We were lucky to catch up with Erick Acuña recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Erick thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I was born and raised in Peru. The last decade I’ve been living in Washington DC. During the day I work at a non-profit human rights organization. The rest of the time I work as a comedian, writer and producer.

When I first moved to the US, it was hard. I wouldn’t see that many people of color on stage. Plus I thought that because I’m from another country, I have a thick accent and my first language is not English, my comedy would be unappealing to Americans. I was totally wrong.

I started doing improv comedy at Washington Improv Theater, and currently I’m a senior teacher, and performer, with dozens of sold-out shows. However, one thing I wanted to try was to write about my experience as a millennial Peruvian Latino living in this country. That’s the reason why I wrote my solo show ‘Acuña Acuna’. It was a cathartic release to put all of the good, bad, weird, and fun things that have happened to me since I moved here into a comedy show. I talk and laugh about everything: from filling out a medical form in English or never trying home-made chocolate cookies, to what is was like to be a 14 year-old kid living in the middle of a war.

I had no expectations about writing this show. I was able to perform it for the first at Dojo Comedy, a small theater in DC for 30 people. We sold out all shows, and the response was pretty great. I then performed the show in NYC at the Solocom Festival, as well as other theaters in Baltimore and Philadeplhia. It was also selected as a finalist at the Yes And Laughter Lab in partnership with Comedy Central.

The show got a full run in 2019 at the Capital Fringe, where it won ‘Best of Fringe’ and ‘Best Solo Show’, and got great reviews from all DC sites. That allowed me to perform this show in 2022 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in the UK, with a sold out run.

The response has been overwhelming positive. Being vulnerable in front of an audience is not easy. As a comedian, I enjoy showing the real side of me: ‘Hi, I’m a Latino guy who has lived most of his life in South America and now I live in the US and wow, there are some big differences’. But we also have so many things in common. We all have felt like an outcast at some point in our lives, and this show has helped me break some barries, show my culture and my lifestyle, and craft my comedy skills in front of different and new audiences all around the world.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a Peruvian comedian/writer based in Washington DC. My one-person comedy show ‘Acuña Acuna’ was voted ‘Best Solo Performance’ and ‘Best of Fringe’ at Capital Fringe, and has had sold out runs in DC, NYC, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (UK). The show was a finalist at the Yes, And… Laughter Lab in partnership with Comedy Central. I’m also a founding member and writer of ‘The Cherry Swamp’, top Washington DC based satire site.

I teach and perform improv and sketch comedy at Washington Improv Theater, and Will Hines’ World’s Greatest Improv School. I’ve been featured in several comedy podcasts including Earwolf’s improv4humans with Matt Besser, and Improv Nerd with Jimmy Carrane. I’ve also taught workshops and performed in comedy festivals in over 20 cities around the US, Latin-America and Europe.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I love showcasing my Latino identity in any show/project I’m involved. I think that’s what makes me unique, and I think it can help to people that are starting in the comedy scene in DC to see people like them, and be excited and inspired to perform.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think giving the audience a good time is the best reward I can think of. This world is pretty messed up. If I’m able to entertain some people for an hour it will make me feel so good. And for my solo show ‘Acuña Acuna’, having the audience being entertained, but also maybe learn a little bit about Peru, it’s a pretty cool thing. I’ve had audience members telling me after the show hoe excited they are to travel to Peru, and get to know some of the things I talk in my show. It’s a great feeling!

Contact Info:

• Website: erickacuna.com
• Instagram: erickacuna1
• Facebook: acunacomedy
• Twitter: acunacomedy
• Other: TikTok: erickhakuna