Who is Cabaret:


Esteban Pantoja, also known by his drag name La Mas Mejor, is a prominent Mexican-American actor, artistic director, and advocate in the Latine LGBTQIA+ community. He is the founder of Cabaret Parodia, the first Latine LGBTQIA+ theater company in Chicago, where he produces, writes, and directs various productions, including notable works like "Un Pozole con Frida" and "Cuna de Brujas." Esteban began his theater journey with Tariakuri Theatre Company in 2005 and has since become its co-artistic director and production manager. His acting career has seen him bring numerous characters to life, including in the famed monologue "Dracula Gay" by Thomas Urtusastegui. In 2021, after the pandemic, Esteban took on a leading role in "Varones" with Aladeri Theatre Company. A dynamic presence in Chicago's Latino Drag Show community, La Mas Mejor has become an influential icon. Esteban’s work has been featured in a German-published research study by Liliana Macias, a UIC history PhD Student and co- founder of Raices Chicago Story Coalition, Transformismo: A Spatial, Cultural, and Racial Intervention in Chicago’s Queer and Latinx Communities, and on platforms like honor41.org. By Alberto B Mendoza. Through Pantoja’s artistic endeavors and public appearances, he continues to advocate for the Latine LGBTQIA+ community.