2016 HOLA Performer's Choice Awards Recipients Announced – FUEGO EN GRANADA and MADE IN PUERTO RICO: LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF SPANGLISH

The recipients of the 2016 HOLA Performer's Choice Awards were announced at the 2016 HOLA Awards on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at the Flamboyán Theater in The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) in New York City. The general public voted online for Outstanding Production and Outstanding Solo Production, respectively, in the New York City Latino theater season between July 1, 2015 and June 30, 2016. More than 2700 votes (for over 80 productions) were cast, and the four finalists (top four vote-getters) were announced shortly before the awards ceremony. The recipients of the award would be the playwright, director, actor(s) and producer(s) of the producer(s). The four finalists in each category are listed below in alphabetical order by title.

Outstanding Production
• Fuego en Granada (Group of the Arts)
• In Defense of Glitter and Rainbows (True Productions)
• Lisístrata odia la política (Teatro Experimental Blue Amigos)
• Teatro Círculo Callback Series 2016 [Manchild Machismo/Rhapsodia/Someday A Father Be] (Teatro Círculo)

Outstanding Solo Production
• I'm Just Saying (The ONE Festival)
• La bruta bruja Bruna (Group of the Arts)
• Made in Puerto Rico: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Spanglish (Eli Castro Productions/Mike Oquendo Productions)
• Rhapsodia (Teatro Círculo)

With over 27% of the vote, the 2016 HOLA Performer's Choice Award recipient for Outstanding Production is Fuego en Granada (Group of the Arts). Accepting the award was director J. Edgar Mozoub* (shown at right). Also receiving a 2016 HOLA Performer's Choice Award are producer Arberto Fernández, playwright Tomás Urtusástegui, and actors Telba Cavero, Sergio Freijo, Samuel Garnica*, Paul Montoya, Christian Navarro, and Yvette Quintero*. (Names marked with an asterisk indicate an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA.)

With over 47% of the vote, the 2016 HOLA Performer's Choice Award recipient for Outstanding Solo Production is Made in Puerto Rico: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Spanglish (Eli Castro Productions/Mike Oquendo Events). Receiving a 2016 HOLA Performer's Choice Award are actor/writer/director/co-producer Elizardi Castro* (shown at right), and co-producers Mike Oquendo*. (Names marked with an asterisk indicate an HOLA member or a Friend of HOLA.)

Congratulations to all of the 2016 HOLA Performer's Choice Award recipients!!