2012 HOLA Awards Press Release (With Updates)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: A.B. Lugo (212) 253-1015 ablugo@hellohola.org

DAVID ZAYAS (of "Dexter"),
MARLENE FORTÉ (of "Dallas"),
FÉLIX SOLÍS (of "Made in Jersey"),
J.W. CORTÉS (of "Star Earn Stripes"),
NBC LATINO & JOSÉ DÍAZ-BALART
AMONG THOSE HONORED
AS DELTA AIR LINES PRESENTS
THE 2012 HOLA AWARDS
ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2012

Delta Air Lines is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2012 HOLA Awards

The 2012 HOLA Awards Gala, recognizing the outstanding work of Latino actors and celebrities, is an Official Event of 2012 Latin Media and Entertainment Week

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE HERE

September 24, 2012 (New York, New York) — The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA), the nation’s longest running active arts advocacy organization for Latino actors, is pleased to announce that it will honor film and television stars David Zayas (currently on Showtime’s “Dexter”), Marlene Forté (currently on TNT’s “Dallas”) and Félix Solís (a series regular of the upcoming CBS series “Made in Jersey” as Delta Airlines presents the 2012 HOLA Awards Gala and Benefit, sponsored in part by NBCUniversal and CBS. The Awards Gala and Benefit is an official event of NYC’s Latin Media and Entertainment Week (sponsored by the NYC Latin Media & Entertainment Commission created by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg) and will take place on Monday, October 8, 2012 at 6:30pm at The Battery Gardens, located on the waterfront in New York’s scenic Battery Park (opposite 17 State Street). Sponsorships slots are still available. A limited number of individual tickets are available at $150.

David Zayas, currently playing Ángel Batista on Showtime’s “Dexter” will receive the HOLA José Ferrer Tespis Award. Marlene Forté, currently playing Carmen Ramos on TNT’s “Dallas”; and Félix Solís, who plays Riv Brody in the upcoming CBS series “Made in Jersey”, will be honored with the organization’s inaugural HOLA Excellence in Television Award. Featured speakers at the 2012 HOLA Awards include SAG-AFTRA Co-President Roberta Reardon and SAG-AFTRA Co-Secretary-Treasurer Amy Aquino.

HOLA will present Excellence in Media Awards to NBC Latino and journalist/anchor José Díaz-Balart. NBC Latino is the new voice of American Hispanics -- elevating and leading the conversation around Latino news in the United States. Emmy Award winner Díaz-Balart is the current anchor of "Noticiero Telemundo." He made history by becoming the first U.S. journalist to broadcast both English and Spanish newscasts on two networks simultaneously (Telemundo and MSNBC).

HOLA will also present the inaugural Excellence in Reality Television Award to actor/filmmaker J.W. Cortés of the NBC reality competition series "Stars Earn Stripes." Marine and Gulf War veteran (and HOLA member) Cortés was one of the operatives of the popular series. Finally, HOLA will present a Special Recognition Award to the NYC Latin Media & Entertainment Commission (LMEC) for its commitment to furthering Latino arts and culture in New York City.

In addition to the aforementioned awards HOLA will also continue its annual tradition of honoring the best of Latino theater in New York with noncompetitive awards encompassing multiple winners in each category. HOLA is at the forefront in recognizing the high caliber work being offered across New York’s thriving Latino theatrical stages. A list of the 2011-2012 theater awardees is below.

Individual tickets are $150 and can be purchased in advance by calling (212) 253-1015 or by going to www.hellohola.org. Table sponsorships are also available and can be purchased by calling María F. Nieto at (212) 253-1015 or via e-mail at mariafnieto@hellohola.org.

2012 HOLA Awards Honorees

HOLA JOSÉ FERRER TESPIS AWARD
David Zayas

HOLA EXCELLENCE IN TELEVISION
Marlene Forté
Félix Solís

HOLA EXCELLENCE IN MEDIA AWARD
NBC Latino
José Díaz-Balart 

HOLA EXCELLENCE IN REALITY TELEVISION
J.W. Cortés

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

NYC Latin Media & Entertainment Commission

• • • •

2012 HOLA Awards for Excellence in Theater

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR
Alfredo Huereca, La cena
(Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)
Frank Robles, Locuras en Wíchita
(Repertorio Español)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR
Zulema Clares, Mariela en el desierto
(Repertorio Español)
Miriam Cruz, Locuras en Wíchita
(Repertorio Español)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED MALE ACTOR
Howard Collado, Glass Cord
(Teatro LATEA)
Josean Ortiz, DC-7: The Roberto Clemente Story
(Society of the Educational Arts/Puerto Rican
Traveling Theatre/RMM Group)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED FEMALE ACTOR
Basílica Bliachas, La Callas & Medea
(Thalía Spanish Theatre)
Johanna Rodríguez, DC-7: The Roberto Clemente Story
(Society of the Educational Arts/Puerto Rican
Traveling Theatre/RMM Group)

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Elaine Del Valle, Brownville Bred
(The Schoolhouse Theater/Theater 808/
Al Eskanazy Productions/59E59 Theaters)
Andrés Chulisi Rodríguez, Growing Up Gonzales
(Reel Players and Poets Club/Toptía Productions)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE CAST
Teddy Cáñez, Zabryna Guevara, Alfredo Narciso,
Xochitl Romero, Carmen Zilles,
Chimichangas and Zoloft (Atlantic Theater Company)

Raúl Durán, Ana Grosse, Gerardo Gudiño, Alfredo Huereca,
La cena (Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL PRODUCTION
Raúl Ábrego, for scenic design; and Erik Pearson, for projection design,
of Intringulis (INTAR)
Alex Moore, for lighting design; and Milteri Tucker, for choreography,
of Temple of the Souls (MultiStages)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN PLAYWRITING
Fernanda Coppel, Chimichangas and Zoloft
(Atlantic Theater Company)
Lina Gallegos, Locuras en Wíchita

(Repertorio Español)
Félix Rojas, Growing Up Gonzales
(Reel Players and Poets Club/Toptía Club)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION
Jaime Castañeda, Chimichangas and Zoloft
(Atlantic Theater Company)
Raúl Durán, La cena (Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Anita Vélez-Mitchell, Dean Landon and Anika Paris,
for the musical score of Temple of the Souls (MultiStages)
Cristián David and Fernando Reyes,

for their outstanding mime performance in Pájaro
(TeatroStageFest/Gallinero Culeko)

GILBERTO ZALDÍVAR HOLA AWARD
FOR OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
La cena (Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)
Temple of the Souls (MultiStages)

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) is an arts service and advocacy organization dedicated to expanding the presence of Hispanic artists in entertainment and media through the cultivation, education and recognition of emerging artists. HOLA strives for an accurate, informed and non-stereotyped portrayal of the full spectrum of Latino culture and heritage in all entertainment and media industries.

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