The Flint Institute of Music’s Capitol Theater was filled with laughter last night, Thursday May 7, during a performance by George Lopez.
As a stop on his George Lopez Live tour, actor and comedian George Lopez visited the Capitol Theater. As guests first arrived they were greeted by a performance from The Empty Pockets, a rock and roll band from Chicago. Their performance was then followed by an opening act from Haitian American comedian, Ruben Paul. Soon after, George Lopez entered the stage. From stories about his childhood to politics, the struggles of getting older and his experience as a Latino American, Lopez was quick to inspire laughter while touching on a range of topics.
“Honestly, I liked the whole show, even the guy before him was awesome too,” Elisa Luna-Donaldson, a Flint resident, said. “I liked everything about it. It made me laugh.”
Sawyer Auger, the Capitol Theater programming manager, said the FIM chose to foster this connection because of Lopez’s long-standing career and his access across communities.
“His ability to connect with audiences across generations made him a strong fit for our programming goals, and we felt he would resonate well with our community,” Auger said.
This prediction was correct as audience members expressed their enjoyment of the show through roaring laughter. When asked why they chose to attend the event, some guests indicated that the name was enough.
“I love George Lopez,” Luna-Donaldson said, “So my aunt called me and asked ‘would you like to go see him?’ I said ‘I would love to go see him’, I was excited.”
Some guests especially appreciated his representation of Hispanic culture and the Latino experience.
“It’s very relatable too,” Lisa Gonzalez-Gronauer, a Flint resident, said, “You think back to your abuela and think back to when you were a kid and definitely it’s very relatable, brings back memories.”
Planning for this event started many months ago, and the FIM is excited to have had Lopez in their theater.
“We’re always excited to welcome artists of George Lopez’s caliber to the Capitol Theatre,” Auger said, “Hosting nationally recognized talent is an important part of our mission to bring diverse, high-quality entertainment to the Flint community.”
Going forward, the FIM will continue to host a range of performers: national, regional and local. The George Lopez show is a highlight for the FIM, but they would like to continue adding vibrancy to the Flint community.
“Events like this go beyond entertainment—they bring people together, create shared moments, and contribute to the vibrancy of downtown Flint.” Auger said, “We want attendees to leave feeling energized, connected, and proud to have access to this level of talent in their city.”
