HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to "gossip." In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members who are getting acting gigs.

Adela María Bolet, shown at left, booked a national Bank of America commercial as the result of an HOLA referral. In addition, Ms. Bolet is currently rehearsing Suburban Tribulations: An Evening of Powerful Short Plays. Written by Megan Lohne and Deborah Finkelstein and directed by Camille Theobald, the production is scheduled for a January run at the 5C Café in the Loisaida section of Manhattan. Gilbert Cruz, shown at right, also booked the Bank of America commercial. In addition, he booked a role on the FX television series "Damages," as well as two short films (the latter due to an HOLA referral).

Allison Strong can be seen on the Broadway stage in the Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie at the Henry Miller Theater. In addition, she can be seen in the Backstage industry paper as one of the five actors in the A Fresh Take section.

Jean-Marc Berne performed his original music at Locksmith Wine & Bar in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan.

A.B. Lugo is presenting a workshop production of his play Geneva. The play won the third place at the Teatro LA TEA's Así Somos (As We Are) Bilingual Playwrights Festival, and as a result, earned a January run at LA TEA's eponymous theater in the CSV Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) in the Loisaida neighborhood of Manhattan. Directed by Arian Blanco, the play featured Iván Goris and Ileana Canal in the cast.

If you are an HOLA member and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail at holagram@hellohola.org. If you are not an HOLA member, why not join?

TWO WORKSHOPS FOR HOLA MEMBERS IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2010

For immediate release, please
Contact: Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA)
Manny Alfaro / A.B. Lugo (212) 253-1015

THE MENTAL GAME OF AUDITIONING AND
SPANISH LANGUAGE VOICEOVER WORKSHOP
KICK OFF HOLAfábrica SERIES OF
WORKSHOPS AND SEMINARS FOR 2010

The Mental Game of Auditioning, led by Hermán Chaves, a two-day workshop on how to prepare for on-camera auditions; and the Spanish Language Voiceover Workshop, led by Manuel Herrera, a three-week, six-session workshop on the technique of doing voiceovers in Spanish; kick off the HOLAfábrica series of workshops and seminars for 2010.

The Mental Game of Auditioning workshop uses video recordings in real time of student mock auditions, as well as teach the actor how to not get intimidated in front of casting directors and producers. The workshop will take place at Los Kabayitos Theater, on the second floor of the CSV Cultural and Educational Center (home to HOLA) on Wednesday and Thursday, February 17 and 18, 2010 from 7-9pm both nights. Hermán Chaves is a bicoastal actor and teaches privately. Film and TV credits include Taxi, Shelter, Apartment 5c, "24," "Invasion," "ER," "The Sopranos," "Law & Order," "Law & Order SVU" and "Third Watch."

The Spanish Language Voiceover Workshop will take place at the HOLA office on Tuesdays and Thursdays between March 9 and March 25, 2010 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Manuel Herrera, actor, voiceover artist, director, producer and HOLA's longtime Special Projects Director and Rights Acquisitions/Director Audio Libros at Recorded Books in Manhattan will conduct the class. Voiceovers in Spanish are one of the fastest growing fields in this industry and this workshop gets filled quickly.

Both workshops will take place at 107 Suffolk Street (between Rivington and Delancey streets) in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, NYC. Workshop class size is limited.

The Mental Game for Auditioning, led by Hermán Chaves, and the Spanish Language Voicover Workshop, led by Manuel Herrera, will kick off the HOLAfábrica series of workshops and seminars for 2010. For fees and registration call HOLA at (212) 253-1015 or click here.

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WELCOME NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS - NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2009

Below is a list of new (and returning) HOLA members who joined between November 1, 2009 and December 31, 2009. (Note that "returning members" refer those members who have returned to HOLA after having their memberships expire for some time and do not include renewing members.)

(From left to right, top row): Caridad De La Luz, Christen Gee; (second row): Brenda Gómez, Penélope Hernández; (third row): Anna Lamadrid, María Lantero; (fourth row): Christopher James López, Vidal López; (fifth row): Penélope Morel, Juan Carlos Parro; (sixth row): Glenda Ramires, Allison Strong; (seventh row): Evelyn Tucker.

Not pictured: Vanessa Corwin.

Memorial for Francisco G. Rivela

You are hereby invited to a memorial service
remembering and celebrating the life of

FRANCISCO G. RIVELA

actor, director, producer, announcer
and former Chairman of the Board of HOLA

Wednesday, January 6, 2010
6-8pm
Repertorio Español
138 East 27th Street (off Lexington Avenue), NYC

SEATING IS LIMITED

R.I.P. Michael Philip Del Río

Michael Philip Del Río

(9 December 1956 – 13 December 2009)

I first met Michael when I was just starting out in the industry. He recognized that I was an actor and a writer and not just one or the other. I felt like he "got me," like he understood me. He was also an actor and a writer. In those early days, he was very supportive of me and my endeavors. I would see him sporadically in the following years, but he never changed. He always had this light, this youthful energy, this exuberance that was contagious. Whether he was alone or, as often was the case, with his wife Lori, running into him always became a highlight of my day.

