Eclectic Full Contact Theatre hosts Queerceanera for ALMA Chicago
Sat. August 1, 2026 1:18 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
photo credit // michael oboza
15th Queerceanera benefits oldest Latino/a/x LGBTQ org in Midwest
CHICAGO, ILL. -
By Michael Oboza, Special to GoPride.com
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre (EFCT) hosted its 15th season Queerceañera fundraiser at My Buddy’s, 4416 N. Clark St., raising funds for ALMA Chicago with festive music, raffles and guest performances.
"Come as you are and celebrate who you are" was the inspiration behind the original vision from Queerceañera stage manager Kim Thompson.
The event featured a 15th anniversary cake made by Chef Carlos Colón Negrón. In attendance were EFCT co-founders Jessica Lauren Fisher and Andrew J. Pond.
Guest performances featured LGBTQ Latino/a/x artists and allies, including José Alfredo, Stiletto Heals, Felicia Hinojosa, Frescis con Crema, Davey Zep, Licinio Garcia, Jess Martínez, Kenny Jamaica, Ruby Aviña, and F!stofer Dew Jingle, frontman for xAlways Shart Alwaysx.
The event included a staged reading of Mariel's List, a Spanglish play exploring the intersection of Cuban culture, freedom of speech, immigration, alienation and queer identity. The play was written and produced by EFCT Artistic Director Natividad Salgado.
The cast of Mariel's List included Moni M. Villalba, Shayla Woolsey, Alix Rhode, Daniel Alexander Rivera, Alondra Rios and Andrew J. Pond.
In its mission statement, EFCT notes that it was founded in 2011 with a dual purpose: to bring visceral, engaging entertainment to a diverse audience regardless of style or medium, and to foster a deeper connection to theatre by offering audiences behind-the-scenes access to the production process.
Founded in 1989 during the AIDS epidemic, the Association of Latinos/as/xs Motivating Action, known as ALMA Chicago, is the oldest Latino LGBTQ organization in the Midwest. It provides grassroots advocacy and resource outreach for underfunded Latino, LGBTQ and gender-inclusive communities.
Eclectic Full Contact Theatre (EFCT) hosted its 15th season Queerceañera fundraiser at My Buddy’s, 4416 N. Clark St., raising funds for ALMA Chicago with festive music, raffles and guest performances.
"Come as you are and celebrate who you are" was the inspiration behind the original vision from Queerceañera stage manager Kim Thompson.
The event featured a 15th anniversary cake made by Chef Carlos Colón Negrón. In attendance were EFCT co-founders Jessica Lauren Fisher and Andrew J. Pond.
Guest performances featured LGBTQ Latino/a/x artists and allies, including José Alfredo, Stiletto Heals, Felicia Hinojosa, Frescis con Crema, Davey Zep, Licinio Garcia, Jess Martínez, Kenny Jamaica, Ruby Aviña, and F!stofer Dew Jingle, frontman for xAlways Shart Alwaysx.
The event included a staged reading of Mariel's List, a Spanglish play exploring the intersection of Cuban culture, freedom of speech, immigration, alienation and queer identity. The play was written and produced by EFCT Artistic Director Natividad Salgado.
The cast of Mariel's List included Moni M. Villalba, Shayla Woolsey, Alix Rhode, Daniel Alexander Rivera, Alondra Rios and Andrew J. Pond.
In its mission statement, EFCT notes that it was founded in 2011 with a dual purpose: to bring visceral, engaging entertainment to a diverse audience regardless of style or medium, and to foster a deeper connection to theatre by offering audiences behind-the-scenes access to the production process.
Founded in 1989 during the AIDS epidemic, the Association of Latinos/as/xs Motivating Action, known as ALMA Chicago, is the oldest Latino LGBTQ organization in the Midwest. It provides grassroots advocacy and resource outreach for underfunded Latino, LGBTQ and gender-inclusive communities.