My latest solo show is HERE!

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A brand new solo show April 12th - May 11th Discount code for friends is "foreplay" Dear friends and family, I am so excited to announce the world premiere of my newest solo show, "The One!"  This marks the fourth solo show and eighth creative project that my longtime collaborator/director Benjamin Byron Davis  and I have worked on together. We would talk about what’s going on with us, with the world, I would bring pieces for him to read, he’d keep pushing me to go deeper. We’ve created something that is very personal to me and we think it will speak to you! Please join us at the Broadwater Black Box in Hollywood starting April 12th! As with every solo show, it is far from "solo." I am incredibly lucky to have some of the most talented designers working with me! I can't wait for you to see what we're creating! Love, Joe   Sacred Fools Theatre presents the world premiere of a new solo show THE ONE   They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. That’s a lesson Joe may learn the hard way.   In his latest solo production, alone and facing 50, Joe is desperate to find “the one” that he’s going to spend the rest of his life with - while he’s still got some life to spend! Blending poetry and comedy, Hernandez-Kolski’s latest autobiographical show finds him tackling the age-old question... can an old dog learn a new trick? Joe’s search for “the one” may just depend on it. THE ONE Written & Performed by Joe Hernandez-Kolski Developed & Directed by Benjamin Byron Davis Produced for Sacred Fools by Scott Leggett Lighting Design: Matthew Richter Projections: Ben Rock Sound Design: Omar Ramos Stage Manager: Rebecca Schoenberg Key Art by Michelle Hanzelova APRIL 12 - MAY 11, 2024 Fridays & Saturdays @ 8pm Sundays @ 4pm Tickets available at sacredfools.org Broadwater Black Box 6322 Santa Monica Blvd. LA, CA 90038 The use of masks is strongly encouraged. The box office will be able to offer some masks for free but please come prepared. Please stay home if you are feeling ill. Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Wanna see my Law & Order appearance?

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I made my Law & Order debut! (Click on the GIF below to watch the scene!) Dear Friends and Family, I was so psyched to play a role in the Dick Wolf Universe! As soon as I got the script, I knew who this guy was. The character is in the same field that my dad worked in for years, drug and alcohol therapy. I got to ask my dad all sorts of questions to fill out the character! Fingers crossed I get to play Dr. Maurice Acevedo again! Click here to watch my original audition and the final scene. If you want to watch the full episode, you can watch it On Demand or the Peacock app. Search Law & Order episode "Second Chance." From the moment that I walked on set, each and every crew member was the coolest. Friendly and helpful, even at 6am. I happened to be shooting on a Friday which was "Track Suit Friday." All of the crew members were dressed in old school track suits.  The cast was great. Odelya Halevi and I had some mutual friends, including my longtime friend/collaborator Benjamin Byron Davis, so we immediately started chatting in the make-up trailer. Hugh Dancy is just the nicest guy, very open and present while shooting. I had a ton of dialogue and he set me up perfectly for each of my monologues. Something that I thought was really cool happened when we showed up on set for our first rehearsal. I was introduced to Rachel Leiterman, our director, and Jonathan Collier, the writer on set. Rachel said, "Let's just run the lines." Odelya naturally sat down, I stood on one side of the table and Hugh stood on the other. We ran the lines a couple of times and Rachel nodded and said, "I kinda like this set up. It's informal, you all know each other. What if we just shoot the scene like this?" And that's how the blocking ended up for the shoot. Again, one of the best sets that I've worked on. Smiling and attentive even as I was leaving for the day at 10:30am! First scene up and first one wrapped! Not a bad day's work! Joe p.s. I've got a comedy show this Saturday evening on the westside! All new material with a fun group! It says sold out but there will be standing room and probably a seat or two!  Comedy show in Santa Monica this Saturday night! Sat. Jan 28th at 5pm at the Crow Comedy Club in Santa Monica - I found a great stand-up comedy class that really is helping me develop all new material. I'm excited to share it for the first time this Saturday night! And there's a big free parking lot! Click on the pic for tickets! Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

My episode of Law & Order airs Jan 12th!