His death is still a shock. I think about his family, his friends and his wife (now widow) Lori. I wished I had spent more time with him, but I cherish every moment I got to spend with him. If I were to see him again, all I would tell Michael is, "Thank you, brother. Thank you. Thank you so much for being there for me in my life." And as the curtain of one existence falls and another curtain rises for the light that was known as Michael Philip Del Río, I wish him good luck on his next adventure and I know that wherever he is now, he will continue to charm everyone he encounters along the way.

--A.B. Lugo.

For more information on the career of Michael Philip Del Río, click here.

HOLA Member Bochinche

Bochinche refers to "gossip." In this sense, we use it to mention HOLA members who are getting acting gigs.

Lucía Armendáriz and Jesús E. Martínez can be heard as voices of characters in the new video game Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City (Rock Star Games).

Repertorio Español presented the 2009 MetLife Nuestras Voces National Playwriting Competition Reading Series at their eponymous theater in the Gramercy section of Manhattan. Play readings produced included those by Rob Santana, Lina Gallegos and Marcelo Rodríguez.

Moisés Acevedo e-mailed us to say that he worked on the Allen Coulter-helmed film Remember Me in a scene opposite Martha Plimpton, a role on the HBO television series "How to Make It in America" and work on two plays (River of Tides in a tour with Pace University and No Place Like Home at the Paul Robeson Theater in Brooklyn).

Juan Villarreal also recently e-mailed to let us know what he is doing. In theater, he performed Los habladores with Teatro Círculo on tour at the University of Rhode Island. In television, he played Raúl the tailor in an episode of "How to Make It in America" (HBO) and a commercial for Klondike ice cream. In addition, he has done various voiceovers and audiobook narrations.

If you are an HOLA member and want to submit a bochinche item, send us an e-mail at holagram@hellohola.org. If you are not an HOLA member, why not join?

2009 HOLA Awards Report

The Tenth Annual HOLA Awards and Benefit took place on Monday, October 26, 2009 at the nation's oldest theatrical club, The Players, which overlooks Gramercy Park in Manhattan, New York City. Salsa singer Javier Luis opened the ceremony with two songs. Following that, there was a poignant moment when HOLA Advisory Board Member Alex Segura praised his uncle, former HOLA Board Chairman Francisco G. Rivela, who passed away earlier this year. Instead of a moment of a silence, as per HOLA Awards tradition, he asked for applause for the late actor, director and announcer. This resulted in a full standing ovation which lasted several minutes amid voices screaming, "Bravo! Bravo!"

After the auspicious beginning, masters of ceremonies Jorge Ramos, Odalys Molina and Mario Bósquez hosted the awards ceremony. The evening was a series of highlights. Outstanding Solo Performance awardee Marga Gómez thanked HOLA ("or as the kids call it nowadays, 'HOLLA'") for her second HOLA award. Outstanding Featured Female Actor awardee Selenis Leyva won her first solo HOLA Award in 12 years of acting for, in her words, "playing a whore." She then said, "If I play more whores, maybe I'll get more awards. (Editor's note: By sheer coincidence, she is currently, um, playing a prostitute in the musical Pantaleón y las visitadoras).

Outstanding Achievement in Direction awardee José A. Esquea gave his speech in both in English and Spanish before having to run off the stage (he was also stage managing the event). Outstanding Female Actor awardee Carissa Jocétt Toro was sweet when she announced that she was "honored to be in the room with all of [these] people." She added that she would love to work with all of them one day.

Other highlights were the acceptance speeches of Broadway and TV star Sara Ramírez via video (she is currently shooting "Grey's Anatomy" in Los Angeles), star of stage and screen Luis Antonio Ramos (who talked of his love for the Yankees and gave a special message in Spanish to his mother), Tony winner David Álvarez and Spanish TV star Ricardo Gómez ("Cuéntame cómo pasó), as well as appearances by Tony Plana (ABC's "Ugly Betty"), Florencia Lozano (ABC's "One Life to Live") and Carson Kressley (Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy"), the evening made for a star-studded event.

Following a performance by Out of Isla, the two lifetime achievement awardees (Silvia Brito and René Sánchez) gave speeches. And like that, it was over. Another amazing HOLA Awards ceremony goes down in the history books. If you would like to see some photos of the HOLA Awards (taken by A Ruiz Photography), click here.