Saturday, April 30, 2016

Banner Ads Now Available on HOLA Website

Wanna promote your upcoming stage production? Your upcoming film screening? Your upcoming special event?

HOLA members often get publicity in our Members in Performance page, but what if you could promote on our main homepage, or in our directory (The HOLA Pages), where more people can see your ad?

What if you had a project with no HOLA members that you wanted to promote?

What if you wanted to promote something that wasn’t a show (like your production company itself or a new website)?

Now you can do so by BUYING A BANNER AD on the HOLA website.

Banner ads come in half-page and full-page sizes and can be on the HOLA website for one week, two weeks, three weeks or a whole month. HOLA can also link your ad to a particular website at no additional cost.

Prices on the banner ads are affordable. Also, not-for-profit organizations receive a 10% discount on ad prices.

The HOLA website receives thousands of visits each month. The HOLA website is viewed by many professionals in the industry and is a unique way of reaching the Latino/Hispanic and mainstream audiences, which make buying a banner ad a smart investment for you.

Wanna buy a banner ad? Call (212) 253-1015 or (888) 624-HOLA or e-mail us for prices and ad dimensions.

HOLA Regional Membership Available For Those Outside New York Metropolitan Area

If you are an actor who lives in an area of the U.S. outside of the New York metropolitan area, New Jersey or Connecticut (HOLA's programming and administrative headquarters region), HOLA is proud to announce its Regional Membership level - for only $65 (versus a $125 regular NYC region membership price) for one full year!

As an HOLA Regional Member, you'll be entitled to the following member benefits:

• Your headshot, resume, reel and voiceover demo*  showcased on the HOLA Pages, the internet's only concentrated source of Latino acting talent. The directory is a trusted resource for casting directors, producers and talent agents receiving, on average, over 5,000 visits per month. (* There is an additional charge 
of $15 for adding your voiceover demo.)

• Your performances listed and promoted via HOLA's website and social media pages (Facebook and Twitter) that reaches thousands of people in the entertainment industry.

• Casting notices that will alert you to employment opportunities tailored to the Latino actor.

• Advocacy to combat stereotypes of the Latino/Hispanic community in media and entertainment as well as the opportunity to join in solidarity with the Latino/Hispanic acting community.


Application for regional memberships accepted by telephone order only. Call HOLA toll-free at (888) 524-HOLA or (888) 524-4652. (VISA, MasterCard and American Express accepted.) Please submit your headshot (in .jpg format) and resume in a Word 
document or in Portable Data Format (.doc or .docx; or .pdf) via e-mail to HOLA.

Why Join HOLA? Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About HOLA

WHY JOIN HOLA?
Frequently Asked Questions

• Is HOLA an agency or management company?
No. While we work similarly to an agency or an artist management company, we do a lot more. In essence, HOLA is a membership organization, a not-for-profit arts service and advocacy organization that offers jobs and casting opportunities, workshops and seminars and special events to its membership.

• Does one have to audition for HOLA?
No. HOLA is a membership organization. Just pay the annual membership and you become an HOLA member.

• I am a new actor. Does HOLA apply to me and how so? (Or conversely, I have a fair amount of experience. How does HOLA apply to me?)
HOLA members range from the beginner to the established and everywhere in between. HOLA will apply to you at every stage of your career.

• Do I have to speak Spanish (or Portuguese) to be an HOLA member?
No. HOLA members speak English only, Spanish only, or both languages fluently. Our Brazilian members speak Portuguese as well as English. There is no requirement for any member to speak Spanish (or Portuguese) to be an HOLA member.

• What kind of casting notices do you receive?
HOLA receives all kinds of casting notices— from union and nonunion, through the disciplines of film, television, theater and voiceover. The majority of our notices are distributed to our membership. There are some instances, whether because of short notice or because of the search for something very specific, that HOLA makes referrals to certain talent.

• I have signed representation. Would that be in conflict with HOLA?
No. In fact, we would put your signed representative’s name and number on your online profile. It would be another way to promote yourself without conflict.

• If I book a job through HOLA, do I owe you a commission?
No. We are not an agency or artist management company. You are under no obligation to give us a commission. (But if you want to show your appreciation with a donation, we’ll be forced to take it, I suppose.)

• I am in the process of getting my citizenship. Could I still join HOLA?
Yes. As long as you can legally work in the U.S., you can join HOLA.

• Does HOLA have a social media presence?
Yes. We are on FacebookTwitter and have our own channel on YouTube. In addition, we are on Wikipedia and have our own blog, titled El Blog de HOLA.

• What if I am not an actor but I like what you do?
You could support HOLA by becoming a Friend of HOLA and donating to the organization. If you are a producer or director, a Friend of HOLA donation allow us to promote your productions!

All About Becoming an HOLA Member or a Friend of HOLA

Wanna be an HOLA member? Wanna know more about HOLA first?

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) is a not-for-profit arts service and advocacy organization founded in 1975.

