In a city where theater companies come and go every day, a local Latino improv group keeps their audience entertained, 10 years after their first comedy sketch.

With show titles such as “The Devil Wears Chanklas (slippers)” and “Touched by an Anglo,”  Salsation tours the country during Hispanic Heritage Month and performs at universities every year.  Their main goal is to put up a great show and convey a clear message to students, whether it’s making fun of celebrities or mocking social issues.

The school tours have been going on since the group formed in 1998. Three theater students-Joe Nunez, Paul Vato and Aamer Arboleda-realized Chicago needed comedy groups that were catered to the Latino community. Since then, the group has expanded into a 10-person ensemble using material from its spring shows and performing those sketches in the fall touring season.

Beatriz Jamaica, director of development and a part of the ensemble, recently portrayed the main character in “The Devil Wears Chanklas,” earlier this year. Since her launch into improv shows in 2005, she has acted out many roles ranging from Dora from “Dora the Explorer” to Charlie from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

“We [tour] year-round, but our busiest season is Hispanic Heritage Month,” she said.  “The mission of Salsation is to expose the people to Latino comedy improvisation, because we are the only Latino group that does this.”

In past years, the group has performed at festivals such as Big Stinkin’ International Improv and Sketch Comedy Festival in Texas,  and at schools like George Washington University and Notre Dame University.  They recently performed at the Chicago Sketchfest kick-off party and fundraiser earlier in the month, which Jamaica said was a big success.

“Having an audience connect and enjoy the show is one of the things that the writers of Salsation make sure to do,” Jamaica said. “We perform for anybody, but for the most part,  our Latino audience would relate more to what we act out because they go through similar things.”

Their sketches, songs, parodies and impressions have ranged from everyday life scenarios and relationships to election season.  In the past, one of their performers acted as George Lopez running for president.

“There isn’t a lot of difference between the college audience and our regular audience feedback,” Jamaica said. “Other ethnic groups enjoy it as well, but it’s different because they observe it, while a Latino audi-

ence almost participates in it.”

During their spring shows earlier this year, they performed at different locations around Chicago like Second City, 1616 N. Wells St., and the Gorilla Tango Theater, 1919 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Alonzo Alcaraz, managing director of Salsation, has been touring with the group since 2004.

“What we do in the beginning of the year is come up with material,” he said. “From there, we write, direct and perform our main stage show in the spring.”

Aside from writing, directing and performing, the group members run the show while balancing full-time jobs and personal lives.  Nelson Valazquez works at an IT firm, directs two musical groups and is the touring manager for Salsation.

“At times I do get stressed out, but overall, it’s what I want to do,” he said. “I plan to parlay my skills so that I can devote all of my time to being an entertainer.”

Salsation will perform at St. Xavier University, 3700 W. 103rd St., on Oct. 7. For more information on the group, visit Salsation.com.