LOL! Latina on the Loose!

LOL! Latina on the Loose!

Mina Olivera’s LOL! Latina on the Loose! is a side-splitting comedy that takes you on a journey from Brazil to Switzerland to El Salvador to America, and straight to your heart. You’ll laugh and cry as you experience the challenges she faces coming to America by herself as a teenager, and the tests she confronts in retaining her larger-than-life grandmother’s biggest teaching: "Show them your worth!"

Actress/Writer

Ms. Olivera has been involved in theater for most of her life. She had her professional theater debut in Brazil at age 13 and later starred in the award winning film Adagio ao Sol.

She moved to California to attend the UCLA

School of Theater, Film and Television where she graduated with a BA with honors. After graduating from UCLA Theater school, Ms. Olivera joined the Latino Theater Company Laboratory directed by the acclaimed director Jose Luis Valenzuela. Mina can be seen on the acclaimed Comedy Central show “Reno 911!” where she’s been a recurring character for several seasons. Other television credits include "Freddie", "Las Vegas", and the pilot for "Grand Union." Mina has recently shot “Shrink” an independent film starring Kevin Spacey and Robin Williams scheduled to release in 2009. She has also recently joined the Edgemar Theater Company directed by Michelle Danner. In addition Mina co-founded NOVICA, a socially-driven internet company, that opened offices around the world and helped impact the lives of over 10,000 artisans and their families. Now, NOVICA.com is associated with National Geographic and has been recognized for its social impact, including the Schwab Foundation social entrepreneurship award. (www.MinaOlivera.com)

Director : Alberto Barboza Mr. Barboza received a Masters in Fine Arts Premeditation, multiple

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UCLA's Film School.

national and international

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Barboza worked for Academy Award winning producer David Valdes

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on the DreamWorks picture, The Time Machine. He has also assisted Academy Awards Producer Gil Cates.

Mr. Barboza has an extensive background in theatre having worked closely with

internationally renowned directors Jose Luis Valenzuela and Peter Sellars. Through this experience he has been able to collaborate with world-class actors, dancers, musicians, designers, and artists. All this makes Mr. Barboza a well-trained new voice in American cinema.

The World Premiere of LOL! Latina on the Loose! The one woman show “LOL! Latina on the Loose!” had its World Premiere on September 26th, 2009 at the prestigious Los Angeles Theater Center in Downtown LA, in a 300 seat theater. “LOL! Latina on the Loose! was part of the Fall Season and a member of the Faces of the World Festival. During its 3 week run, “LOL! “Latina on the Loose” packed the house and was critically acclaimed. “LOL” won the “The Last Straw Award” and got nominated for the “International Brazilian Press Award” that will take place in Miami in April 2010. “LOL! Latina on the Loose!” was also selected among hundreds of candidates to be part of the Los Angeles Women Theater Festival that will take place in Santa Monica in March 2010. Photos of the lobby of The Los Angeles Theater Center In Downtown LA

Photos of the lobby of The Los Angeles Theater Center In Downtown LA

FACES OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL 2009

Faces of the World Festival offers international programming which celebrates the multi-cultural population of Los Angeles.

The season

includes productions representative of all continents that address contemporary universal themes and create cross-cultural dialogue. Faces of the World is becoming a first wold-class festival that focuses on presenting and supporting development of under-represented artists, audiences and their unique stories.

Faces of the world had 18,500

people in attendance in the 2008 season.

CURRENT SPONSORS Our current sponsors that are supporting LOL! Latina On The Loose are: CONSULATE GENERAL OF BRAZIL IN LOS ANGELES: GOLD SPONSOR In addition to being a Gold Sponsor, the Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angels has agreed to publicize this event through emails and news letters.

NOVICA / NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC: GOLD SPONSOR As a supporter of Artisans from around the world, NOVICA was excited to support this cultural play that speaks of the immigrant and worldly experience.

