BIO | PRESS | RESUME

02/07/08: Washington Post
A LAUGH RIOT
There's a man named Cisco who'd like to spend Valentine's Day with you. He promises to be on time, to share his sangria and to keep you laughing all night. The man is a professional, after all. Comedian. A professional comedian -- come on, now. The folks at Riot Act Entertainment are taking over Los Arrieros restaurant in Silver Spring to give this day of romance a little comic relief. Cisco, who hails from California and was a featured performer on "Loco Comedy Jam," will be joined by three other comedians to better serve your wisecracking needs.

CISCO AND FRIENDS Thursday and Feb. 15 at 8:30. Los Arrieros, 7926 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. 202-625-6229 (Riot Act Entertainment),http://www.riotactcomedy.com. $20.

04/28/06: Western Association of Educational Personnel
COMEDY BRINGS SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS
by Celissa Valenzuela

With the large crowd roaring with laughter, fundraising has never been more fun. Many people supported the sold out All Star Comedy Jam at the California State University Monterey Bay campus on March 30. Four great comedians signed up to support the great cause of raising money for low-income first generation students going to college.

Comedians Cisco, who is a regular host at the Improv and has appeared on Loco Comedy Jam, Eric Blake, who has appeared Comedy Central, BET Comic View and HBO, Edwin San Juan, who has appeared on Showtime, BET Comic View, and Que Loco, and Felipe Esparza, who has appeared on Showtime, Comedy Central, Que Loco, BET Comic View, and Loco Comedy Jam all signed on to entertain the massive crowd of supporters.

Thinking of different ways to raise money for the Educational Talent Search end of the year Senior Scholar Celebration, Outreach Specialist Jesus Ruvalcaba thought it would be a great idea to bring world known comedians to the Monterey area. After months of searching for the right comedians, Ruvalcaba found Improv host Cisco and asked for support. Cisco wanted to find some of the best comedians he knew for this cause, “I wanted to bring the best for a great show.” Cisco, who attended CSU Long Beach and graduated with a degree in Chicano Studies, spoke to Blake, San Juan, and Esparza and asked them to sign on to the show.

With half of the proceeds going towards low-income and first generation seniors going to a college of their choice, each comedian felt excellent appearing at the show. “ I love helping out kids and anything to do with education. To take part in helping kids is a blessing itself,” Blake stated after the show. While growing up in South Central Los Angeles as a kid and being part of the YMCA, he knows how it feels to fundraise for different programs. “Anything is possible,” Blake wanted to say to all students,  “Education is the key, the more you learn the more you earn.”

Signing autographs for the many supporters, Edwin San Juan says,” Stay in school. Finish what you start.” San Juan, receiving a degree in Human Services from CSU Fullerton, was very active as a child being part of youth groups and his church, “I feel honored and am glad I can help.”

With the last comedian of the night, Felipe Esparza closed the show with a bang. “Cisco called me up and asked me to do this show and I said yes.” Esparza, who attended junior college, feels great about the cause for this show. Esparza, like Cisco, San Juan and Blake, is a full time comedian who loves entertaining people.

If the rummage sales and carwashes don’t meet the criteria of raising enough money, always think out of the box. There are always many ways of raising money and people are constantly willing to support the programs.

With the help of the ETS staff and other TRIO programs on campus, hopefully the CSUMB All Star Comedy Jam will be an annual event that will help many students who will be graduating from high school in future years to come.

03/20/04: The Next Great Latino Comic!

Cisco is his name and he is the newest face in Latino comedy.  This twenty-something guy from Los Angeles has raised the eyebrows of many industry pros in just over the year he has been doing standup comedy.  “It started out as just something fun to do,” says Cisco.  What started out as something fun has turned into a new career path for the new Latin sensation.  Cisco’s bits on his grandfather, his braces, and his new dates being on probation all have a Mexican flare to them, but are understood and appreciated by all audiences.  “I saw him in Long Beach and knew this guy had what it took to go all the way,” says fellow veteran comedian, Pat Leborio.  A fellow Latino comedian agrees.  “It would not surprise me to see him on Funny is Funny or another television show within a year,” claims Martin Moreno, a rising star who helps run the popular comedy show at Wild Coyotes in Montebello. 

A couple of months ago, at the 202 Club in Anaheim, Cisco lit the stage on fire in front of a packed crowd and Conquest Entertainment Manager Don Allen couldn’t take his eyes off him.  “This guy needs to be with us,” said Allen as he watched.  Jeremy Clendening, the President of SirComedy.com was also impressed.  “Cisco is going to make a living at this,” meaning comedy, says Clendening.  That month, Cisco made SirComedy.com’s list of Comics of the Month of January.

Cisco can be seen playing at hot spots like the Comedy Store, the Laugh Factory, and the Ice House in Pasadena.  Recently, he showcased for “Latino Night” at the Improv in Hollywood and got instant notice.  “He came out strong and kept the crowd for the entire set,” said Richard Villa, who runs the show at the Improv.  Along with his emergence as a standup comedian, Cisco is looking to get an acting career going.  He has been hard at work, taking classes and audition workshops in L.A. and Orange County.

Chris Berube, who coaches Cisco for improvisation at the Second Stage in Anaheim says, “Cisco is a natural talent.”  Those are some big words coming from a man who has worked as a writer for “Star Wars-The Phantom Menace” and “Galaxy Quest,” with Tim Allen. 

Cisco recently signed with Conquest Entertainment Management in hopes of taking his career to the next level.  At the rate he is going, it won’t take long before he gets to that level.  “I just want to do something I love,” said Cisco

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