As previously announced, the 2008 HOLA Awards Gala Benefit — presented by The Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) — will be held Sept. 15 at The Players. The evening, which honors "the best of Latino theatre in New York," will begin at 6:30 PM with a tapas reception followed by the 8 PM awards ceremony.
In addition to Leguizamo, this year's special award winners also include John Ortiz (HOLA José Ferrer Tespis Award), Thalía (HOLA Ilka Award), Eduardo Machado (Raúl Juliá HOLA Founders Award), Mario Bósquez (HOLA Excellence in Media Award) and Ricardo Barber (HOLA Lifetime Achievement Award).
John Leguizamo's one-man shows include Mambo Mouth, the Tony-nominated Sexaholix (later taped for HBO; Emmy Award) and Freak: A Semi Demi Quasi Pseudo Autobiography, which also garnered the actor a Tony nomination. Also a film star, Leguizamo appeared as Toulouse Lautrec in Baz Luhrmann's "Moulin Rouge"; in "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" in drag as Miss Chi-Chi Rodriguez; and in Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet" as a Virgin Mary gun-toting Tybalt. His biggest role came in the 1999 Spike Lee film "The Summer of Sam." Leguizamo also starred in the HBO drama "Undefeated," which he also directed, and was seen in the independent film "Sueno." Directed by Robert Falls, previews of American Buffalo will begin Oct. 31 at the Belasco with an official opening scheduled for Nov. 17.
The Players is located in Manhattan at 16 Gramercy Park South. Tickets for the 2008 HOLA Awards Gala benefit, priced $90 (advance) and $125 (at the door), are available by calling (212) 253-1015 or by e-mailing [email protected].
* The complete list of 2008 HOLA Award winners follow:
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor
Ernesto De Villa Bejjani, En ningún lugar de la frontera (Repertorio Español)
Francisco Fuertes, La muela de rey Farfán/The Toothache of King Farfán (Society of the Educational Arts)
Jack Landrón, Night Over Taos (INTAR)
Ed Trucco, En ningún lugar de la frontera (Repertorio Español)
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor
Olga Agostini, Borinquen vive en El Barrio (Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture)
Angélica Ayala, Cena para dos/Dinner For Two (Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre)
Jenniffer Díaz, Las quiero a las dos (Repertorio Español)
Soledad López, Las señoritas de Aviñón/The Ladies of Avignon (Thalía Spanish Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Male Actor
Pedro Capó, Celia: The Life & Music of Celia Cruz (Cárdenas/Maldonado)
Gabriel Gorcés, Frijoles colorados (Retablo Hispanic Theatre)
Pablo Tufiño, Vagón (Repertorio Español)
Fred Valle, Cena para dos/Dinner For Two (Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre)
Outstanding Performance by a Featured Female Actor
Annette Cortés, La muela de rey Farfán/The Toothache of King Farfán (Society of the Educational Arts)
Dalia Davi, Tres lirios cala/Three Calla Lilies (Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre)
Jezabel Montero, Cena para dos/Dinner For Two (Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre)
Elka Rodríguez, En ningún lugar de la frontera (Repertorio Español)
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble Cast
Anthony Álvarez, Rosie Berrido, Francisco Gattorno, Laura Gómez, Selenis Leyva, Indio Meléndez, Alberto Morgan, Puy Navarro, Denise Quiñones, Pedro Serka, Silvia Sierra, Gredivel Vásquez, Tatiana Vecino Doña Flor y sus dos maridos (Repertorio Español)
Outstanding Solo Performance
Mimí Lazo, No seré feliz, pero tengo marido (Repertorio Español)
Carmem Peláez, Rum & Coke (Abingdon Theater Company)
Outstanding Achievement in Technical Production
José A. López for the scenic and puppet design of La muela de rey Farfán/The Toothache of King Farfán (Society of the Educational Arts)
Luis Salgado for the choreography of Serenade (Jaradoa Theater)
Robert Weber Federico and Alberto Morgan for the costume design of Doña Flor y sus dos maridos (Repertorio Español)
Outstanding Achievement in Playwriting
Carlos Lacámara, En ningún lugar de la frontera (Repertorio Español)
Tere Martínez, Borinquen vive en El Barrio (Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture)
Carmen Rivera and Cándido Tirado, Celia: The Life & Music of Celia Cruz (Cárdenas/Maldonado)
Outstanding Achievement in Direction
Ángel Gil Orrios, Las señoritas de Aviñón/The Ladies of Avignon (Thalía Spanish Theatre)
Manuel A. Morán, La muela de rey Farfán/The Toothache of King Farfán (Society of the Educational Arts)
Jorge Alí Triana, Doña Flor y sus dos maridos (Repertorio Español)
Outstanding Achievement in a Visiting Production
De monstruos y prodigios: la historia de los castrati (Teatro de Ciertos Habitantes, México/Lincoln Center Festival)
Divinas palabras (Centro Dramático Nacional, España/Lincoln Center Festival)
Los que ríen los últimos (La Zaranda, España/TeatroStageFest)
Outstanding Achievement in a Dramatic Production
Cena para dos/Dinner For Two (Puerto Rican Traveling Theatre)
Doña Flor y sus dos maridos (Repertorio Español)
En ningún lugar de la frontera (Repertorio Español)
Outstanding Achievement in a Musical Production
Celia: The Life & Music of Celia Cruz (Cárdenas/Maldonado)
La muela de rey Farfán/The Toothache of King Farfán (Society of the Educational Arts)
PICASSO: FLAMENCOnde de Orgaz/PICASSO: FLAMENCOunt of Orgaz (Thalia Spanish Theatre)
Special Recognition
Xiomara Laugart for her performance in Celia: The Life & Music of Celia Cruz (Cárdenas/Maldonado)
Repertorio Español for 40 years of existence
Teatro IATI for 40 years of existence
Thalía Spanish Theatre, for over 30 years of existence
Lorenzo Píriz Carbonell, artistic director of Teatro Romea and Compañía Tespis in Spain