HOLA members get their headshots and resumes on our web directory. In addition, HOLA receives casting notices from various sources that we pass on to our members (or in specific cases, help refer actors to the casting director).

HOLA offers low-cost workshops and seminars, professional counseling, special events and networking activities. We also produce the HOLA Awards which honor outstanding achievement by Latinos in entertainment.


HOLA has a Facebook page and a Twitter page in addition to this blog (imaginatively titled El Blog De HOLA). Whenever a member is doing a project, we can promote via e-mails we send out, through our Members in Performance page on the website or in El Blog on our HOLA Member Bochinche column (only good bochinche, never bad bochinche). It functions as another outlet to promote your work. HOLA is also on YouTube and on Wikipedia.

What if you are not an actor? You can support HOLA by being a Friend of HOLA. For more information, click here.

To become an HOLA member online (New York metropolitan area), fill out the member application form here.

WELCOME NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS – MARCH AND APRIL 2016

Below is a list of new (and returning) HOLA members who joined between March 1, 2016 and April 30, 2016. (Note that "returning members" refer to those members who have returned to HOLA after having their memberships expire for some time and do not include renewing members.)

(Top row, left to right): Valeria AvinaLiliana Inés Barrera
(second row, left to right): Jennica CarmonaEdmi de Jesús(third row, left to right): Pedro de Llano, Yaraní Del Valle(fourth row, left to right): Aniela GonzálezIliana Guibert(fifth row, left to right): Mayté HernándezDanny Mendoza; (sixth row, left to right): Robb MoreiraJoe Ortiz(seventh row, left to right): Indra Palomo, Marlon Reyna(seventh row, left to right): Rodrigo SáenzKenneth Trujillo(bottom row, left to right): Aldo UribeMelvin Vázquez.


Not pictured: Chuck Contreras.




















Friday, April 29, 2016

HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to "gossip". In this sense, we use it to highlight HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.

Joel Pérez, shown at right, was interviewed by Cris Franco in industry publication Latin Heat, where he talked of his life and career, especially his current gig in the Kron-Tesori musical Fun Home (which is playing at the Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway). To read the interview, click here.

Mónica Delgado is performing in a piece choreographed by Rebeca Tomás as part of
 R.Evolución Latina's 2016 Choreographers Festival (titled "Bountiful: A Teacher's Journey"), which features choreography by several choreographers (including Gabriela García) and concept and direction by Luis Salgado. The festival is scheduled to take place in April and May at Manhattan Movement and Art Center (MMAC) in Manhattan's West Side. To read the article, click here.


Yaraní Del Valle and Jesús E. Martínez, shown above, from left to right, are co-starring in The Desire of the Astronaut. Written and directed by Alvan Colón Lespier with original music by Desmar Guevara and additional texts by Emily Dickinson and F. Scott Fitzgerald, the musical will have performances in May at the Pregones Theater, located in the Mott Haven area of the South Bronx. For more information, click here.

Andrea Navedo
, along with fellow The CW's "Jane The Virgin" cast members Jaime Camil and Justin Baldoni, and creator-executive producer Jennie Snyder Urman, will be on a panel at a Writers Guild Foundation event on Wednesday, May 25, 2016. The event will take place at 
WGF/WGA Headquarters - Del Reisman Multi-Purpose Room in Los Angeles, California. For more information, click here.

If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?

HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to "gossip". In this sense, we use it to highlight HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.

Vivienne Jurado and A.B. Lugo, shown at right, from left to right, were featured in the Héctor Luis Sin Censura blog (edited by Héctor Luis Rivera, also see below) for their co-starring roles in Domnica Rădulescu play Exile is My Home. Produced by Theater for the New City (with support from OneHeart Productions), the play is directed by Andreas Robertz, and also stars Nikaury Rodríguez, Noemí de la Puente, Mario Golden, David van Leesten and Mirandy Rodríguez. The play runs now through late May at Theater for the New City (located in Manhattan's East Village). For more information on the production, click here. To read the blog, which is in Spanish, click here.

Also featured in the Héctor Luis Sin Censura blog (edited by Héctor Luis Riveraalso see above) is Marco Antonio Rodríguez, shown at left, whose award-winning play La Luz de un cigarrillo is getting its South American premiere at Teatro Mueca in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The production is directed by Daniel Teveles, and will run through mid-May. To read the blog, which is in Spanish, click here.

Laura Lebrón, shown at right, will be playing music and opening up for Samuel J. at a gig on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at The Muse, located in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn. For more information, click here.

Omar Pérez just completed a fun comedy shoot for The Flama.

Jorge Díaz is acting in the play El sueño de la razón produce monstruos. Written and directed by Ángeles Romero, the multimedia theater piece from Absolute Art Productions is being presented in April at MECA Dow School in Houston, Texas. For more information, click here.

If you are an 
HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?

Thursday, April 28, 2016

HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to "gossip". In this sense, we use it to highlight HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.

