Happy Holidays/Felices Fiestas

Happy holidays from everyone at HOLA.

Felices fiestas de parte de todos en HOLA.

Finalists Announced for the 2017 HOLA Performer's Choice Awards

The finalists for the 2017 HOLA Performer's Choice Award - Outstanding Production are the following (listed in alphabetical order by title).

• Implications of Cohabitation (Sudaca Theater)
• La lechuga (Coquí Theater)
• Luz negra (Group of the Arts)
• Mirandolina/La posadera (Teatro Experimental Blue Amigos)
• Otra historia (Group of the Arts)


The finalists for the 2017 HOLA Performer's Choice Award - Outstanding Solo Production are the following (listed in alphabetical order by title).

• La bruta bruja Bruna (Group of the Arts)
• Marlene Goes To Hollywood (The ONE Festival)
• Me voy porque puedo (Vieira Productions)
• Toc toc toc (Monologando - Contando Ando Festival)


The winners of the 2017 HOLA Performer's Choice Awards will be announced during the 2017 HOLA Awards ceremony, scheduled to take place on Monday, October 16, 2017 at the Flamboyán Theater/The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, located at 107 Suffolk Street in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood. For more information, click HERE.

Vote for the 2017 HOLA Performer's Choice Awards at the 2017 HOLA Awards

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA), as part of the 2017 HOLA Awards, will present the HOLA Performer's Choice Awards. The HOLA Performer's Choice Awards will honor Outstanding Production (of a cast larger than one person) and Outstanding Solo Production.

Eligible productions this year had their premiere between July 1, 2016 and July 2, 2017. To vote for the HOLA Performer's Choice Awards, visit the HOLA Performer's Choice page by clicking HERE.

Voting for the HOLA Performer's Choice Awards closes at 6pm New York time on Friday, October 13, 2017. Winners will be announced on the night of the awards gala. 

2017 HOLA Awards Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: HOLA (212) 253-1015 holagram@hellohola.org

OLGA MEREDIZ To Receive the 2017

HOLA Excellence in Television Award

Also honored this year:
Repertorio Español, Ángel Gil Orrios,
Luis Felipe Rodríguez, Jesús Del Orden
And the 2017 HOLA Awards Recipients for Excellence in New York Latino Theater

 The 2017 HOLA Awards will take place on Monday, October 16, 2017

at the Flamboyán Theater at The Clemente Soto Vélez

Cultural and Educational Center in NYC

Monday, October 2, 2017 (New York, New York)– The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA), the nation's longest running active arts advocacy organization for Latino actors, has announced its latest class of HOLA Awards honorees for 2017, the awards ceremony 18th year.

The HOLA Awards will take place on Monday, October 16, 2017 at 6pm at the Flamboyán Theater, at the Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, located at 107 Suffolk Street, between Rivington and Delancey streets, in lower Manhattan. Tickets are $100.

Olga Merediz.

Star of stage and screen Olga Merediz will receive the HOLA Excellence in Television Award for her work  in the television series "Shades of Blue" (NBC) and "Orange is the New Black" (Netflix). 

The HOLA Raúl Juliá Founders Award will be given to actor, director, designer and producer of Thalía Hispanic Theater, Ángel Gil Orrios.

The HOLA Elizabeth Peña Breakthrough Award will go to director and producer Luis Felipe Rodríguez, for his work with the Teatro de Planta de Comisionado Domincano de Cultura en EEUU in New York.

The HOLA Emerging Artist Award will go to Jesús Del Orden, who can currently be seen on Broadway playing Young Lola.

In addition, Repertorio Español will receive the HOLA Excellence in Theater Award for 50 years of producing the best in Spanish and Latin American theater.

HOLA will also continue its annual tradition of honoring the best of Latino theater in New York with noncompetitive awards encompassing multiple winners in each category. HOLA is at the forefront in recognizing the high caliber work being offered across New York’s growing and thriving Latino theatrical stages. For this year's HOLA Awards, the theater season began on July 1, 2016 and ended July 2, 2017. The full list of awardees and honorees can be seen below.

Plus, once again, HOLA will present the HOLA Performer's Choice Awards. The HOLA Performer's Choice Awards will honor Outstanding Production (of a cast larger than one person) and Outstanding Solo Production. To vote for the HOLA Performer's Choice Awards, visit the HOLA Performer's Choice link at www.hellohola.org. Voting for the HOLA Performer's Choice Awards closes at 6pm New York time on Friday, October 13, 2017. Winners will be announced on the night of the awards gala.

Tickets are $100. Seating is limited. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling HOLA at (212) 253-1015.

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) is an arts service/advocacy organization dedicated to expanding the presence of Hispanic artists in entertainment and media through the cultivation, education and recognition of emerging artists. HOLA strives for an accurate, informed and non-stereotyped portrayal of the full spectrum of Latino culture and heritage in the entertainment and media industries. 

