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|*

From Hollywood to Santa Monica to...Chicago??

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View this email in your browser Next Thursday at 8pm! Click here to buy tickets! Next Saturday at 8pm! Click here to buy tickets! Dear fam, As usual, it's now 3pm and I haven't eaten lunch yet and I'm seriously hangry. But I really wanna get out this eblast! We've got some fun shows coming up next week and I want you to have time to call babysitters, make dinner plans, etc. Next Thursday night, Joshua and I have our monthly sketch comedy show. We have an awesome poet as our special guest - Robert "Bird" Lopez. Join us for a fun 60 minute show. And there's a bar called The Plunge  attached to the theater where we can have a drink after and catch up. :-) Then next Saturday, we have the annual "Fireside at the Miles" show! It's a great time in a beautiful theater in Santa Monica. We have a legendary musician as our special guest - Tom Freund. He's collaborated with everyone from Ben Harper to Elvis Costello. And GIFTED continues getting excellent reviews! And I'm performing at Write Club in Chicago on Feb 18th! I'd love for you to join me at one of the shows. This is the only way that I know how to socialize with friends anymore. ;-) Love, Joe THURSDAY, FEB 13TH AT 8PM! Special Guest: Poet Robert "Bird" Lopez We've got a fun fun line-up of pieces that we'll be sharing with you. It's like our "Black History Month meets Valentine's Day" show. That's not confusing at all, right?? Part of FOOLISH THURSDAYS! Upcoming: March 12th, April 9th @ 8pm Click here for more info! SATURDAY, FEB 15TH AT 8PM! Special Guest: Musician Tom Freund We've really got a special musical guest. Tom is a dear old friend who's an accomplished musician, recording over a dozen albums and working with everyone from Elvis Costello to Jackson Browne. Join us for a fun night of music and comedy! Click here for more info! OPEN NOW! Sacred Fools Presents The World Premiere of GIFTED I'm associate producing this wonderful original play about a woman who has a special gift - she can tell the romantic fate of any couple just by looking at them, all except her own. "RECOMMENDED / TOP TEN... A skillfully developed plot and purposeful direction..." -Stage Raw "...undeniably diverting, with well-drawn characters, mordant humor and propulsive dialogue... fluid and imaginative staging... The linchpin of this talented cast, Rogers effectively underplays... It's a challenging role that she tackles without a hint of strain."  -L.A. Times Click here for more info.  TUESDAY, FEB 18TH AT 7PM CALLING ALL CHICAGOANS!! Write Club is what it sounds like - competitive storytelling. It's one of the funnest live lit events in the country and I will be in town rocking the stage!  Click here for tickets! But them now. It does sell 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|*

Well, if you NEED to laugh...

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View this email in your browser This Thursday at 8pm! Click here to buy tickets! Dear fam, I was on a first date once and the woman was talking to me and I said, "I'm sorry, I missed that, can you say that again, please?" She quickly said, "Oh, you have ADHD?" I said, "No, you have a television over your shoulder."  I don't know about you but I feel over-stimulated everywhere I go these days. I'm still not sure how much of that is a product of our current world or if I'm just becoming older and crabbier. This is why I love theater.   People get comfortable, put away their phones and share a common live experience in a very intimate space. And guess what? I've got shows, people. I hope that you can come out.   And there's a bar called The Plunge attached to the theater where we can have a drink after and catch up. I promise that I will face away from the TV screen. ;-) Love, Joe THURSDAY, JAN 16TH AT 8PM! Special Guest: Musician Jessica Gerhardt THE JOE & JOSHUA SHOW is back for 2020! Watch as we dive even deeper into our brazen blend of sketch comedy, spoken word poetry and beatboxing. You never know what you're gonna get!  Part of FOOLISH THURSDAYS! Jan. 16th  Feb. 13th March 12th  April 9th @ 8pm Click here for more info! OPENS JANUARY 24TH! I'm associate producing this wonderful original play about a woman who has a special gift - she can tell the romantic fate of any couple just by looking at them, all except her own. Enter a world of love and longing, humor and heartbreak, with a touch of magical realism. Sacred Fools Presents The World Premiere of GIFTED Opens January 24th Click here for more info.  TUESDAY, JAN 14TH AT 7:20PM! Downbeat 720 returns for its nineteenth year!! I can't believe that I have been co-running this open-mic for high school performers for so long! Every second and fourth Tuesday of the month, we create a safe and supportive space for high school youth to express themselves. If you know of any high school youth who could use this space, please send them our way! Follow us here. SATURDAY, FEB 15TH AT 8PM CALLING ALL WESTSIDERS!! Joe & Joshua are back to perform as part of the "Fireside at the Miles" series, a great event that happens in Santa Monica every year. Join us at the Miles Memorial Playhouse for a special westside version of The Joe and Joshua Show! More info to come. 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|*

We got extended and I wrote a RAP!

