Today we’d like to introduce you to Peru Flores.
Peru, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am originally from Cusco, Peru, and migrated to the U.S. with my mother when I was 14. I started my acting career in NYC AT 18 by landing a few theater tours as well as FILM/TV work.
I started to become resentful of the industry because of their lack of representation not only of the Latino/Hispanic communities but also of the LGBT community – which I had found myself embracing as an openly gay man since moving to New York.
Because of that, through my good friend Lauren Monroe, I decided to take up improv comedy classes at the well-known Upright Citizens Brigade… and I became hooked with it.
What was most wonderful about improv comedy was the fact that I could be anything I wanted and nobody would question it. From a sassy girl cheerleader to an anxious mom to an obnoxious taxi driver; I finally had freedom of expression in the most sincere form since in improv everything that happens will never happen again.
I began producing my own comedy shows in NYC as well as began producing short films (dramatic in nature). This really fulfilled my desire to be able to be a serious and comedic actor, writer, and producer without having to compromise one or the other.
Now that I’ve been in Houston for the last two years, I continue to produce comedy shows (I have three under my belt: Grease(D)! A live Parody, UNPOPULAR OPINIONS, and the upcoming Peru and the City: A PRIDE Comedy) with their main focus being challenging gender norms, promote an LGBT-inclusive world, and provide social commentary that will leave people thinking even after leaving the show.
That is the HEY PERU universe and development so far! 🙂
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The biggest hurdle has been not compromising my vision to appeal to a more cis-gendered, “vanilla” audience that is often marketed in order to achieve mainstream success. I believe that today’s world is craving originality and uniqueness in content more and more, and I am happy to be one of those that provide uncompromised work even if it takes longer to get to the top this way.
I also found it hard to come to terms with pairing my artistic pursuit with my sexuality, thinking that it was either one or the other. But now I’m super proud to be an openly gay, Latino performer!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with HEY PERU – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
HEY PERU is the brand that I promote online as an entity that provides entertainment to its audience. Whether it’s a live comedy show, short feature film or online experimental videos – I do them all with the main purpose of putting myself in the leading roles that the mainstream industry is not giving people like me.
I am the main force of nature behind all of my projects – so I will most often direct, write, be the lead in, promote, market, edit, etc. for each concept. I’m super proud of this because I am showing that I can be more than just an actor. My creative self is much more ambitious and hungry than I ever thought it could be.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I plan to head back to NYC and make my way to LA to continue to spread the HEY PERU brand in different settings. I have a few big concepts that I’ve been writing in the last few years, and my ideal goal is to bring those to fruition to mainstream audiences.
That, and being fabulous in the process 🙂
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @heyperu
- Facebook: @heyperutv
Image Credit:
Christeland Studio (cream jacket photo & black see through top photo)
NT Photography (leather jacket photo)
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition, please let us know here.