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Yes, Law & freakin' Order! Dear Friends and Family, First off, I hope that your holidays were wonderfully peaceful. I'm excited that my episode of "Law & Order" is just a week away! My episode is titled "Second Chance" and it's scheduled to air Thursday, Jan 12th! I can't wait for y'all to see it and then I can post pics and talk about it! All I can say is, it was quite a journey to get there. We shot in Long Island City, NY which is a long way from my apartment in Mar Vista, CA. Let me know how your holidays were. I'd love to know how you're doing.  Love, Joe Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

I shot an episode of an NBC show...

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...can you guess which show?? (click on the pic below) Dear friends and family,   I recorded the above video a few weeks ago while I was in New York shooting an episode of an NBC show. Can you guess which one it is? Click here to watch the video. If the episode stays as scheduled, it will air on Jan 5th 2023. I hope that your holiday season is filled with happiness and connection. Love, Joe Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

So...did you vote?

I booked a TV show!

Keeping a secret is easy for me. 😎

A family-friendly show this Saturday!

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Thanks to 24th Street Theatre for inviting me to give this special performance! Dear friends and family,  I am so excited to be giving a special performance this Saturday, Oct 22nd at 2pm at 24th Street Theatre! As part of their Saturday Explorer Series, I will be performing a 45min show titled, "Pieces of Me!" “Pieces of Me” is an abbreviated/updated version of my hip-hop theater piece “You Wanna Piece of Me?” inspired by my personal experiences growing up in Chicago as a Mexican-Polish-American heavy metal headbanger who attended a Black high school. "Dancing to the hip-hop beats that shape our lives and bring us together, Hernández-Kolski explores what it means to grow up as a multicultural hyphenate facing race and racism, confronting social issues, and questioning gender and pop culture." Tickets are only $5 and it's family friendly! There are some mature themes so I'm thinking ages twelve and up. I'm also performing that same night at Spoken Funk at Bear Valley Country Club in Victorville! Click on the pic to buy tickets with a $5 discount. Or just type "POCHO" for $5 off. It's a fun mix of comedy and poetry hosted by the homies Poetri, Juren and DJ Brutha Gimel! I hope to see you at one of these shows. I hope that you're well. Love, Joe   Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

What meeting Michelle Obama taught me...

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That mullet was a thing of PURE BEAUTY. I used to hot oil treat my hair!! Dear friends and family,  I hope that you're staying cool wherever you are. I live two miles from the beach and it's FREAKING HOT HERE so I know that it's even worse in a lot of places. I've got some great shows coming up!  But first... A few months ago, Michelle Obama's Instagram account posted this pic and folks started tagging me in it.  In case I somehow never told you (cuz I pretty much tell anyone in hearing distance), Michelle Obama and I both went to Whitney Young HS in Chicago. She even interviewed me to attend Princeton. This pic was from a college fair event. So what did meeting Michelle Obama teach me? ALWAYS take care of your mullet cuz you never know when you might take a photo with the future First Lady.  Back then, I believed in what my mullet stood for - business up front, party in the back.  Nowadays, I combine the business WITH the party.  Here's a few ways I did that this summer: --Officiating weddings is my new favorite thing! Let me get this straight...I get to make people laugh and cry AND I get to marry two of my favorite people?? When can I do this again?? Here's a pic of me with my goddaughter and her new husband. I was so honored! --I also LOVE hosting stuff like the Music Center's DANCE DTLA series. We entertained thousands this summer as they learned all sorts of fun dance styles from Salsa to K-Pop to Bachata! --And doing voiceover for video games is a great outlet for my pent-up anger. I worked on several major franchises this summer. I can't wait to tell you more! Upcoming Shows! My solo show "Pieces of Me" at 24th Street Theater Solo Festival - Sat Oct 22nd at 2pm - I'll be closing the festival with a special one-time performance of a revised and abbreviated version of my first solo show. (All ages!) Spoken Funk - A comedy/poetry showcase - The same day! Later on Sat Oct 22nd at 7pm, I'll be performing a comedy/poetry set at Spring Valley Lake Country Club in Victorville, CA! DANCE MDR - I'll be hosting Sept 23rd (Hip-Hop) and Sept 30th (Salsa) - come take a dance lesson then practice your moves with a DJ! I've worked with salsa instructor Leslie Ferreira and she's a GREAT teacher! Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

What have YOU missed the most?