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View this email in your browser “[Waiting for Waiting for Godot], a witty hommage to Beckett’s classic, is a raw and revealing glimpse into the actor’s existential dilemma, the helplessness that derives from being an interpreter, forever reliant on any number of random factors before plying one’s chosen craft.” -Los Angeles Times Tonight at 8pm! Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 8pm Click here to buy tickets! Dear fam, With the world of Netflix, I know it's hard to get out of the house. But...once you get out, you realize how great it is to see people in person! I've loved reconnecting with so many friends who have come out to see this wonderful show! As the LA Times called us, it's an "acid-etched valentine to actors."  If you're in LA, please make the time during this busy holiday season. It's a fast-paced 90min play with no intermission. Afterwards, we can walk next door and grab a drink at The Plunge! See ya soon! HAPPY HOLIDAYS!! Love, Joe   EXTENDED!! The West Coast Premiere of... "WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT" by Dave Hanson  directed by Jacob Sidney CAST: Bruno Oliver as Ester Joe Hernandez-Kolski as Val Julie Marchiano as Laura It is probably not their night.  Ester and Val are understudies for a production of Waiting for Godot. They are committed to art and frustrated by anonymity. They understand their purpose, but not the reasons they stay. They accept their fate, but question each other's motives, all while waiting for "him" to appear... A "gleefully absurd" (Time Out New York) backstage farce packed with profound insight, existential dread, and shameless punchlines, Waiting for Waiting for Godot is the Beckett companion you didn't know you needed.   Sacred Fools Theater Broadwater Second Stage 6320 Santa Monica Blvd. Now through December 21st, 2019 Tonight at 8pm Thursday, Friday & Saturday @ 8pm Tickets: $15  Click here for details!! 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|*

The LA Times LOVES us!

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View this email in your browser “[Waiting for Waiting for Godot], a witty hommage to Beckett’s classic, is a raw and revealing glimpse into the actor’s existential dilemma, the helplessness that derives from being an interpreter, forever reliant on any number of random factors before plying one’s chosen craft.” -Los Angeles Times Friday & Saturday at 8pm Sunday at 5pm! Click here to buy tickets! Dear fam, I'm currently in Idaho teaching theater at the Coeur D'Alene Indian reservation. It has been an incredibly powerful and exhausting week. These kids yearn for self-expression, just like any other teenager, however, the issues that they battle everyday are unparalleled. I'm lucky to spend this time with them and share who I am and what I know. I fly back tomorrow morning to perform in a play that the LA Times calls an "acid-etched valentine to actors." It's really a lot of fun! If you're in LA, please make the time to come out. It's a fast-paced 90min play with no intermission. Afterwards, we can walk next door and grab a drink at The Plunge! See ya soon! Love, Joe   NOW PLAYING! The West Coast Premiere of... "WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT" by Dave Hanson  directed by Jacob Sidney CAST: Bruno Oliver as Ester Joe Hernandez-Kolski as Val Julie Marchiano as Laura It is probably not their night.  Ester and Val are understudies for a production of Waiting for Godot. They are committed to art and frustrated by anonymity. They understand their purpose, but not the reasons they stay. They accept their fate, but question each other's motives, all while waiting for "him" to appear... A "gleefully absurd" (Time Out New York) backstage farce packed with profound insight, existential dread, and shameless punchlines, Waiting for Waiting for Godot is the Beckett companion you didn't know you needed.   Sacred Fools Theater Broadwater Second Stage 6320 Santa Monica Blvd. Now through December 14th, 2019 Fridays & Saturdays @ 8pm Sunday, Dec. 8 @ 5pm Tickets: $15  Click here for details!! Thank you, Tom Kellogg, Zilah Mendoza, the whole Mentor Artists Playwrights Project and the Coeur D'Alene Indian Reservation! 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|*

"Two extraordinary comedic actors!"

