don’t have to be Latino to “get it.” She embraces her skinny self and even her

recent scoliosis diagnosis and spins it to her advantage. She takes these obstacles and not only

turns them into the subjects of her jokes, but into opportunities to encourage and embrace her

audience.

Gwen’s spunky attitude is a combination of the class clown, with all the attributes of your

best friend. Immediately, you trust her because she has been there. She instantly opens up her

life and easily connects with her audience. Before the show last Monday, June 20th, she mingled

with the crowd at Catedral Café on Christiana Avenue and 25th Street in Chicago. Then, during

her performance, she included the audience in her jokes by remembering their names. She said

she felt right at home with the group. It’s as if she was saying, “Hey, this conversation involves

all of us.” And it does. Quirky parents and school day pranks are all platforms we can all meet

on and spring into more serious topics. She transitions beautifully by dropping quips in between

the lines about self-image, staying positive in a negative environment, focusing on goals and

allowing laughter to ease the pain as communities work on overcoming social issues.

Gwen was the featured performer at this month’s Proyecto Latina’s Reading Series,

which takes place every third Monday of the month at Catedral Café. Proyecto Latina is the

collaboration of Latina writers, poets, performers and artists whose ultimate goal is to showcase

the success and impact women have in the community. Irasema Gonzales and Diana Pando

head the group and share a long history of promoting the arts in the community. They were just

awarded a local reporting award from Community Media Workshop and will be working on

more in-depth articles on issues impacting Latinas locally. They pride themselves on being able

to provide a safe space for Latinas to share their creativity at their monthly meetings, on their

blog and through other available media. Visit www.proyectolatina.org for more = Información.

Before the event, everyone dropped an anonymous note into the “Chisme Box.” They were read

in between the open mic performances, most were comical and whimsical. The laughter these

generated created a light and inviting atmosphere in the meeting room of the Catedral Café.

Like Proyecto Latina, Gwen La Roka’s mission is to share her passions with the

community. One of her first times on stage was for the production, “Machos” for Teatro Luna in

2007. She always makes time to perform for events that benefit the community such as for the

Hispanic Illinois State Law Enforcement Association and at Northeastern Illinois University.

She is also taking long strides in her professional career as a comedienne. Recently, she

won Mikey O’s Annual “Last Loco Standing” comedy competition. She broke the record by

being the first female Latina to win this honor. She has performed alongside the likes of Alex

Ortiz of BET fame and Shayla Rivera of Comedy Central. She was also featured on Chicago’s

2010 “Comadres of Comedy” with Ana Belaval from WGN News. She was on Queer Queens

of Qomedy at Zanies in Chicago. Gwen is on the right track and appreciates her hometown’s

support. Let her know you’re rooting for her and find out about upcoming shows and events at

any of these sites:

www.gwenlaroka.com

www.facebook.com/GwenLaRoka

twitter.com/GwenLaRoka