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Join us this Saturday and Sunday at 8pm in Santa Monica! Dear friends and family,  When I'm on stage, I have no choice but to be completely present which feels harder and harder to do these days. I'm so obsessed with my phone, social media and all of the five-letter words that I want to use in Wordle. So it feels great to be back on stage! I am in a one act play titled "Park Play," written by Ben Kawaller, directed by Ferelith Young and co-starring Julie Cohn. I get to play Gerald, a man who meets a cute woman in a park and a secret of his gets quickly revealed. It's a wonderful dark comedy that's painful and laugh-inducing at the same time. We'd love for you to come! Not only because it's a fun play but also because the audience VOTES on their favorite piece to get an encore performance! Tickets: Saturday, 4/16 at 8pm Sunday, 4/17 at 8pm Discount Code: 10offbriskla22 Location: Morgan-Wixson Theatre 2627 Pico BIvd Santa Monica, CA, 90405 I hope to see you there! Love, Joe p.s. My godfather recently asked about some of my past video game performances and I'm not sure if a lot of folks ever saw this INSANITY that is linked below! JOE as....LUST? Several years ago, I played a character named "Dylan Fuentes" in the video game "Dead Rising 3." All of the villains were based on the seven deadly sins. I was based on LUST. Enjoy. ;-)  Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Downbeat 720 press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: 

City of Santa Monica

Joe Hernandez-Kolski 310.766.5822 joe@pochojoe.com

Youth open-mic sponsored by the City of Santa Monica, now in its twentieth year, is reaching out to a worldwide audience. 

As the Coronavirus continues to affect in-person events, Downbeat 720 will continue via Zoom for the foreseeable future. This creates an opportunity to bring in a worldwide audience of high school performers. (The above photo is from a recent event which included a high school singer/songwriter from Mississippi along with a poet from India.)

For over twenty years, Downbeat 720 has proven to be LA’s premier open-mic for high school youth.  Sponsored by the City of Santa Monica cultural affairs division, twice a month, high school students from all over the city arrived at the historic Miles Memorial Playhouse in Reed Park near downtown Santa Monica. They performed and received positive, honest feedback from professional working artists.  Here's a small example of how students react to the program:

"Downbeat 720 is one of the most magical things I have ever witnessed. It's a space where high school students from all over LA can come and perform their original pieces, sing a cover, read poetry, etc. Everyone was so supportive of each other. It's a place to take risks, to stand onstage and feel comfortable while experimenting and going outside of the comfort zone. It's also a place to meet people who are interested in similar things you are and who will compliment your skill sets beautifully."

--Owen Thiele, Singer

With the quarantine, where students often find themselves isolated in their homes, it’s been incredibly important for students to have a safe and supportive space for self-expression.  Downbeat 720 continues its online platform to offer that support.

Downbeat 720 was created by Justin Yoffe, Ameenah Kaplan, Joe Hernandez-Kolski and DJ Jedi in 2001.  In addition to the students performing, a special guest (a professional artist) is invited to perform for the students.  In the past, we've had Grammy award-winning musicians like Aloe Blacc, Raul Pacheco (Ozomatli), comedian Craig Robinson (“The Office”), Akil the MC (Jurassic 5), poet/actress Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia), MAD TV cast members and a slew of nationally-ranked HBO Def Poets. 

Downbeat 720 has grown to become one of the centerpoints for high school performers developing their talent as poets, singers, musicians, dancers, bands, etc.  In fact, the television version, Downbeat Showdown, won the 2005 LA EMMY for "Outstanding Youth Programming."  To watch a 5min documentary on the program or to see some of our past performances, go to www.youtube.com/downbeat720.

