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 and performance gigs. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface.

Alfredo Huereca, shown at left, was the subject of a profile in the July 2012 issue of La Voz de Honduras. To read the article, click the image at above right. In addition, he was also the subject of a profile in the Mexican newspaper Vanguardia (HOLA also gets a mention). To read the Vanguardia article, click here.

Anthony Ruiz, shown at right, will appear tonight on "Late Show with David Letterman" (CBS) where he will play Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helú in a skit on the popular nighttime talk show.

Francisco Ramos is currently working on the film The Hardest Love (written and directed by Henry B. Roa) and will soon be filming China White (written by Todd Braley and Cassandra Bryson and directed by Braley).

Ellie Diez will be acting in The Standard Upgrade. Written by Angie Montgomery and Howard Leader and directed by Lawrence Lloyd, the play will have an August run at Theater for the New City (located in Manhattan's East Village) as part of its 2012 Dream Up festival. For more information, click here or here.

Aída Álvarez won Best Actress at the sixth annual Casa de la Cultura Navarrete-USA International Theater Festival, for her role in the Grupo Teatral Tránsito collective play Tránsitos (directed by Walter Ventosilla). The festival took place at the Sala Don Iván García Guerra in Manhattan's Washington Heights neighborhood.

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 are not an HOLA member, why not join? If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?

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 and performance gigs. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface.

Caridad De La Luz (also known by her nom de poésie et de musique La Bruja) performed in August with the Abrazos Orchestra at Casita María (located in the Hunts Point section in the Bronx) at the second annual Dancing in the Streets street party event. She followed this up with a performance at the famed Nuyorican Poets Café (located in Manhattan's Loísaida neighborhood) at the Mix Hop Poetic Showcase. She will next perform at the People of the Way International Hip Hop Showcase on August 18, 2012 at the Bronx Music Heritage Center in the Circa '95 Pop-Up Shop (located in the Crotona section of the Bronx). For more information on her latest gig, click here.

Omar Pérez performed at Pregones Theater's annual Block Party, which takes place right outside their theater located in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx.

Rodney Roldán booked a commercial for an electronics company and nabbed a role on the new television series "666 Park Avenue" (ABC).

Suni Reyes will be perfoming alongside Dion Flynn, Mitch Lucas, Keisha Stoller and Nate Starkey in The Tarantino. The improv show will take place Saturday, August 18, 2012 at the People's Improv Theater (The P.I.T.) located in the Rose Hill section of Manhattan. For more information, click here.

Francisco Ramos booked an episode of "Unusual Suspects" (Investigation Discovery).

Angie Regina booked an episode of "Rostro de la venganza" (Telemundo).

Repertorio Español is presenting Benjamín Galemiri's El coordinador. Directed by Inés García, the play features Antonio Solar, Billy Martín Mejía, Elena Sanz and Ron Sarcos in the cast and will have performances in August at Repertorio's namesake theater located in the Rose Hill neighborhood of Manhattan. For more information, click here.

FraGal Teatro is presenting a version of the popular fairy tale Cinderella. Titled La Cenicienta, it is adapted, directed and produced by Franco Galecio and part of the The Latin Cultural Fest 2012. The production features José W. Hernández, Jeffrey Hernández (no relation) and Ángela Cove in the cast, assistant direction by Edison Carrera, and will take place on August 18, 2012 at Queens Theatre-in-the-Park, located in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in (natch) Queens.

David Vega is playing pimp Papa Noel in the webseries thriller-comedy "The O.C. Club." A clip can be seen below (caution: strong language). The whole series may be viewed by clicking 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 are not an HOLA member, why not join? If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?

Report: 2012 HOLA Awards Announcement Ceremony

On Monday, August 13, 2012, the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) announced the names of the recipients of the 2012 HOLA Awards. The announcement ceremony took place at Repertorio Español in Manhattan. The announcers were HOLA Membership Coordinator Soledad del Río and HOLA members Elaine Del Valle and J.W. Cortés, the latter who showed up fresh from a series of interviews for the NBC television series "Star Earn Stripes" (in which he is one of the stars) that started early with an early morning appearance on "Today."

The attendees include several 2012 HOLA Award recipients, including Anita Vélez-Mitchell (Special Recognition), Josean Ortiz (Outstanding Performance by a Featured Male Actor), Gerardo Gudiño (as one of the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast awardees), Ana Grosse (Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast and Outstanding Production), Alfredo Huereca (Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast and Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor) and Jaime Castañeda (Outstanding Achievement in Direction). Notable surprise came from awardees Howard Collado (Outstanding Performance by a Featured Male Actor; he was also celebrating his birthday that day), Elaine Del Valle (who had just finished announcing when announcer Cortés called her name for Outstanding Solo Production) and Lorca Peress (who yelled out, "Oh my God!!" when she won an award for Outstanding Production).

