Get ready for a night of high-energy stand-up with Fernando “Panda” Chacon, a touring comedian whose quick crowd work, larger-than-life personality and stories about family, culture and everyday life have taken him to comedy stages across the country.

Born and raised in Southern California as the son of Salvadoran immigrants, Panda grew up in a family where apparently everyone was a comedian whether they had booked a show or not. His father kept the house laughing, his mother was the family roast master, and Panda eventually turned that upbringing into a career behind the microphone.

A University of North Texas creative-writing graduate, Panda performs in both English and Spanish and has built his act around storytelling, spontaneous crowd work and his experiences with family, faith, culture and his ongoing battle with weight loss. His ability to riff with an audience means the people in the room aren’t simply watching the show—they can very quickly become part of it.