Downbeat 720 takes place over Zoom until its safe to return to in-person performances. It is always FREE and adults are allowed but we encourage them to invite a high school student to either watch or participate. 

The Downbeat 720 Zoom link will open up at 7pm PT when DJ Jedi begins spinning music. The open-mic starts at 7:20pm PT. We run every 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month. 

Upcoming dates: January 25th, February 8th, 22nd, March 8th, 22nd, April 12th, 26th, May 10th, 24th 

To stay informed, students should follow our Instagram page: 

www.instagram.com/downbeat720

Or contact -- Joe Hernandez-Kolski at joe@pochojoe.com or 310-766-5822

The Downbeat Commandments

1. Respect yourself, the other artists and the SPACE.

2. All styles and skill levels are EMBRACED.

3. Feel free to fall on your FACE.

4. Make sure you’re muted if it’s not your turn.

5. Keep your camera off ‘til you’re ready to go live.

6. Use the chat to hype up your fellow performers . 

7. If you can stay 'til the end, that would be GREAT.

8. Put your cell phones on VIBRATE.

9. Bring a new friend EVERY TIME.

10. We love you and in two weeks we'll SEE YOU AGAIN.

"Angry Abuelo" PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Joe Hernández-Kolski

310.766.5822

joe@pochojoe.com 

UnidosUS uses comedy to combat Covid misinformation in the Latine community

As new variants emerge and Covid-19 continues to disproportionately affect Latinos, UnidosUS, the United States's largest Latino nonprofit advocacy organization, is using comedy to keep the community informed. 

“Will Abuelo Get The Vaccine?” is a series of comedy sketches co-created with  comedy writer/performer Joe Hernández-Kolski (Gilmore Girls, HBO Def Poetry) and director Reko Moreno (Bushido Battleground). The videos are built around the relationship between “Angry Abuelo” (a curmudgeon character reminiscent of Archie Bunker from “All in the Family”) and his granddaughter Christina, a highly informed ten year-old girl. Joe Hernández-Kolski says, “Comedy has always been a wonderful tool for telling difficult truths. With the large amount of Covid misinformation in social media directed at the Latine community, we thought it was important to address this topic in a short video format.”

In four parts (including an epilogue where Abuelo raps while Christina beatboxes), we see what happens at Abuelo’s house, from the beginning to the end of Christmas day, as Christina attempts to get her Abuelo to agree to get vaccinated.

Watch the videos here:

http://bit.ly/angryabuelochristmas

Comedy can combat Covid! (but not alliteration)

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Thanks to UnidosUS, we created some fun sketches to address Covid misinformation in the Latine community. Dear friends and family,   Thanks to UnidosUS, I created some comedy sketches to address Covid misinformation in the Latine community. I'd love for you to click above and watch them!  How are you? For me, the past two years have been all about walking a balance beam between....  "You can do this Joe! Get up! Get dressed! Make the most of today! YOU DICTATE HOW THE WORLD VIEWS YOU AND YOUR ART!" ...and... "It's okaaaaay. Go back to bed. You're in the middle of a pandemic!" I was profiled in the Princeton Alumni Weekly about the different comedy videos that I've been creating over the past two years. Please click on the pic to read about my projects including my recent collaboration with UnidosUS. Good luck with 2022. I look forward to creating more art with you in-person very very soon! Love, Joe p.s. What are ya watching? I love that "Cobra Kai" has become an annual binge watch for me and my family over the holidays. Also, earlier this year, I made a fun little video with legendary actor Tony Plana for the UnidosUS virtual conference! Tony, what is a "plenary?" Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

It's live - it's fun - it's outdoors!

