The Birth of Jorge’s Solovela Show 

But it wasn’t until 2019 that Jorge began developing the idea for “Solovela” after joining Just the Funny, an improv and comedy theater company in South Florida. 

“I always tell people that life is a telenovela, and I really believe that. I just think that everyone has felt betrayal, everyone has felt desire, passion,” Jorge shared with Pulp City in an interview after her May 16 show. 

Now, you may be asking yourself, how does Jorge create a whole soap opera by herself? The answer is simple: With audience interaction and participation.

At the beginning of each performance, Jorge simultaneously entertains and involves the audience, selecting one or more members to interview on stage. She asks about personal life, what they love and hate, questions related to work, and people who may play an important role in their lives. The audience members’ interviews form the basis for the improvisation. 

“The biggest challenge for me is just making sure that I’m honoring the person’s story. Sometimes I love to talk to people, I love doing the interview, like my interview could take forever,” Jorge laughs, adding that she is the head of both production and stage management, while also developing the story and characters.

Award-Winning Solovela Celebrates Latin Culture, Family

Now, as a returning and award-winning Fringe Fest artist, Jorge views the project as a celebration of her Latin heritage and her family, especially of her mom, who passed away in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. “She never got to see the show, but she is in like every show, if that makes sense,” Jorge said. “This is a reflection of the telenovelas I saw every day.”

For Jorge, the show is a safe space where she can talk about the comfortable and uncomfortable things happening in people’s lives, while keeping her goal of celebrating culture. “I will sometimes throw in a little commentary about what things are going on, because you know, entertainment doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” Jorge said. “But it’s a celebration of culture, and I think all cultures should be celebrated and not, you know, persecuted against it.”

The show, which won the 2025 Orlando Fringe Critics’ Choice Award for Best Solo Improv Show, continues through May 24. For tickets and more information, visit orlandofringe.org, or find Jorge’s upcoming shows here. Read Pulp City’s Fringe Fest Guide and other Fringe performance reviews.