New York city-based comedian Pedro Gonzalez is funny in two languages.
Next month, on May 30, the East End will experience this first hand as the Colombian-born Gonzalez prepares for a two-performance event at Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center. Co-presented with OLA of Eastern Long Island, a nonprofit advocacy organization serving both immigrants and US-born Latinos across the five East End towns, Gonzalez’s performance will include a double feature: an English-language show starting at 5 p.m., followed by a Spanish-language show at 8 p.m.
Gonzalez first immigrated to the United States when he was 20, arriving, as he describes on his website, with no papers, no Englilsh and no money. Now an internationally touring (and renowned) comedian, he has a number of accolades already: he’s the first Latin American immigrant comedian to appear on the “Late Show with Stephen Colbert”; was a finalist on “Stand Up NBC” and “New York’s Funniest”; he’s a staff writer on the hit show “Primo.” The performance at WHBPAC serves as a friendly reminder that the power of comedy lies within its ability to connect and bring people together across cultures, languages and experiences. “In a time marked by uncertainty and social division, this performance underscores the belief that laughter can foster understanding, resilience and community,” says a press statement from WHBPAC.
The cultural institution and the Latino advocacy group are no strangers when it comes to working together. For a number of years now, the two East End entities have collaborated on several programs, sharing the mission and commitment to cultural equity, representation and access to the arts. Three years ago, the two partnered together to present Venezuelan singer Nella. Additionally, they collaborated on OLA’s Latino Film Festival, screening “Encanto en Espanol” and “La Lagune Rose.”
“How we choose to show up for one another — in the best of times and in the most challenging — defines the true spirit of our community,” says Minvera Perez, executive director at OLA. “Bringing a comedy show to the East End in both English and Spanish is a reminder that laugher is healing, restorative, and deeply unifying.”
According to information provided on OLA’s website, there are about 37,000 Latinos that live on the East End, representing about 23% of the population, with 45% of the area’s students identifying as Latino. Additionally, 58% of immigrants living on the East End are Latino and more than half of the Latino population are immigrants.
Tickets are $32 per person and can be purchased here, by calling the box office at 631-288-1500, or at WHBPAC’s location at 76 Main St., Westhampton Beach.