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We've created a fun, outdoor show. Must show proof of vaccination! Dear friends and family,  I hope that you're safe and vaccinated. I am a part of a wonderful, outdoor production. It's called "Welcome To The Neighborhood." It's an immersive theater piece that takes place in 1954 - a nuclear missile mishap has sent everyone into underground bunkers for fifteen months and this is our first gathering back together (ya see where we're going with this?) You show up to a BBQ, grab your burger or veggie dog and watch the drama unfold around you. Gia on the Move calls the show, "a madcap hour of backyard hotdogs, intrigue, politics, radiation, and outer space" with "great performances from the entire cast." We have performances for only two more weekends with three shows per day. Like I said, you must show proof of vaccination upon arriving. We hope to see you there! I also flew to DC to host the UnidosUS Annual Conference. For those unfamiliar, UnidosUS is the largest Latinx advocacy organization in the country. Their conference addresses countless issues relevant to the community. Although I was the only one who was in-person, it was a lot of fun to participate virtually with the different panels around the country. You can watch replays here. And make sure to check out our music video collaboration below! We've reached over 8,000 views! Love, Joe p.s. What are ya watching? "The White Lotus?" Did ya like it? I thought it was great! We've reached over 8,000 views! We had so much fun making this video! This video was a lot of fun to make! A homage to our quarantine and to the late, great Eddie Van Halen! RIP Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Some Friday afternoon fun!

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View this email in your browser We had so much fun making this video! Dear friends and family,  Collaboration is such a beautiful word and even better act. I've been running an open-mic for high school youth for almost twenty years now, a collaborative effort in its own right. Several years ago, two high schoolers, the Garcia brothers, would come through with all of their equipment just to perform one song on the open-mic. They'd set up their drums and guitar and give it everything they had for that one song...then break down their equipment and go home.  During the quarantine, they mentioned to me, "Hey, if you ever wanna record something, let us know." So we recorded a socially distanced song together! Then, when people got vaccinated, we shot a music video and encouraged our friends to join in. One of those friends was my wonderfully talented friend Ruth Silveira. I only found out recently that she was in one of my ALL-TIME FAVORITE music videos from the 80s! Yes, she played the mother in Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher." I hope that y'all enjoy the little homage we did to the band. (RIP Eddie)  A true collaboration was born.  Check out the video for some wonderful cameos, including Chali 2na, one of the gifted MCs from the legendary hip-hop group Jurassic 5! I hope that this email finds you and your loved ones both healthy and happy! Love, Joe p.s. Mare of Easttown? Any fans? What are your predictions for this weekend's series finale?? An upcoming Zoom show in Atlanta! Sunday, June 6th at 5pm PT   Before this crazy quarantine ends which has allowed us to reconnect with friends all over the country (via zoom), I've got another show coming up in Atlanta (via zoom)! I'll be performing at the longtime Atlanta open-mic Java Speaks, hosted by the amazing Theresa Davis. Click HERE to register for this FREE event and watch me get all emotional as I talk about my mom, dating and other fun stuff.   Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Last call! Join us!

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View this email in your browser Let's make a music video together! New deadline - Sunday, April 4th at 7pm PT! Dear friends and family,  We've received some GREAT videos so far! Above is a li'l teaser to see what some people have submitted! (Thank you!) If ya wanna join us, you've got 'til Sunday, April 4th at 7pm PT. Click here to go straight to the lyrics video! It won't take you very long and I'm sure that it'll be a lot of fun!!  I hope that this email finds you and your loved ones both healthy and happy! Love, Joe Aaaaand...in case you haven't watched this yet... "With his absorbing “How I Spent My Summer Vacation,” Joe Hernandez-Kolski effortlessly blends themes of (half) white guilt, identity, maturity, friendship, isolation, hopes, dreams, and self-censorship — all through a minimalist and intimate portrait that exists in the quiet space between brilliant comedy monologue and soul-baring vulnerability." Josh Heald (co-creator of "Cobra Kai") Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Let's make a music video together!

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View this email in your browser Dear friends and family,  I wanna make a music video with you! Click on the above video and it's all pretty self-explanatory. Detailed instructions are in the video description. It won't take you very long and I'm sure that it'll be a lot of fun!! Although it says that the deadline is March 14th, I'm happy to take videos after that! Try and get your contribution to me by Sunday, March 21st! I hope that this email finds you at peace. Love, Joe In case you haven't watched this yet... "With his absorbing “How I Spent My Summer Vacation,” Joe Hernandez-Kolski effortlessly blends themes of (half) white guilt, identity, maturity, friendship, isolation, hopes, dreams, and self-censorship — all through a minimalist and intimate portrait that exists in the quiet space between brilliant comedy monologue and soul-baring vulnerability." Josh Heald (co-creator of "Cobra Kai") Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

When one of the "Cobra Kai" creators...

