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When it comes to outstanding Filipino stand-up comedians, the name that most often comes to mind, especially for Filipino Americans, is Rex Navarrete. Since 2002, Rex has been the most celebrated Filipino stand-up comic to perform to multiple sold-out shows in Manila, Hong Kong and Singapore. The world-class comedian has performed alongside notable national headliners like George Lopez, DL Hughley, and Paul Mooney.
This coming Sept. 12, Rex joins other Filipino comedians to perform to an expected sold-out crowd at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. Aside from Rex Navarrete, The Pinoy All-stars Of Comedy will also feature Ron Josol, Joey Guila and Jo Awayan.
"The show will have the best all-star Filipino line-up of all time," said Freddy of Fortunefi Productions Incorporated Entertainment Group. "It will be a spectacular 2:45 hours of fun, laughter and entertainment, with audience participation, giving away cash prizes. So, the tickets of $55-$75 will surely be worth it."
As the premiere comedian in the show, Rex Navarrete will bring his unique brand of comedy to the stage, which has made him a household name in most Filipino American homes.
This San Francisco Bay Area comedian credits his college professor, Dan Gonzales, to his pursuing his dream to be a comedian. Rex related that in 1989, Gonzales, his Asian American Studies professor, told him he was wasting his talents. "He told me, ‘Get out of my office-we shouldn’t be joking here, you should be taking those jokes to the stage," recalls Navarrete. That spring, 19 year-old Navarrete was baptized by fire, entertaining a crowd of 800 at the annual Asian Pacific Islander Student Union conference at UC Santa Cruz.
By the early 1990’s, Navarrete began seeing his routine evolve through the use of characters, many of whom were struggling underdogs. His portrayals, which ranged from his ESL teacher Mrs. Scott to his Uncle Boy and to Maritess the domestic worker, gave him the voice to air his thoughts on issues and speak about things that otherwise wouldn’t be mentioned.
Navarrete gathers all of his material from what he calls "real Rex moments," reality and shared life experiences. "I think everything has humor; you will always find humor. I don’t always make stuff up. Even though most of my material is geared for a Filipino audience, if you’re smart enough you’ll understand the universality of it. Look at the comedy traditions of Jewish and African American comics, which are now the mainstream through Seinfeld, Bruce, Allen, Rock, Pryor and Murphy. Our struggles become our comedy."
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