Report: 2013 HOLA Awards Announcement Ceremony

On Thursday, August 15, 2013, the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) held the Announcement Ceremony for their upcoming HOLA Awards Gala and Benefit. The ceremony/press conference took place at Repertorio Español in Manhattan and the names of honorees and awardees were announced by HOLA Associate Director A.B. Lugo, HOLA Membership Coordinator Betty Cutié, and HOLA members Vanessa Verduga and José Roldán, Jr. (the latter two were also surprised by an HOLA Award nod for each).

The evening started with a brief acknowledgement and celebration of actress Olga Agostini, who recently passed away. It is the custom of HOLA to not have a moment of silence but rather a round of applause for a deceased performer. Ms. Agostini received a standing ovation from the crowd, who mostly consisted of her colleagues in the Latino theater scene. (Agostini and others will be formally acknowledged at the HOLA Awards Gala and Benefit, to take place on Monday, October 21, 2013 at The Battery Gardens in Manhattan's Battery Park).

The honorees were first announced and then the awardees for excellence in Latino theater. There were plenty of cheers, tears and pleasant surprises, along with a lot of applause as the names were announced.

HOLA would like to thank Repertorio Español, Robert Weber Federico, Fernando Then, Eduardo Navas, Gerardo Gudiño, Peter A. Dubó, Freddy Mancilla and all those in attendance for the success of the event.

For more information about the 2013 HOLA Awards, click here.

All photos in this blog were taken by Anthony Ruiz/A. Ruiz Photography. To see more photos of this event, click here.