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When one of the "Cobra Kai" creators reviews your comedy short, you tell the whole damn world!   "With his absorbing “How I Spent My Summer Vacation,” Joe Hernandez-Kolski effortlessly blends themes of (half) white guilt, identity, maturity, friendship, isolation, hopes, dreams, and self-censorship — all through a minimalist and intimate portrait that exists in the quiet space between brilliant comedy monologue and soul-baring vulnerability." Josh Heald (co-creator of "Cobra Kai") Dear friends and family,  Thanks to Josh Heald for the wonderful review. And, yes, for those who watch the show, he's the dude who directed the incredible season finale! That two-minute single-shot fight sequence is . Yes, I am a HUGE fan of "Cobra Kai." I think that it is the perfect blend of 80s nostalgia and deep, personal reflection at a time full of conflict. I'm also a big fan of "Ted Lasso," "Murder at Middle Beach" and the Bee Gees documentary! What are your picks? I hope that you are as excited as I am for the arrival of 2021! Yes, the year may have begun a couple of weeks ago but, in my opinion, it really starts tomorrow on the 20th. ;-)   Have you seen "How I Spent My Summer Vacation?" I'm excited to announce that the video piece that I created as part of Center Theatre Group's Community Stories series is now live on their website! I definitely encourage you to check it out. It is there along with the interview that I did with my longtime director/collaborator Benjamin Byron Davis and conducted by another longtime collaborator and friend Jesus Reyes. We speak at great length about the collaborative nature of art. Even when it is considered a "solo" show, there really is no such thing. Calling all high school performers...Downbeat 720 is back!  I'm also proud to say that Downbeat 720 has returned! Downbeat 720 is the open-mic for high school youth that I helped co-create over nineteen years ago. Ever since, we have been creating a safe and supportive space for high school youth to share their thoughts. Now that we've gone online, we are looking to reach youth all over the country and the world! At our last event, we had a singer/songwriter from Missouri and a poet from India! Click on the picture to see just a small glimpse into a special moment that we had with one of our alumni, a talented singer/songwriter named Julia Paymer. Follow us on Instagram @downbeat720 And please keep your eyes open for another eblast in a week or so! I will be asking for YOUR help in the making of a music video!! Please be safe and wear a mask. Here's to a happy and joyful 2021! Love, Joe Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

A world premiere - "How I Spent My Summer Vacation"

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View this email in your browser Starting TODAY at 10am PT Watch the world premiere of "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" Click Here "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" - a digital theater piece - TEASER Dear fam, Let's all take a deep breath, yes? Man, I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy right now. This new situation has forced us to connect in new ways with others and ourself. I have been holed up in my apartment creating a video project as part of Center Theatre Group's Community Stories Series. I've been working with my longtime-collaborator, director Benjamin Byron Davis. It's maybe the most amount of work that I've ever created in such a small amount of time. I've been writing, shooting, acting and editing a digital theater piece about an artist in isolation and we are premiering it TODAY! Click here to watch it starting at 10am PT! Below is Ben's Director's Note. Stay safe. Love, Joe   DIRECTOR’S NOTE I have been collaborating on theater pieces with my friend Joe Hernández-Kolski for over twenty years. In many ways, for much of that time, he has been the thread keeping me connected to the vibrant Los Angeles theater scene, even it turns out, in a moment when all of our theaters are closed. Joe approached me at the beginning of quarantine with an exciting proposal: develop a solo theater piece for a series of Community Stories commissioned by the venerable Center Theatre Group. Given the pandemic - this particular theater piece would have to be a digital one. The challenge - to my mind - became what distinguishes a “digital theater piece” from a short film? Once we are digesting the work on a screen is it even theater anymore? I’m not sure I know the answer to that question - but Joe’s “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” is our (sometimes) earnest attempt at a reply. As we have been forced to move much of our life into isolation and much of our interaction into virtual spaces, I have taken solace in and inspiration from theater artists around the globe who are finding novel solutions to keep us connected to each other as they keep searching for deeper truths through artistic expression. For all the challenges we are facing at this moment as individuals, as communities, as nations and as inhabitants of this small planet there is - it seems - a thread of anger and frustration coursing through us all that is unlike any other moment I remember. That Joe’s introspection has yielded such a joyful response to such a challenging interval is precisely why I have been proud to work with him for all of these years. I have more to say about the theater and how essential it is and will continue to be whenever we get back to sitting alongside each other as the lights go down - but I fear I have already become (as Joe says of his dating profile) “so fucking pretentious,” so let’s get on with the show… We are indeed all in this together - Even when we are apart. BBD Los Angeles, CA  September 2020 Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Come zoom with me!