Andrea Navedo, shown at right, was invited by Academy Award winner Geena Davis to participate in a panel on diversity at the Bentonville Film Festival. The panel, titled "Championing Women and Diverse Voices in Media", will take place in May in Bentonville, Arkansas. For more information, click here or here.

Luis Salgadoshown at left, was profiled in Broadway World, in a photo-essay on R.Evolución Latina's 2016 Choreographers Festival (titled "Bountiful: A Teacher's Journey"), which features choreography by several choreographers (including Gabriela García) and concept and direction by Salgado. The festival is scheduled to take place in April and May at Manhattan Movement and Art Center (MMAC) in Manhattan's West Side. To read the article, click here.

Edmi De Jesús and Edna Lee Figueroa, shown at right, left to right, just wrapped up work in Santa Bárbara es una femme fatale. Written by Mariana Monclova and Camila Monclova, it was produced by De Jesús and Figueroa for Producciones El Barrio, as well as directed by De Jesús and Figueroa, who also starred in the two-hander as well. The play had its NYC premiere in April as part of the first annual Festival de Comedias TEBA, presented by the Teatro Experimental Blue Amigos at the Broadway Blackbox Theater in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood.
Pablo García Gámez's solo show Yo no soy Lupita, starring Caridad del Valle, shown at right, in characterthe Teátrica production is directed by Leyma López and will be presented in May at the Broadway Blackbox Theater in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood. For more information, click here.

If you are an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?

HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to "gossip". In this sense, we use it to highlight HOLA members or Friends of HOLA who are getting acting, performance or similarly artistic gigs and/or recognition in the media. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface. To see what other HOLA members are doing currently, click here.

Aileene Pérez, shown at right, was featured in the blog Héctor Luis Sin Censura (edited by Héctor Luis Rivera), where she was selected as Actress, Revelation of the Year for the first annual Festival de Comedias. She received the honor for her work in the José Martínez Queirolo play Q.E.P.D. (Que en paz descansen), presented by Teatro Vanguardia USA and co-starring and directed by Iván L. Argudo (also see below).

Iván L. Argudo (also see above) and 
Teatro Vanguardia USA are presenting Toda esta larga noche. Written by Chilean playwright Jorge Díaz, the play co-stars Berenice Piazza and is directed by Jhon Franch. The production will be presented in May at the Producers' Club Theater, located in the theater district of midtown Manhattan. For more information, click here.

Caridad de la Luz (also known by her nom de poésie et de musique La Bruja), shown at left, was profiled in the Vivala blog, where the writer-performer spoke of her life and career, where she recently commemorated her 20th anniversary of performing. To read the blog, click here.

Manny Alfaro acted in the short film iCreep (written and directed by Adrián Martínez).

The film 11:55 (written by Víctor Almanzar, Ari Issler, and Ben Snyder, and directed by Issler and Snyder) has completed post-production and is now heading to the film festival circuit. The film which co-stars David Zayas and Erick Betancourt and is produced by Danny Mendoza, will have its world premiere in June at the Film Independent L.A. Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. For more information, click here or here.


Inma Heredia and Rafael Fuentes are acting in the Iris Silverio play Soulmates or Nada. Directed by Silverio and Robert Domínguez, the play will be presented in April at Teatro LATEA at the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood.

If you are an 
HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail. If you live in the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, why not join? If you live outside the New York metropolitan area and want to be an HOLA member, you can find out more information on how to do so, by clicking here. If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?

Danny Burstein, Jeanine Serralles, Daphne Rubin-Vega Nominated for 2015-16 Drama Desk Awards

The 2015-16 Drama Desk Awards nominations were announced today by former Drama Desk nominees Vanessa Williams and Matthew Morrison at Feinstein's/54 Below (located in the theater district of midtown Manhattan). 


Former HOLA Awards honoree Danny Burstein received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Musical for his role playing Tevye in Fiddler on the RoofJeanine Serralles was nominated for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play for her role in Brandon Jacobs-Jenkins' play Gloria

Former HOLA Awards honoree Daphne Rubin-Vega picked up a nomination for Outstanding Solo Performance for her self-penned solo show Empanada LocaFormer HOLA Awards awardee Soledad Barrio and Noche Flamenca were nominated for Unique Theatrical Experience for their work AntígonaMarco Ramírez's The Royale was nominated for Outstanding Play. Veteran designer Riccardo Hernández received a nomination for Outstanding Set Design of a Play his work on Red Speedo.


The Drama Desk Awards, which are presented annually, honor outstanding achievement by professional theater artists on Broadway, off-Broadway, and off-off-Broadway. The awards are voted on by theater critics, journalists, editors, and publishers covering theater. The Drama Desk Awards ceremony, hosted this year by Drama Desk winner Michael Urie, will take place on Sunday, June 5, 2016 at New York's Town Hall. For more information, click here.

[Clockwise, from top left: Burstein, Serrallés, Barrio and Noche Flamenca, Ramírez, Hernández, Rubin-Vega.]