Nicole Zayas-Balaz will shine a spotlight on herself and her culture with “Cielito.”

The show is this year’s actors showcase presented by Rust Belt Theater Company and started by Robert Dennick Joki as a way to showcase the talents of some of its regular performers.

“We chose to do this show, ‘Cielito,’ which means ‘little heaven’ or ‘little sky,’ during Latino Heritage Month,” said Zayas-Balaz, who is Puerto Rican and Mexican. “We’re an inclusive theater and we like to include people of all different backgrounds. Rob believes in that. I’m very fortunate to have had opportunities to play roles that in other cities or other venues I might not have had. Rob’s written music just for me based on my personality and my culture.”

She’ll be performing many of the songs she’s sung in Rust Belt productions, but Zayas-Balaz also will do some traditional folk songs, such as “La Llorona,” which was included in the animated feature “Coco,” and “Tu Solo Tu,” which has been recorded by Selena and other artists.

“I’m really excited to share that with the theater community who may have, otherwise, not had an opportunity to hear things like that here,” she said.

She’ll close the show with “Cielito Lindo,” which inspired the title for the production.

“That song, in particular, has very special meaning in my family,” she said. “When I think about my culture and music, that song comes up throughout my life, so I wanted to find a really nice way to highlight that song and pay homage to my family. … My grandfather used to sing it to me as a child, which really heavily influenced my desire to include it.”

While the series was created as a solo showcase, Zayas-Balaz invited some friends to perform as well, including Joki, Bernadette Lim and Rick Morrow. Chris Hartman will accompany her on some songs.

“I let them pick a song, and it’s interesting, they sort of fit a theme, which is really about the fragility of life,” she said. “I’m going to talk about the Day of the Dead, and I’m going to have some items I’ll explain to the audience. I’m going to have an ofrenda, which is an altar, and I’m going to explain what the components of that are, and the people who are performing with me are going to include some of their personal mementos and pictures as well.”

“Cielito” will be performed outdoors on the porch at Club Switch, but it will be moved indoors if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

“It’s not a typical theater event,” Zayas-Balaz said. “It’s storytelling and an event about culture. It’s not just your typical theater revue.”

If you go …

WHAT: Nicole Zayas-Balaz — “Cielito.”

WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

WHERE: Club Switch, 221 Belmont Ave., Youngstown.

HOW MUCH: $15. Call 330-507-2358.