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View this email in your browser This Thursday at 5pm PST Watch a Live Zoom performance of  "Waiting For Waiting For Godot!"  Hug The Sh*t Out of You feat. Jessica Gerhardt Dear fam, I hope that you're staying healthy and listening to all CDC recommendations. I have been holed up in my apartment creating a video project for Center Theatre Group. I've been working with my longtime-collaborator, director Benjamin Byron Davis. It's maybe the most amount of work that I've ever created in such a small amount of time. I've been writing, shooting, acting and editing a series of video shorts about an artist in isolation during this momentous time. We will be premiering it soon. I can't wait for you to see it! At the same time, I've continued working with my other longtime-collaborator, my comedy partner Joshua Silverstein. He and I continue to do a live Instagram show every Friday at 4pm PST. We have been very fortunate to have some incredible guests on the show lately, including activist Sonya Renee Taylor and from Fitz and the Tantrums, singer Noelle Scaggs. We also have a slew of comedy shorts on our different social media pages. Check us out at our YouTube page or follow us on Facebook or Instagram. That's where the content drops first And this Thursday, July 16th at 5pm PST, Sacred Fools Theatre will be doing a live Zoom performance of Dave Hanson's "Waiting for Waiting for Godot." If you missed the live performance at the end of last year, this is an opportunity for you to watch me perform directly into my computer's camera! It's a wonderfully fun three-actor show that I think will translate into the Zoom world! I'm excited to be sharing the "stage" again with actors Bruno Oliver and Julie Marchiano.  Stay safe. Love, Joe   During this time, it's perfectly normal if your anxiety has spiked a little. It's totally fine if you've found yourself worrying a bit more than usual about life and the choices you've made. But you know what's NOT okay? Watch to find out! Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*

Online we go!

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View this email in your browser A benefit this TUESDAY night at 5pm PST! Click here to watch and donate! Dear fam, I hope that you're safe and your family is too. My love and thanks to all of those working essential services.  As we deal with this insane time, the exciting result is that we are taking advantage of our online options that weren't even a possibility just a few years ago. I've been connecting with performers, family and friends all over the country. I've got some fun online shows happening now! This Tuesday at 5pm PT - The Solo Silo Livestream Benefit - I will be hosting and performing along with my comedy partner Joshua Silverstein. A very talented line-up of musicians has been curated. It will all be streamed live on Facebook! Every M-F at 7pm PT - For three weeks now, five days a week, Joshua and I have been doing a show on Instagram! We've been performing our original mix of sketch comedy, rap and spoken word poetry along with recruiting a special musical guest! It's been fantastic to perform with artists all over the country! Join us on Instagram or Facebook! Love, Joe p.s. Here's a fun li'l video that I made titled, "Dancing, Cleaning and Quarantining pt 1." There are two more parts on my YouTube page!  "Dancing, cleaning and quarantining pt. 1" Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved. *|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* *|LIST:DESCRIPTION|* Our mailing address is: *|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|* Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. *|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|* *|END:IF|*