Deck the halls with guacamole – the Latina Christmas Special is back in town! This hilarious holiday comedy is hailed the “Critic’s Choice” by The Los Angeles Times, and stars acclaimed Latina comedians: Diana Yanez, a Cuban American from Miami (“Margaret Cho Sensuous Woman Show”) who is also the creator, Maria Russell, the daughter of an over-dedicated Mexican mother and compliant Lithuanian father (FX’s “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”), and Sandra Valls, a Mexican American from Laredo, Texas (Showtime’s “Latin Divas of Comedy”).
Written by all three women, the show is a full-length play which in itself is three original mini one-woman shows. In it, three great friends have a holiday season get-together that includes plenty of tequila and stories of childhood “Christmas Dramas.”
Listen to our interview via Soundcloud:
Sandra Valls is a multi-talented performer, who was singing and playing piano years before she embarked on a career as a comedian and producer. Her genre is R&B, singing in a variety of bands from alternative to an 8 piece horn section. At age 11 she saw a Bette Midler special that inspired her to combine singing and comedy. Her musical talent allows her to incorporate singing and playing piano into her skits, “Comedy just landed in my lap and was easier because it was just me. Music is what I do though, and they go together.” says Valls. She is a huge Stevie Nicks fan and often incorporates Stevie Nicks covers into her routine. She even released a self-titled CD of some of her favorite covers.
We became friends in 2015 after I attended her performance at the Center for Spiritual Awareness in Sacramento, CA and booked her to perform at the Sacramento Rainbow Festival later that same year. She was in town recently and took time out of her hectic schedule to talk candidly with me about embracing the grind, the struggle with maintaining relationships in this industry, and how her performance in the Latina Christmas Special has impacted the lives of others. See our full interview video below! As we enjoy french fries and 5 gourmet dipping sauces at the wonderful Burgertown Restaurant and Bar.
The Latina Christmas Special runs from November 30, 2017 through January 7, 2018 at the Los Angeles Theater in Los Angeles, CA. You can purchase tickets here: Latina Christmas Special
To follow Sandra Valls and catch her next stand up performance, visit her website: welovesandra.com