What the Media said about LOL! Latina on the Loose! “The tears that rolled down my cheek during the standing ovation were for Mina’s triumph, her courage, and her candidness. She allowed me to see and live in her life for a very brief hour an a half.” Theatre Review: SoCal - Angela Gomez, LOL! Latina on the Loose Theatre Review - A Brazilian Beauty Leaves the Southland Laughing - L.A. Splash Magazine “"LOL! Latina on the Loose!" is an absolute masterpiece, a certified hit. “ The scoop LA

The play is a comedy so from the first minute to the last we laughed and laughed and laughed. I laughed so hard that I cried... Mina’s performance was stunning just like the songs. The evening was just amazing... - Mariana Knabben, Music Union Magazine

“The beautiful, but funny lady is a star on the rise and Hollywood better take notice of this immensely talented and intelligent writer, dancer, performer and actor.” The scoop LA “The consensus was that the play was the most entertaining play they've ever seen in a while”.---LatinHeat “Mina takes you on a true roller coaster ride of emotions... She was funny, witty, charming and captivating! You will laugh... (a lot)... you will cry, and feel every emotion in between happy and heartfelt!!” Elle Living THE HOLLYWOOD CHRONICLE NEWS AND VIDEO

REPORTING ON THE ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND EDUCATION SINCE 1988 Hollywood, CA., USA

Vol.1, No.2

October, 2009

LOL: Smashing Stage Debut UCLA graduate Mina Olivera did the Bruins proud this weekend starring in LOL (Latina on the Loose). This fascinating autobiographical onewoman play is written by and starring this 28-yearold Brazilian beauty. LOL is her story: how she came to this country by way of Switzerland and El Salvador to study acting. She not only conquered the English language but is a terrific mimic, lampooning Anglos and other Latinas one after the other. LOL is listed as a comedy; but it begins with the tragic death of Mina’s aunt years before her birth and ends with the death of her grandmother when she is a young woman. Oh yes, there are plenty of chistes, but my tears flowed at the end of the play because of the touching, beautiful story, well-written and well-acted. Don’t miss LOL, Latina on the Loose by and starring Mina Olivera. Directed by Alberto Barboza. Produced by Miguel Angel Caballero and Paul Munoz. Scenic and Projection Design by Christopher Ash. Choreography by Irani Dasilzva. Mina’s dancing was fantastic. LOL is at the Los Angeles Theater Center (LATC) during October, 2009. Call (213)489-0994 Ext. 107 or www.thelatc.org for ticket. Dr. Tracey Alexander

UCLA’s own Mina Olivera

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief: Tracey Alexander • Editor: Boris Pillin • Computer Consultant: Ana Coronado Photographer and Spanish Language Editor: Francisco Mora • Layout design, illustrations: Boris Pillin The Hollywood Chronicle, 4913 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90029 • Telephone (323) 464-0515 ©Copyright 2009 by Alexander-Pillin Communications

Jornal de Teatro

23

16 a 31 de Outubro de 2009

Internacional Atriz brasileira encanta plateias em Hollywood

Luciana Chama Los Angeles

Não dei a menor bola quando o espetáculo entrou em cartaz. E confesso só ter despencado da minha casa, em Venice, ate Downtown para assisti-lo depois de ler os comentários positivos de uma amiga no Facebook. Uma comédia sobre as aventuras e os !"#$%&#'!"'()$'*+$#,-",+$'")' terras estrangeiras que busca por seus sonhos, mantendo na memória o ensinamento de sua avó: “show them your worth” (mostre o seu valor). Apesar da semelhança com a minha vivência, o tema não me instigou. Paguei a minha língua por ter sido preconceituosa: “LOL – Latina on the Loose” é uma delícia. É teatro no qual o ator é o senhor do palco, sustentado pela qualidade da escrita e interpretação. Que surpresa boa foi testemunhar o talento que é Mina Olivera. Apresentado principalmente em inglês (com algumas inserções também em espanhol e português) o texto é autobiográ%.&/' "#.+,0&' "' "#0+"-$!&' 1"-$' própria. Seu instrumento é o corpo e, com sua voz, ela denota a personalidade e o afeto das muitas personagens que interpreta. Mina segura a onda dos 90 minutos de espetáculo sozinha e com graça, carisma e atitude – visivelmente conquista cada coração ocupado dos 300 lugares do Los Angeles Theatre Center. A atriz relata sua história e de sua família desde a vida pobre dos avós, o casamento nada convencional de seus pais até sua jornada pelas Américas, quando sai em busca de sua liberdade, autoconhecimento e o sonho de estudar teatro na concorrida Universidade da Califórnia, em Los Angeles (UCLA). Enfrentando preconceitos e até mesmo frustrada depois de ser desencorajada pela racista consultora da universidade, Mina se sobressai e é aceita pela UCLA; gradua-se com honra e passa a frente dos colegas americanos. A garota insegura vinda do Rio de Janeiro