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View this email in your browser "This production is blessed with two extraordinary comedic actors. It doesn’t take long to see that, under the inspired direction of Jacob Sidney, the production owes a lot to Laurel and Hardy. Ester is a big man who tries endlessly to fit into a vest that he resolutely maintains is his. The first hilarious ten minutes or so of the play is taken up with his futile efforts to button that vest. Val enters with two cups of coffee and immediately begins comic business with sugar packets. Mr. Hernandez-Kolski is short and slim with a face, I swear, that calls to mind Stan Laurel." — Paul Myrvold We have our ONLY Monday night show TONIGHT! Click here to buy tickets! Dear fam, We are in the second weekend of shows and we run until December 14th. PLEASE come out for a good laugh and please come the sooner the better!  As I said in my last email, I am working at saying "no" to more activities, devoting my time only to projects that I really love and believe in. "Waiting for Waiting for Godot" is one of those projects. We have a great production team and a really funny script. Written by Dave Hanson (writer for Chelsea Lately), it's based on his very real experience as an understudy for a production of "Waiting for Godot."  If you're in LA, please make the time to come out. It's a funny, fast-paced 90min play with no intermission. Afterwards, we can walk next door and grab a drink at The Plunge! See ya soon! Love, Joe NOW PLAYING! The West Coast Premiere of... "WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT" by Dave Hanson  directed by Jacob Sidney CAST: Bruno Oliver as Ester Joe Hernandez-Kolski as Val Julie Marchiano as Laura It is probably not their night.  Ester and Val are understudies for a production of Waiting for Godot. They are committed to art and frustrated by anonymity. They understand their purpose, but not the reasons they stay. They accept their fate, but question each other's motives, all while waiting for "him" to appear... A "gleefully absurd" (Time Out New York) backstage farce packed with profound insight, existential dread, and shameless punchlines, Waiting for Waiting for Godot is the Beckett companion you didn't know you needed.   Sacred Fools Theater Broadwater Second Stage 6320 Santa Monica Blvd. Now through December 14th, 2019 Monday, November 18 @ 8pm Fridays & Saturdays @ 8pm Sundays, Dec. 1 & Dec. 8 @ 5pm Tickets: $15  Click here for more details!! 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|*

Where does the time go??

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View this email in your browser “Two guys on a road waiting for a man they’ve never met who never comes? Samuel Beckett’s 'Waiting for Godot,' of course. Two understudies backstage waiting for their chance to go on — a seriously unlikely prospect — in a production of 'Waiting for Godot?' That is Dave Hanson’s delectable 'Waiting for Waiting for Godot.'" — New York Times Dear fam, For some reason, as I get older, the days don't seem to last as long. Is that happening to you? What month is it? What YEAR is it?? For that reason, I am working at saying "no" to more activities, devoting my time only to projects that I really love and believe in. "Waiting for Waiting for Godot" is one of those projects. I've really been enjoying the rehearsal process. We have a great production team and a really funny script. Written by Dave Hanson (writer for Chelsea Lately), it's based on his very real experience as an understudy for a production of "Waiting for Godot."  If you're in LA, please make the time to come out. It's a funny, fast-paced 80min play with no intermission. Afterwards, we can walk next door and grab a drink at The Plunge! See ya soon! Love, Joe   OPENING NOVEMBER 8TH! The West Coast Premiere of... "WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT" by Dave Hanson  directed by Jacob Sidney CAST: Bruno Oliver as Ester Joe Hernandez-Kolski as Val Julie Marchiano as Laura It is probably not their night.  Ester and Val are understudies for a production of Waiting for Godot. They are committed to art and frustrated by anonymity. They understand their purpose, but not the reasons they stay. They accept their fate, but question each other's motives, all while waiting for "him" to appear... A "gleefully absurd" (Time Out New York) backstage farce packed with profound insight, existential dread, and shameless punchlines, Waiting for Waiting for Godot is the Beckett companion you didn't know you needed. We run Friday, November 8th through Saturday, December 14th! Click here for details!! 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|*

How ya doing?

