About
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A queer/trans/non-binary comedian and writer, El Sanchez has been performing all over the country (and once in Canada) since 2010. Their conversationally cynical, yet upbeat comedic style weaves together a unique mix of embarrassing personal stories, nerdy obsessions, social politics and possible overshares, making light of their own instances of social incompetence while also skewering oppressive social norms. They have been called "fearless" by City Arts Magazine, "a grumpy nugget of delight," by writer/activist Lindy West (Shrill: Notes From a Loud Woman) and "a brilliant new voice everyone should know," by comedian Hari Kondabolu (The Problem with Apu). Grammy Award winning singer/song-writer Kimya Dawson (The Moldy Peaches, Juno) has cited Sanchez as her 'favorite underground Northwest comedian' while W. Kamau Bell, Emmy Award winning comedian and host of CNN's United Shades of America, once said, "El Sanchez is the truth."
According to Crosscut.com, ""...El Sanchez is a special comedian; with unparalleled storytelling, quick wit and a bubbly demeanor, [they] can make magic out of any moment. Whether hosting The Moth, doing stand-up or hosting [their] own show, [they’ll] have you laughing the whole night and you’ll want to be [their] friend. The best advice I can give: Whenever you can see [them], go see El Sanchez."
El has performed at Seattle's Crypticon, Emerald City Comicon, Bumbershoot, the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, Northwest Comedy Fest, the All Jane Comedy Festival, Autostraddle’s annual LGBTQ event A-Camp and have been a featured performer at many LGBTQ+ PRIDE events from Seattle, WA to Charleston, NC. They have appeared on The Bob Rivers Show, NPR's Latino USA, the popular podcast Sex Nerd Sandra on the Nerdist network, the Seattle-based sketch television show "The [206]" on NBC and have been interviewed by both Allure and Teen Vogue. They have opened for comedians Nicole Byer (Nailed It), Marc Maron (GLOW, WTF Podcast), Jen Kirkman (Drunk History), Dwayne Kennedy (Seinfeld), Bridget Everett (Inside Amy Schumer), W. Kamau Bell, Michael Che (SNL), Wyatt Cenac (The Daily Show) and musicians D.R.A.M. and SassyBlack. They are a regular opening act and touring partner of comedian Hari Kondabolu (Warn Your Relatives, Conan, Comedy Central).
El has produced several Seattle comedy shows over the years, including all female show Wine Shots: Comedy's Happiest Hour, late night variety show Not Too Late with El Sanchez, movie and live podcast show The Enematic Cinematic LIVES!!, comedy and karaoke show Karajokey and wildly successful QTPOC focused variety show Fist & Shout! They currently co-host a podcast with fellow comedian Joshua Chambers titled How Bad Could it Be? featuring an exclusive theme song written and performed by beloved queer and trans musician Mal Blum (The Chris Gethard Show, Welcome to Night Vale). El also hosted three web series for Queerspace Magazine (The Bi-Geekly Report, Wrestle-Gaynia and Reality Rewind) and was the host of the Seattle branch of The Moth StorySlam from 2015-2021.
They have written for websites Wonder and Risk, Have You Nerd?, Capeless Crusader, Autostraddle, My Kid is Gay, Baberoar and Jezebel. In 2013, they were featured on LGBTQ pop culture website AfterEllen’s "50 Hot [Womxn] in Comedy" list, as well as Autostraddle’s, “The Alternative Hot 105.” In 2016 they were featured in City Arts Magazine's "Future List," a list of up and coming artists who the magazine predicts will redefine their medium in the upcoming year. In 2018, El was one of a collection of contributing writers/featured storytellers in Shout Your Abortion, a book project featuring personal stories of different people and their experiences with abortion that was collected and edited by notable Seattle area artists, writers Lindy West, Amelia Bonow and musician Emily Nokes (Tacocat).
El currently resides in Olympia, WA where when not performing stand-up on Zoom shows, they fill their time working for a non-profit organization supporting LGBTQ+ youth while at home with their toddler and their BBC Murder Mystery App.
BONUS RANDOM USELESS FACTS!
1. After much begging by El, comic book writer Greg Rucka wrote them into an issue of DC's Crime Bible series in which they are a sex worker that falls in love with Gotham City police detective and secret superhero, Renee Montoya. This character has gone on to be a continuing love interest and sometimes antagonist of Renee Montoya.
*Important Note: El is portrayed by a thin, white, blond, cis lady in the book because racism and sexism. Creator Greg Rucka argued with the shitty powers that be at the time on El’s behalf for this character to be brown and be based on images of El. Also, the character was created over 15 years ago before El came out as trans so the character goes by El’s birth name. None of these things are the fault of Greg Rucka, who is awesome so please continue to stan him.
2. Selena, the legendary Tejano singer is El's cousin. So is legendary Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa (according to their dad).
