HOLA is proud to present Tío Louie Reporta, where filmmaker and Executive Producer of Prime Latino Media, Louis Perego Moreno (affectionately known as Tío Louie) interviews actors and multimedia-makers in the business of show.
In this edition, Tío Louie talks to actress, singer, writer and HOLA Award member Marlene Villafañe, who recently presented her self-penned solo show Marlene Goes To Hollywood at Teatro Círculo in Manhattan's East Village. The production was a result of her winning The ONE Festival, a festival of solo shows.
MARLENE GOES TO HOLLYWOOD...
and finds herself
and finds herself
 |
| Marlene Villafañe. |
 |
| Winning the 2016 The ONE Festival. |
Tío Louie: What is at the root of this one-woman show?
Marlene Villafañe: Well, it’s me growing up as a
Latina born in Spanish Harlem, but raised in the Upper West Side [of Manhattan]. Then I go into
how gawky I was. I was a late-bloomer and not being decisive about what I
wanted to do in life. I was not great in school, but I loved watching these TV
shows and pretending to be these characters. It was a wonderful release for me.
It also helped me escape or feel my insecurity. I was able to laugh while
watching TV and growing up. I had studied music. I could sing jazz, opera, I could
be funny– and all while telling stories. But I didn’t have a niche. I was
trying to find what I wanted. My focus was not narrow. Finally, a few events in
my life pointed me in that direction of... this
is for me. It was accepting my power. It was about how good I was and not
being afraid of that, in order to show the talents that God had given me
through the platform that the show provided.
 |
| Performing with her cousin, singer Javier Luis. |
TL: You thanked God when receiving your award and cited the higher power
several times. Describe the significance of your faith and spirituality?
MV: Everybody in life goes through
ups and downs and spiritual growth. I always grew up in a spiritual
household, but I would come in and out of it. Occasionally, I would go through
these panics, even as a working actress that stemmed from insecurities or
whatever. My family helped keep me grounded. I prayed a lot. I started
meditating. Writing my story, this show helped me a lot. I surrounded
myself with positive people. I took time to be by myself. I also had the gift
of laughter. Singing helped a lot and being surrounded by loving people. To me
religion and spirituality are two separate things. Don’t get me wrong, to a
specific person who is in a particular stage in life that may be lost, a
religious organization helps them find themselves. The point is that my
upbringing was very spiritual. Whether religion or not, people need something
that helps them. Religion and politics are a whole different thing, especially
when it comes to controlling people... I don’t want to go there.
TL: You have a superb voice that is obviously classically trained as you
did a rendition of an Italian operatic aria in your show that blew the audience
away. Tell me about your training?
MV: I am a lyric coloratura from when
I was studying at the Manhattan School of Music. I studied there for four years
and for two years in the master's program there. I remember hearing Maria Callas
as a college student, which is why I had to put it in my one-woman show.
TL: You are a remarkable comedic
actress, where do you tap into to channel these great women from comedic
history?
MV: Watching, observing, researching.
You then have to put yourself in the moment. That’s when real magic happens.
Can you get nervous in executing this? Yes, but it’s about being spontaneous. I
meditate beforehand and stretch so I can be limber and free. I do my prayers
and deep breathing and affirm things that keep me feeling good– to stay happy
and be good. My best teachers have told me to be in the moment and really
listen within and trusting that that force will take you… just surrender and
have fun. Trust in the now that magic can happen on a comedic or dramatic
level. My teachers would say, Listen to
the silence or your partner.
TL: What are your $0.10 worth of advice [originally
2¢, but increased by Tío Louie for inflation] for comedic actors when it comes to
the challenging task of character impersonation?
MV: Listen carefully. Observe their
mannerisms, their sound, speech, rhythmic pacing and timbre that they are known
for possessing. You have to listen and work with someone who is an expert with
that person and bounce off them to refine the character. Pick people that you
can do an impression of easily. There are certain characters that you can try
to do an impression, but my voice lends itself to do Eartha Kitt and Gracie
Allen who I did in my one-woman show. Observe a lot and work with someone who
has a keen ear for that person.
TL: What’s next?
MV: I want to continue writing and
continue developing this show, and taking it out there and trust that what
comes to me is going to be very good. I am believing that God is supporting me
to write and develop my show. I want to continue
being me and being true to myself. I would love to have a show on Comedy
Central, something like Carol Burnett,
Tracey Ullman– just a really great show. I love sketch
comedy so I can invite my great comedian friends and form a great ensemble. I
loved In Living Color– I love Jim Carrey.
For more information about Marlene Villafañe, click here.
For more information about Marlene Villafañe, click here.
Louis Perego Moreno (Tío Louie)
Founder & Executive Producer of PRIME LATINO MEDIA, the largest East Coast network of Latino multimedia-makers, actors and musicians in bilingual Latino and mainstream media, digital and entertainment. An interactive Content/Impact Producer and Educator who for the past 34 years has owned Skyline Features, a bilingual multimedia and educational production company developing documentaries, television programming and advertising commercials featuring Latinos, Blacks, Women, Urban Youth and LGBT.
Founder & Executive Producer of PRIME LATINO MEDIA, the largest East Coast network of Latino multimedia-makers, actors and musicians in bilingual Latino and mainstream media, digital and entertainment. An interactive Content/Impact Producer and Educator who for the past 34 years has owned Skyline Features, a bilingual multimedia and educational production company developing documentaries, television programming and advertising commercials featuring Latinos, Blacks, Women, Urban Youth and LGBT.
Facebook (personal page): Louis E. Perego Moreno
Fan page: Tio Louie
Facebook Group: Prime Latino Media
Twitter: @TioLouie
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Instagram: PRIME_LATINO_MEDIA
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