The Chicago Latino Theater Alliance (CLATA) presents Destinos al Aire, its 4th free, outdoor festival, Sunday, May 21, 2 to 5 p.m. at the National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W. 19th St., in the heart of Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood.
Destinos al Aire is CLATA’s annual outdoor multidisciplinary pop-up event that brings free, Latine-centric performing arts entertainment and culture to different Chicago neighborhoods.
This year’s 2023 edition, presented on the new outdoor Ray Castro plaza right next to the National Museum of Mexican Art, features:
Gwen La Roka fresh off her recent win of HBO Max’s Entre Nos Latino comedy competition, and Chicago’s first Latina to be featured on an upcoming HBO Comedy Special.
Teatro Tariakuri’s Los Chilpayates Youth Ensemble performing a sneak peek of El Baile de los Números, a new production by Tomas Urtusastegui, premiering at the 2023 Destinos, 6th Chicago International Latino Theater Festival this fall.
The Center of Peruvian Arts presenting authentic folkloric Peruvian dance and music, with Hugo Gutierrez performing traditional Andean music.
Jesus Ramos, accompanied by Mariachi Perla de Mexico, playing contemporary Mariachi, some urban/jazz tunes, and a delightful transition to R&B and country to end the evening.
Also on tap: “Performance art with living statues, an arts activation booth by Yollocalli, a story booth, and arts and craft vendors, everything you need to showcase and sample Chicago’s Latine arts and culture scene, in the heart of Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood,” said CLATA Executive Director Jorge Valdivia.
The 4th Destinos al Aire is supported by a Chicago Presents grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events and National Endowment for the Arts.
Gwen La Roka (emcee) is without a doubt Chicago’s rising star of stand-up. She hit the comedy scene with an explosive energy that quickly won the hearts of her audiences and led to performances at world famous comedy clubs such as The Laugh Factory, Zanies, and The Improv. Her honest comedic approach, meshed with her physical humor, has crowds from all ages & backgrounds laughing at life, together. Gwen has worked with some of today’s funniest comedians like Gina Yashere, Felipe Esparza, Aida Rodriguez, & Finesse Mitchell, as well as legendary Paul Rodriguez & George Wallace.
Gwen has written and directed her own one woman show titled Mi Casa Es Tu Casa, which sold out the entire 13-show run debut in Chicago just last year. She also recently had some fun as a voiceover actor for a Viva Films role in “Around the World in 80 Days”.
Winner of the ’21 NY Latino Film Festival Latino Stand Up Comedy Competition, she is now the first Latina from Chicago to make her comedy special debut on HBO Max. Catch her now on "Entre Nos: The Winners 3" or keep your eyes peeled for when she headlines a club near you. Gwen is most definitely one to look out for. gwenlaroka.com
Teatro Tariakuri dance and theatre performing arts is a non-profit community arts organization established in 2004 in Chicago’s Marquette Park neighborhood to offer children and adults there and in surrounding communities affordable access to an array of performing arts classes and professional artistic training opportunities. Teatro Tariakuri offers bilingual/bicultural dance, theater, and music courses for all ages. teatrotariakuri.org
The Center of Peruvian Arts connects audiences and students to the Indigenous cultures of Peru through performances, educational programming, and participatory workshops. Serving the Chicagoland area, the Center strengthens the community’s identity to their Indigenous Peruvian counterparts. General Artistic Directors Jessica Loyaga and Ruben Pachas researched in indigenous towns for 20 years and are Fine Arts teachers promoting Peruvian ancestral cultures to different cultures in the world. centerofperuvianculture.com
Hugo Gutierrez is a world renowned musician, author, composer, inventor, professor, recording artist and former Director of the Argentinian group Los Hugos. He plays wind and string music instruments from the Andes region. Watch Hugo at a recent performance, here.
Jesus Ramos is a genre-defying musician dedicated to music and performing. Since entering the music world in 2008, through his unforgettable live performances and impeccable studio recordings, Jesus has honed his unique sound from contemporary ballads, jazz and traditional Mariachi music to form an unstoppable force in Chicago’s music scene. jesusramossinger.com
Mariachi Perla de Mexico, founded in 1997, is a renowned Chicago based mariachi group considered by media, businessmen, fellow musicians and the public as the best Mariachi in Chicago. Today, Perla de México, made up of eleven of the best Mariachi musicians from the Midwest, is the most requested Mariachi for recordings of local singers and to accompany famous artists performing in Chicago and other major cities in Illinois. facebook.com/mariachiperlademexico.