To read the press release complete with a list of the 2012 HOLA Award recipients, click here.

Special thanks go to HOLA member-volunteer Laura Riveros, Eduardo Navas and Fernando Then of Repertorio Español and all those in attendance. The 2012 HOLA Awards will take place on Monday, October 8, 2012 at the Battery Gardens at the foot of Manhattan in scenic Battery Park. To see more photos, click here. To buy tickets, click here.

Photo credits: Shanddel Espinal.

2012 HOLA Awards Gala Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: A.B. Lugo (212) 253-1015 ablugo@hellohola.org

DAVID ZAYAS (of "Dexter"),
MARLENE FORTÉ (of "Dallas"),
FÉLIX SOLÍS (of "Made in Jersey")
AMONG THE HONOREES
AS DELTA AIR LINES PRESENTS
THE 2012 HOLA AWARDS
ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2012

Delta Air Lines is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2012 HOLA Awards

The 2012 HOLA Awards Gala, recognizing the outstanding work of Latino actors and celebrities, is an Official Event of 2012 Latin Media and Entertainment Week

BUY YOUR TICKETS ONLINE HERE

August 13, 2012 (New York, New York) — The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA), the nation’s longest running active arts advocacy organization for Latino actors, is pleased to announce that it will honor film and television stars David Zayas (currently on Showtime’s “Dexter”), Marlene Forté (currently on TNT’s “Dallas”) and Félix Solís (a series regular of the upcoming CBS series “Made in Jersey” as Delta Airlines presents the 2012 HOLA Awards Gala and Benefit, sponsored in part by CBS. The Awards Gala and Benefit is an official event of NYC’s Latin Media and Entertainment Week (sponsored by the NYC Latin Media & Entertainment Commission created by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg) and will take place on Monday, October 8, 2012 at 6:30pm at The Battery Gardens, located on the waterfront in New York’s scenic Battery Park (opposite 17 State Street). Sponsorships slots are still available. A limited number of individual tickets are available at $150.

David Zayas, currently playing Ángel Batista on Showtime’s “Dexter” will receive the HOLA José Ferrer Tespis Award. Marlene Forté, currently playing Carmen Ramos on TNT’s “Dallas”; and Félix Solís, who plays Riv Brody in the upcoming CBS series “Made in Jersey”, will be honored with the organization’s inaugural HOLA Excellence in Television Award. Featured speakers at the 2012 HOLA Awards include SAG-AFTRA Co-President Roberta Reardon and SAG-AFTRA Co-Secretary-Treasurer Amy Aquino.

HOLA will present Excellence in Media Awards to NBC Latino and journalist/anchor José Díaz-Balart. NBC Latino is the new voice of American Hispanics -- elevating and leading the conversation around Latino news in the United States. Emmy Award winner Díaz-Balart is the current anchor of "Noticiero Telemundo." He made history by becoming the first U.S. journalist to broadcast both English and Spanish newscasts on two networks simultaneously (Telemundo and MSNBC).

In addition to the aforementioned awards 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 thriving Latino theatrical stages. A list of the 2011-2012 theater awardees is below.

Individual tickets are $150 and can be purchased in advance by calling (212) 253-1015 or by going to www.hellohola.org. Table sponsorships are also available and can be purchased by calling María F. Nieto at (212) 253-1015 or via e-mail at mariafnieto@hellohola.org.

2012 HOLA Awards for Excellence in Theater

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR
Alfredo Huereca, La cena
(Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)
Frank Robles, Locuras en Wíchita
(Repertorio Español)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR
Zulema Clares, Mariela en el desierto
(Repertorio Español)
Miriam Cruz, Locuras en Wíchita
(Repertorio Español)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED MALE ACTOR
Howard Collado, Glass Cord
(Teatro LATEA)
Josean Ortiz, DC-7: The Roberto Clemente Story
(Society of the Educational Arts/Puerto Rican
Traveling Theatre/RMM Group)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED FEMALE ACTOR
Basílica Bliachas, La Callas & Medea
(Thalía Spanish Theatre)
Johanna Rodríguez, DC-7: The Roberto Clemente Story
(Society of the Educational Arts/Puerto Rican
Traveling Theatre/RMM Group)

OUTSTANDING SOLO PERFORMANCE
Elaine Del Valle, Brownville Bred
(The Schoolhouse Theater/Theater 808/Al Eskanazy
Productions/59E59 Theaters)
Andrés Chulisi Rodríguez, Growing Up Gonzales
(Reel Players and Poets Club/Toptía Productions)

OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE CAST
Teddy Cáñez, Zabryna Guevara, Alfredo Narciso,
Xochitl Romero, Carmen Zilles,
Chimichangas and Zoloft (Atlantic Theater Company)