3. El once did comedic commentary over the film Beast Master at a horror convention alongside the film's director, Don Coscarelli. After telling Don they used to carry a fanny pack with small stuffed dogs in it as a kid that they would throw at bullies and pretend they were like the mind-controlled ferrets in the film, Don told them they were funny and gave them a hug because he is REALLY nice.
4. From 2013 - 2017, El portrayed lead singer Michael Thunder in Seattle's premiere gender bending Michael Bolton comedy cover band, Lightning Bolton.
5. El once had a pet mole named Stephen. He died.
6. El is obsessed with watching real-life forensic crime-solving shows. It's actually kind of creepy. Maybe we shouldn't talk about it.
7. El got their first IMDB credit for their non-award-winning performance as "Gilgazorg Harem Girl #2" in local Seattle comedy film Steel of Fire Warriors: 2010 A.D. (in which they share a scene with comedian/musician Reggie Watts while wearing a pair of tights on their head).
8. El's favorite color is blue razz, their favorite season is Halloween and their favorite scent is coffee beans.
RESUME
PEOPLE
Featured For
Bridget Everett
Brooks Whelan
D.R.A.M.
Dwayne Kennedy
Emily Heller
Gary Gulman
Graham Elwood
Guy Branum
Hari Kondabolu
Howard Kremer
Jen Kirkman
Joe Mande
Josh Blue
Liz Miele
Marc Maron
Michael Che
Moshe Kasher
Nicole Byer
River Butcher
Sandra Valls
SassyBlack
W. Kamau Bell
Wyatt Cenac
Hosted for
Cameron Esposito
Margaret Cho
Mike Epps
Todd Barry
PLACES
Festivals/Conventions
All Jane Comedy Festival - Portland, OR (2013, 2014, 2015)
Autostraddle's A-Camp - San Bernardino, CA (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Arts & Nature Festival - Seattle, WA (2019)
Bainbridge Island Comedy Festival - Bainbridge Island, WA (2014)
Big Sky Comedy Festival - Billings, MT (2015)
Bridgetown Comedy Festival - Portland, OR (2013, 2015)
Bumbershoot Music & Arts Festival - Seattle, WA (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
Crypticon Horror Convention - Seattle, WA (2011, 2012, 2013)
Emerald City Comicon - Seattle, WA (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
GeekGirlCon - Seattle, WA (2014)
Folklife Festival - Seattle, WA (2022)
Indigenous People Festival - Seattle, WA (2019)
Intersections Festival - Seattle, WA (2018, 2019)
Macefield Music Festival - Seattle, WA (2014)
Northwest Comedy Fest - Vancouver, B.C. (2014)
Olympia Film Festival - Olympia, WA (2014)
Pacific Crest Comedy Festival - Portland, OR (2019)
Rose City Comicon - Portland, OR (2019)
Summer Meltdown Festival - Darrington, WA (2013)
Trans Pride Festival Seattle (2020)
Translations: Seattle Transgender Film Festival - Seattle, WA (2018)
TWIST: Seattle Queer Film Festival - Seattle, WA (2017)
Colleges
The Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA)
Comedy Clubs
The Comedy Underground (Seattle, WA)
Helium Comedy Club (Portland, OR)
Laughs Comedy Spot (Seattle, WA)
The Punchline (San Francisco, CA)
Theaters/Performance Venues
Annex Theater (Seattle, WA)
Bagdad Theater (Portland, OR)
The Bell House (Brooklyn, NY)
Broadway Center (Tacoma, WA)
Brody Theater (Portland, OR)
Capitol Theatre (Olympia, WA)
Curious Comedy Theater (Portland, OR)
Doug Fir Lounge (Portland, OR)
MoPOP (previously Experience Music Project) (Seattle, WA)
The Hideout (Chicago, IL)
Hult Center of Performing Arts (Eugene, OR)
Mississippi Studios (Portland, OR)
The Moore Theater (Seattle, WA)
Neptune Theater (Seattle, WA)
The Triple Door (Seattle, WA)
Turner Ballroom (Milwaukee, WI)
The Troubadour (Los Angeles, CA)
Seattle Center (Seattle, WA)
The Shelter/St. Andrews Hall (Detroit, MI)
The Washington Center for Performing Arts (Olympia, WA)
Contests/Competitions/Awards
2nd Annual Feedback Funny Comedy Competition (Winner) - Seattle, WA (2015)
Seattle International Comedy Competition (2015)
THINGS
Commercials
Real Networks - Hello. My Name is Helix
Film
Steel of Fire Warriors: 2010 A.D. (2008)
Rewind This! - Teaser Trailer/Special Features (2013)
Oh, I Get It - Documentary short (2015)
Poster Boy - Short Film (2016)
Podcasts
Buffering The Vampire Slayer
To L and Back
Lady to Lady
Sex Nerd Sandra
Television
The [206]
Radio
Hollow Earth Radio
Web Series