MEDIA & REVIEWS Improv-Unleashed
Building Community Through Performance
In addition to her teaching, Codorniu is the producer and performer of “LoS CoMpLiCaDos,” the first Latino improv team in Central Pennsylvania. Launching on October 11, 2024, at the Harrisburg Improv Theatre, this groundbreaking group is part of the Raices Creativas Collective, a project that brings together five creative entrepreneurs to celebrate and elevate Latino voices in the arts.
“Representation matters!” Codorniu emphasizes. “It’s happening as part of the Raices Creativas Collective—the Creative Roots Collective. I had to wait about seven years for there to be enough Latinos in the theater trained in improv. There is still a feeling that improv may be a “white people” activity or hobby, when the truth is we are all creative. This is a dream come true for me and I hope that there are teens and adults in the audience that say- improv is for me as well! “
CREATIVE ROOTS COLLECTIVE
Ultimately, organizers want to express that there’s no right way to express Latino culture and to show other community members the
rich diversity of Latinos.
“You are Latino your way. There’s not anything that you have to fit into,” said Vanessa Codorniu, an organizer and owner of The Biz Bruja, an ancestral healing and coaching business. “Just show up, and we are going to love you as you are.”
REVIEW ON BROADWAY WORLD
Cosmic Trash: The Musical (The Next Adventure) was fulfilling from beginning to end. I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a unique evening of theatre that is both sidesplittingly funny and deeply profound on a literal cosmic level. Though this particular show's future is uncertain at the moment, you should go see Cosmic Trash at the HARRISBURG IMPROV THEATRE. You can also follow their Facebook page HERE to keep up to date on upcoming shows and experiences. The art of tarot has truly been elevated and made more accessible to the general public through Cosmic Trash's work, and I hope they are able to continue to blossom and grow this unprecedented advencement in improvisational styles.
REVIEW: Musical Improv
The Offbeats, a group of talented singers, instrumentalists, dancers, and storytellers perform a completely Improvised musical based on suggestions from the audience. It is absolutely incredible to see a whole group perform an improv piece! They delivered a hilarious, amazingly coherent show, clearly putting a great deal of trust in one another. The way they developed the story and their characters on the fly was incredible. Catch their performance Sunday, July 21st at 11am at Open Stage!
Non-Traditional Show FRINGE 2023
Cosmic Trash features Carol Chromicky, Ashley Hope, Janet Bixler, Lisa Hollenbach, Lisa Lutton Weitzman, Amandine Pope, Vanessa Gonzalez Codorniu, Shamia Terry, and Andi Taroli. This all-female ensemble of performers offers a high- energy show that shows off their versatility and improvisational skills. The show is pure fun with a message we all need to remember--be true to yourself.