Raúl Durán, Ana Grosse, Gerardo Gudiño, Alfredo Huereca,
La cena (Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN TECHNICAL PRODUCTION
Raúl Ábrego, for scenic design; and Erik Pearson, for projection design,
of Intringulis (INTAR)
Alex Moore, for lighting design; and Milteri Tucker, for choreography,
of Temple of the Souls (MultiStages)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN PLAYWRITING
Fernanda Coppel, Chimichangas and Zoloft
(Atlantic Theater Company)
Lina Gallegos, Locuras en Wíchita

(Repertorio Español)
Félix Rojas, Growing Up Gonzales
(Reel Players and Poets Club/Toptía Club)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION
Jaime Castañeda, Chimichangas and Zoloft
(Atlantic Theater Company)
Raúl Durán, La cena (Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)

SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Anita Vélez-Mitchell, Dean Landon and Anika Paris,
for the musical score of Temple of the Souls (MultiStages)
Cristián David and Fernando Reyes,

for their outstanding mime performance in Pájaro
(TeatroStageFest/Gallinero Culeko)


GILBERTO ZALDÍVAR HOLA AWARD
FOR OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION
La cena (Raúl Durán/Ana Grosse)
Temple of the Souls (MultiStages)

The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) is an arts service and 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 all entertainment and media industries.

# # # #

QEPD / RIP Gabita Miller

Actress, singer, dancer and longtime HOLA member Adolfina Liñán-Miller, known professionally and affectionately as Gabita Miller, passed away in New York on Sunday, August 5, 2012 after an illness.

Born on October 14, 1922, she started her career in the 1940s in her native Cuba, performing in variety shows, summer stock and zarzuelas (Spanish operettas). From Cuba, she moved to the United States, first to Miami and then to New York. While short in height (she was a scant 4'11"), she was large in talent, as she became known for her diverse dance styles (she performed flamenco, Mexican, Brazilian, Hungarian and even Hawaiian folk styles) and her cabaret act, in which she sang Latin American songs, often accompanying herself on guitar.
 

She appeared in several films (including Sangre/Blood, where she acted opposite Guillermo Díaz, David Zayas and Edwin Pagán) and commercials and was an active member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). HOLA Executive Director and SAG New York Board member Manny Alfaro recounts how she would attend committee meetings and often bring and demonstrate photos of herself as a specialty dancer at the famed Tropicana club in Havana. 

And even in her final years, she never lost her energy nor her youthful exuberance. Her daughter Cristina Harmon mentions that even in her final days she was laughing and singing. She passed away in her sleep, at complete peace.

She leaves behind a sister, three daughters, five granddaughters, six great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren (her husband predeceased her), her friends and her colleagues in the HOLA community.

Que descanses en paz / Rest in peace

GABITA MILLER

Beyond Stereotypes

Check out this article by Latin Heat's own Bel Hernández, pictured, in Latino Magazine about Latinos and the urge to beyond stereotypes, by clicking here.

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 and performance gigs. The names of HOLA members and Friends of HOLA are listed below in boldface.

J.W. Cortés, shown at right, was written the subject of a profile in the Jersey City Independent newspaper for his role as an operative in the upcoming NBC reality competition series "Stars Earn Stripes." The show, created by famed producers Mark Burnett ("Survivor") and Dick Wolf (the entire "Law and Order" franchise), pairs up military and first responder service members with celebrities who compete for money that will benefit national veterans, service and first-responder charities. The celebrities for the series are Laila Ali, Dean Cain, Terry Crews, Nick Lachey, Todd Palin, Picabo Street, Dolvett Quince and Eve Torres. Cortés booked the gig based on an HOLA referral. To read the article, click here. "Stars Earn Stripes" will premiere on Monday, August 13, 2012 on NBC. To see a trailer, click on the commercial below. (He can be seen at about the 0:30 mark in the video.)

Laura Riveros will be acting in Quizzically Quimsical [sic]. Written and directed by G.J. Dowding, the performance art piece will take place in September at the Gene Frankel Theater in the NoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. For more information, click here.

Sosa James, Jr. will be acting in an adaptation of Molière's The Misanthrope. Adapted by Liz Kash Stroppel and produced by BrooklynONE Theater + Film, the play will have a September run at St. John's Parish Hall in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn. For more information, click here or here.

Iván Camilo, Maité Bonilla and Rosie Berrido appear in the film Under My Nails. The film was accepted as an official entry of the New York International Latino Film Festival (NYILFF). The film was written by Kisha Tikina Burgos, directed by Ari Maniel Cruz and also features Burgos, Marilú Acosta, Dolores Pedro, Enrique Juliá, Miranda Purcell and Antonio Pantojas in the cast. The screening will take place on Saturday, August 18, 2012 at Clearview Cinemas in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. For more information, 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 are not an HOLA member, why not join? If you are not a Friend of HOLA, why not become one?