2017 HOLA Awards Honorees

HOLA Excellence in Television Award

OLGA MEREDIZ

HOLA Raúl Juliá Founders Award
ÁNGEL GIL ORRIOS

HOLA Elizabeth Peña Breakthrough Award
LUIS FELIPE RODRÍGUEZ

HOLA Emerging Artist Award
JESÚS DEL ORDEN

HOLA Excellence in Theater Award
REPERTORIO ESPAÑOL

~~~~

2017 HOLA Awards Recipients
Excellence in New York Latino Theater

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR
Rafael Beato, La canción (Repertorio Español)

Sandor Juan, Seis (Corezón/FUERZAfest)

Daniel Ojeda, El pez gordo (Primordial Jam Productions)

Anthony Ruiz, Implications of Cohabitation (Sudaca Theater)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR
Rosie Berrido, Olvidadas (Teatro Círculo)

Zulema Clares, En el nombre de Salomé (Repertorio Español)

María Fontanals, Seis (Corezón/FUERZAfest)

Aileene Pérez, Mirandolina (Teatro Experimental Blue Amigos/CoDoCul)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED MALE ACTOR
Edward Azcorra, Allá en Monte Calvo (FenixUSANY)

Jorge Luis Figueroa, Mirandolina (Teatro Experimental Blue Amigos/CoDoCul)
Juan Manuel Sanábria, La lechuga (Coquí Theater/CoDoCul)

Claudio Weisz, El uso de la palabra (Corezón/Microtheater NY/SEA)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED FEMALE ACTOR

Natalia Martelo, La lechuga (Coquí Theater/CoDoCul)
Noëlle Mauri, Olvidadas (Teatro Círculo)

Erika Reyes, ¡Los enredos de la Señorita Ivonne!, (Coquí Theater)

Jeannie Sol, The 3 Pigettes and the Big Bad Lady Wolf (SEA)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A VISITING MALE ACTOR
Francisco Gattorno, La fiaca (Repertorio Español)

David Ponce, La orgía (Havanafama/CoDoCul)

Daniel Romero, 10 millones (Repertorio Español)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A VISITING FEMALE ACTOR

Gretell Barreiro, Huelga de sexo a las mujeres
(ArtSpoken Performing Arts/Thalía Hispanic Theatre)

Daysy Fontao, Gas en los poros (Artefactus Cultural Project/CoDoCul)

Belkis Proenza, Gas en los poros (Artefactus Cultural Project/CoDoCul)

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE

Mario Golden, Father God Mother Death (Downtown Urban Arts Festival)
Barbra Herr, Trans-Mission (Teatro Círculo Callback Series)

Modesto Flako Jiménez, ¡Oye, For My Dear Brooklyn! (Brooklyn Gypsies)

Alfonso Rey, #Popular (Monologando Contando Ando)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE CAST
Maité Bonilla, Zulema Clares, Dalia Davi, Darlenis Durán,
Hannia Guillén, Jesús E. Martínez, Francis Mateo, Diana Pou,
Johary Ramos, Jerry Soto, Fermín Suárez, En el nombre de Salomé
(Repertorio Español)

Alejandro Gil, Carlos Gudiel, Christian Ocón, Tamara Melián,
David Ponce, Steven Salgado, La orgía (Havanafama/CoDoCul)

Marina Catalán, Alicia Cerón, Idalia Limón, Julissa Román,
Nanas (LaMicro Theater)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL PRODUCTION/DESIGN
Juan Roca, for his costume, scenic, and lighting design; and Lisandra Neiley Molina, for her properties design, of La orgía (Havanafama/CoDoCul)

Katiuska Flores, for her makeup design; and Damiana Reyes, for her costume design, of Mirandolina (Teatro Experimental Blue Amigos/CoDoCul)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN PLAYWRITING

Leonardo González, Nanas (LaMicro Theater)
Marco Antonio Rodríguez, En el nombre de Salomé (Repertorio Español)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTING
Pablo Andrade, Seis (Corezón/FUERZAfest)

Diego Chiri, Olvidadas (Teatro Círculo)

Leyma López, La fiaca (Repertorio Español)

Héctor Luis Rivera, Mirandolina (Teatro Experimental Blue Amigos/CoDoCul)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Aurora Castellanos, for her contribution to Latin American theater

Caridad De La Luz and Chachi Del Valle, for their performances in
I Like It Like That (I Like It Like That, LLC/Pregones-PRTT)

Lucio Fernández, for his continuous support of the arts

Pablo García Gámez, for his achievements in playwriting this season

Andrea Navedo, for her performance in Other People’s Money
(NicAva Entertainment/Chelsea Repertory Company)

Aníbal Nobel, for his performance in Luz negra (Group of the Arts/CoDoCul)

 HOLA PERFORMER’S CHOICE AWARD – OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION

HOLA PERFORMER’S CHOICE AWARD – OUTSTANDING SOLO PRODUCTION

 OUTSTANDING VISITING PRODUCTION

Gas en los poros (Artefactus Cultural Project)

La orgía (Havanafama)

Secretos prohibidos (¡A La Porra!)

GILBERTO ZALDÍVAR HOLA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING MUSICAL

La canción (Repertorio Español)

Huelga de sexo de las mujeres (ArtSpoken Performing Arts)
The 3 Pigettes and the Big Bad Lady Wolf (SEA)

TANGOmenaje/La cumparsita 100 años (Thalía Spanish Theatre)

GILBERTO ZALDÍVAR HOLA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING PLAY

Blind Spot (Repertorio Español)

En el nombre de Salomé (Repertorio Español)

Cinco hijas feas (Teatro Del Aire/CoDoCul)

# # # #

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 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 (212) 253-1015. (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 Facebook, Twitter 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 Friend of HOLA

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

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.

Gloria Estefan To Receive 2017 Kennedy Center Honor

Singer-songwriter-actor Gloria Estefan is scheduled to be one of the five recipients to receive the 2017 Kennedy Center Honors from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where her lifetime artistic achievements will be celebrated at the 40th annual ceremony on Sunday, December 3, 2017 in Washington, District of Columbia.

Other honorees this year include dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade, hip-hop artist-actor and entertainment icon LL Cool J, television writer and producer Norman Lear, and musician and record producer Lionel Richie.

Other Latinos to receive Kennedy Center Honors include Plácido Domingo (2000), Chita Rivera (2002), Martina Arroyo (2013), Carlos Santana (2013) and Rita Moreno (2015). CBS will broadcast the gala as a two-hour prime-time special on Tuesday, December 26, 2017. For more information, click here.