HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to “gossip”. In this sense, we use it to mention 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.

Vanessa Verduga, shown at right, was interviewed in industry publication Latin Heat by Louis Perego Moreno (Tío Louie), where she spoke about her life and career as a actor-singer-writer-director-producer, and specifically, about the world premiere production of her full-length play Implications of Cohabitation (directed by Leni Méndez and starring Verduga, Anthony Ruiz and Adriana Sananes), now running through the end of August on Theatre Row at the Harold Clurman Theater in the theater district of midtown Manhattan. To read the interview, click here. (To see Perego Moreno's interview of Verduga for El Blog de HOLA, click here.)

Luis Salgado, shown at left, in rehearsal, was featured in a Photo Flash photoessay in Broadway World, where it shows some behind-the-scenes shots of him directing the musical Zuccotti Park. Named after the New York City park that was the birthplace of the Occupy Wall Street movement), the musical, which was also produced and choreographed by Salgado, has a book and lyrics written by Catherine Hurd and music composed by Vatrena King. It will be presented in August at the Flamboyán Theater in The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) as part of the New York International Fringe Festival (fringeNYC). To see the photoessay in Broadway World, click here.

Caridad de la Luz (also known by her nom de poésie et de musique La Bruja), shown at right, was highlighted in El Blog de Pablo (edited by Pablo García Gámez, also see below) as a result of her co-starring role in the upcoming new musical I Like It Like That, starring Tito Nieves. With a book by David Maldonado and Waddy Jáquez, the musical will be directed by Jáquez with musical direction and arrangements by Desmar Guevara. The musical will feature the music of Latin music artists such as Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Ray Barretto, Ismael Rivera, Cheo Feliciano, Willie Colón, Héctor Lavoe, Rubén Blades, Larry Harlow, Ismael Miranda, Johnny Pacheco, Pete El Conde, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, La Lupe, Mon Rivera, Fania All-Stars, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico, Joe Cuba, Pete Rodríguez, Johnny Colón, and Patato y Totico. Previews for the musical will start in September at the Puerto Rican Traveling Theater, located in the theater district of midtown Manhattan. To read the blog, which is in Spanish, click here.

Mafer Rodríguez and Alfonso Rey, shown above, left to right, were highlighted in El Blog de Pablo (edited by Pablo García Gámez, also see above) as a result of their participation in this year's Monologando Ando solo show festival. Rodríguez's show is Atrapen a Minnie (written and directed by Lupe Gehrenbeck); Rey's show is #Popular (written by Marcos Purroy and directed by Rey). This year, in addition to the solo shows presented, some storytellers have been added to the program in what is being dubbed as Contando Ando. One of the storytellers will be Juan Villarreal, shown at right. The festivals will take place in September in The Producers' Club Theater, located in the theater district of midtown Manhattan. To read the blog, which is in Spanish, 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?