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View this email in your browser How ya doing? Dear fam: With everything that's currently happening in our world, if you're like me, your mood can vary greatly from minute to minute. Right now...at this moment...I'm doing well! Who knows how I'll feel in 5 minutes. ;-) But, right now, it's a Saturday afternoon, I just ate some leftover Thai food, I'm about to have an afternoon cup of coffee, I actually made it to boxing class this morning, I don't have rehearsal today and I FINALLY have time to sit down, listen to XRT, write some run-on sentences and tell you what's been going on and what's coming up! If you've made it this far, I appreciate the crap out of you!  LAST WEEK: I had a FANTASTIC show at Central Michigan University! This article gives a really good summary of what my college show looks like. If you have any contacts at any colleges, I'm ALWAYS available and looking to perform.  Speaking of which, I will be performing at the University of Pittsburgh on Wednesday, November 13th. Do I know any folks in southwest Pennsylvania? THIS WEDNESDAY - FRIDAY: I'm heading to San Jose for a series of shows with the talented homie Mighty Mike McGee. If you're unfamiliar with Mike's work, a National and World Poetry Slam Grand Champion, I encourage you to click on his pic and check him out! Here's where I'll be performing: Wed 10/16 at 8pm - "Go Go Gone Show" at Cafe Stritch Thur 10/17 at 7pm - Live Lit Writer's Open-mic at Caffe Frascati Fri. 10/18 - "Kitchen Sessions" -  Get at me for time and location AND OPENING NOVEMBER 8TH! The West Coast Premiere of... "WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT" by Dave Hanson  directed by Jacob Sidney CAST: Bruno Oliver as Ester Joe Hernandez-Kolski as Val Julie Marchiano as Laura It is probably not their night.  Ester and Val are understudies for a production of Waiting for Godot. They are committed to art and frustrated by anonymity. They understand their purpose, but not the reasons they stay. They accept their fate, but question each other's motives, all while waiting for "him" to appear... A "gleefully absurd" (Time Out New York) backstage farce packed with profound insight, existential dread, and shameless punchlines, Waiting for Waiting for Godot is the Beckett companion you didn't know you needed. We run Friday, November 8ththrough Saturday, December 14th! Click here for details!! So all of these shows have me really really excited and I hope to see you at one of them! And, yes, how ya 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|*

It's the end of our residency!

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View this email in your browser Thursday, August 29th at 8pm! BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW! Dear fam: On Thursday, August 29th, Joshua and I are ENDING RACISM!! Yes, our yearlong residency at Sacred Fools Theater is coming to an end so we thought that, gosh, what a simple way to go out - let's talk about "RACE!" Catch the show and, afterwards, we can stop at the taco truck and grab a drink at The Plunge! Love, Joe p.s. My picks for TV these days: GLOW, Mr. Mercedes & Last Week Tonight. What are yours? Meet this month's guests, poets  ALYESHA WISE and MATTHEW CUBAN   ALYESHA WISE: Poet. Speaker. Teaching Artist. Community Leader. The author of "Carnival (NOT A CULT media)," Alyesha Wise is a Poet, Teaching Artist & TEDx Speaker from Camden, N.J. Alyesha currently resides in Los Angeles, Ca and is the Hollywood (DPL) Adult Slam Team Head Coach and was the Los Angeles Youth Slam Team Co-coach from 2014-2017. A 2014 Hollywood Grand Slam Champion, she is also a 4-time member of the Hollywood Slam Team & a 2-time Women of the World Poetry Slam Finalist. Alyesha has been featured on different platforms and publications such as Huffington Post, Bustle, Afropunk, WHYY, POPSUGAR, Buzzfeed and more. Some recent highlights include - an artistic collaboration with Codeblack Films, Brave New Films and a feature in the Google Interstellar Project, in conjunction with the hit film Interstellar. Co-founder of Essence Magazine, Russell Goings, wrote to Alyesha, “In all, you are awesome.” MATTHEW "CUBAN" HERNANDEZ is an international Spoken Word Artist, 3 time Southern Fried Slam champion, Distinguished performance and writing coach and author of "3032" with Not A Cult Media. He is a poet, speaker, and performance coach from Jacksonville, Florida. He has toured as far as Abu Dhabi and nearly every major city in the United States and Europe, performing, teaching and coaching poetry. A teaching artist for nearly ten years, Matthew has spent the last four years working in youth detention centers across Los Angeles County. He has opened for artists such as Wu-Tang and performed for platforms such as BuzzFeed and NPR. Matthew is also a three time Southern Fried poetry slam champion and an award-winning poetry coach. Cuban’s favorite activity is making people feel great; sometimes he does this through poetry. If you can't watch Joe & Joshua LIVE, here ya go!  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|*