transforma-se em mulher guerreira e aprende a se respeitar. O espetáculo me ganhou pela verdade com que Mina apresenta a história de sua vida e a coragem de levá-la em cena aqui nos Estados Unidos. Quem passa pela experiência de viver fora de sua pátria entende com propriedade o valor da luta pela ousadia da aventura. Superando .&)' !,23,!$!"' $#' !,%.(-!$!"#' do mega competitivo mercado .,3")$0&2+4%.&'")'5&--67&&!/' a atriz carioca decidiu transformar a herança latina em vantagem: construiu a própria oportunidade e lotou o teatro nas 1&(.$#' #")$3$#' 8("' %.&(' ")' cartaz. Foi com enorme prazer que assisti a brasileira desempenhar com sucesso, na terra dos gringos, a sua função máxima como artista: Mina tocou, lá no fundo, o coração do seu público. Na entrevista abaixo, um pouco mais de Mina Olivera. Luciana Chama – Mina, parabéns pela performance. Adorei o texto. O que te levou a escrevê-lo? Mina Olivera – Primeiro, por causa da minha avó. Eu sempre senti culpa, pois ela morreu e eu estava aqui. A gente tinha um relacionamento único e eu sempre gostei de repetir as histórias dela. Minha avó sempre foi muito verdadeira, até no episódio do dia em que cheguei em casa e tinha um recado na secretária eletrônica dizendo “Neguinha, tô indo pro hospital e é pra morrer, viu? Só tô ligando pra despedir.Te amo, adeus, tchau”. LC – Ela falou assim mesmo? MO – Falou, cheguei em casa e quase morri (risos). Engraçado que, hoje, penso que minha avó estava me dando todas as falas para o meu primeiro trabalho como escritora e eu que não estava sabendo! Outro motivo foi porque eu queria passar a mensagem de você comandar a #($'9,!$/'!"'3:&'%.$+'"#1"+$3!&/' de realmente ir à luta e não ter medo de fracassar. Não dá para %.$+'3&'*$3.&'!&'1$##$2",+&'"3quanto a vida passa. !"#$#%&'(#'#)'*+,#-*./&(-'de de se fazer teatro em Los Angeles? MO – O público! L.A. é uma cidade dominada pelo cinema. ;#' $0&+"#' 0"+),3$)' !"' %-)$+/' %.$)' !"#")1+"2$!&#/' !$-"#'#"'?(30$)'"'@$A")' teatro com a intenção de atrair esses executivos, sem se voltar muito para a qualidade da produção. Então, o nível do que é feito cai um pouco e as pessoas não se sentem muito motivadas a freqüentar o teatro. Elas foram assistir algumas vezes, não gostaram e não voltam. Fora que é difícil a vida de fazer teatro, produzir... eu ralei muito para realizar essa peça. LC – E a comunidade brasileira daqui, veio te assistir? MO – Olha, engraçado porque quando comecei a promover o espetáculo muita gente aqui me adiantou: não conte com o público brasileiro! Mas quando fui pedir apoio ao Consulado Brasileiro de LA, eu disse ao vice-cônsul “Dorival, pode ser que eu esteja errada, mas eu vou contar com o povo brasileiro!” (risos) O brasileiro gosta de teatro. Eu sei que se eles virem uma peça legal vão me apoiar. Então, vi bastante brasileiro durante a temporada, até porque muita gente passa pelas expe+,B3.,$#' "' !,%.(-!$!"#' 8("' "(' mostro na peça. !"#$#0#123(*/+#45#*-567*./'# muito com as suas experiências em cena. O texto trata da 4&15,'89+#-5#-*./&(-'-54:#'4# pessoas se veem ali no palco, é a historia de todo mundo... MO – Engraçado, acho que quanto mais sincera sou sobre a minha vida, quando coloco mais de mim no espetáculo, mais vira a historia de todo mundo. Eu

não tentei fazer a história de todo mundo. Eu fui bem espe.