2009 Monologue Challenge!

The Monologue Challenge is a competition to see who can perform the best monologue. 35 will perform, 5 will be declared finalists, but only 1 will take home around $2,000 in prizes. Industry guest judges select the finalists, and then the audience selects the winner.

Last January, I made the finals, this time you can help put me in the winner's circle!

I will be performing a new monologued entitled, "Paralyzed." Come check it out! Tickets are ony $15.00 and are almost sold out.

UPDATE: Tickets available at www.theactorsprojectnyc.com/reserve.html!

UPDATE: I made the finals, but lost out in the audience vote to a brilliant monologue, written and performed by Joe Naples. He's a good guy and his monologue was amazing!

Let's get political...

As I mentioned in my latest email newsletter, I took part in the filming of some satirical videos recently. Now those videos are posted. I have small parts in three different videos, which you can see on 236.com, the Huffington Post/InterActiveCorp's news satire website. For your viewing pleasure, here are the direct links:

• Give Us Your Money, Or Else
• Trust Us, We Are Wall Street
• Will The Real Sarah Palin, Please Stand Up

They are also available on YouTube.

Ghost Town - Funny, but sad...

The movie turned out to be a lot funnier than I thought it would be, which was awesome. Unfortunately, all the time the other extras and I spent in the freezing cold chasing Ricky Gervais around the streets of Manhattan and up the steps of the Met turned out to be for naught. All the running around got cut from the final version of the film. It was still a lot of fun, though!

I'm just worried people will start thinking I'm lying about actually being in these projects! At least I have the trailer as proof, ha ha.

New Video!

This is entitled Call-In Sick Tapes and is taken from Comedic Tales II - An All Comedy Showcase performed on June 25, 2008. Video courtesy of The Actor's Project NYC.

October Showcases!

Season 12: October Showcases - presented by The Actor's Project NYC.

• Journey - A fast-paced industry showcase featuring talented actors performing monologues, songs, and short comedic scenes. This theatrical showcase is approached as a full-length play with polished performances and diverse talent. The production contains all original work that is moved quickly and effortlessly by a clever cast of over 30 actors.
  
  
  
  • Monday | October 13th | 7:30 PM
  • The Abingdon Theatre - 312 W. 36th St. (bet. 8th/9th)
  • MAP
  • Admission: $25/$30 - TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

• Carnival - a festival of actors telling tales of comedy with
  a parade of scenes and comedic sketches thrown into the mix. The showcase contains all original work inspired by current and past members of The Actor's Project NYC. It's a fun evening showcasing actors of all different levels of experience.
  
  
  
  • Tuesday | October 14th | 7:30 PM
  • The Barrow Group Theatre
  • 312 W. 36th St. (bet. 8th/9th), 4th Floor
  • MAP
  • Admission: $25/$30 - TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

• Spoofs and Things - The Actor's Project NYC's very-popular, always sold-out, all-comedy industry showcase, which will have you laughing out loud! The evening features original monologues and spoofs of film, television, and stage. It will be a fun, fast-paced night with talented actors.
  
  
  
  • Monday | October 20th | 7:30 PM
  • The Abingdon Theatre - 312 W. 36th St. (bet. 8th/9th)
  • MAP
  • Admission: $25/$30 - TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE

Ghost Town

The film, starring Ricky Gervais, Tea Leoni, and Greg Kinnear, is being released on 9/19, and I can be seen very briefly in the trailer, in what I think is the pivotal scene in the movie. We filmed this sometime around 2-4 am on December 1st. It was cold. But it was a lot of fun.

Anyway, check out the screenshot below, the trailer, and the movie, too. Maybe you'll actually be able to see me in it!

Update - Awards, challenges, and a sitcom

Thank you to everyone who came to The Actor's Project Showcases in June. Because of the outstanding support, I won the Box Office Award -- over $1,000 in prizes! I've already been taking advantage of my new lifetime membership and entry-fee waivers.

In October, I will be taking part in the next round of showcases; the dates are yet to be finalized, but I will let you know when they are.

My friends Jen Kwok and Eric Fortin -- collectively, The Tijuana Yacht Club -- have been writing a sitcom entitled Undiscovered New York: Uncovered, and I will have a recurring role. We've met several times and we are set to start shooting in the next few weeks. Should be awesome!

Finally, the next Monologue Challenge will be taking place next Thurs, August 21st. Just like one in January, industry judges will pick the finalists and the audience will pick the winner. I was a finalist last time, but there was nothing to be done about competing against the old woman talking about her suitor's "pee-pee."

Maybe this time there won't be a Michael Phelps-like juggernaut, everyone else fighting for second.

Here are the details:

• Thursday, August 21st, 7:00 PM
• 353 Studios, 353 W. 48th St., 2nd Floor
• MAP
• Admission: $15 (2 for 1 if you buy today, 8/15)
• Tickets available HERE or by calling 212-560-0991.

Discount Tickets!

I've got 6 tickets for the June 24th and 25th Showcases that will be selling for 20% off. That means you can see me make my musical debut for only $20. That's right. Musical. Who would want to miss that? I will also be playing the host in both showcases and several other characters, as well.

EMAIL ME ASAP as they will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

As an added bonus, the more people that come, the better chance I have of repeating as the Box Office Award winner from The Actor's Project NYC. This time around, the prize is LIFETIME membership! That will save me well over $1,000. So please carve out a couple hours and come to one of the showcases! I'd really appreciate it.

Heck, come to both. :o)

June Showcase Details!

There will be three nights of performances. The first night, Monday, June 23rd, is a combination ticket of the Bobby Holder play Scandal in Manhattan along with the showcase Actor Stories: A Night to be Scene. It is already sold out! It's possible there will be seats available for the showcase portion since it is expected that some people will leave after the play is over, but those are not guaranteed and will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Contact me if you're interested.

The other two showcases are called Imaginary and Comedic Tales II. They will take place the following two nights.

In all three showcases, I will be introducing the evening, playing my guitar to transition between scenes, and portraying several characters throughout the show.


Here are the details:

• Tues & Wed June 24th & 25th 7:30 PM
• Urban Stages Theatre, 259 W. 30th St.
• MAP
• Admission: $25/$30 Tickets available HERE or by calling 212-560-0991.

The Henchman and See I A... now on YouTube!

Check out www.youtube.com/watchjustinhoch for the videos! I will post them here when I get a chance.

BackStage Article! A Year in the Life of Twenty-Five Strangers Living in a City by Lake’ (Back Stage East, 01 May 2008, Page 3)

We got some really sweet press in the latest edition of Back Stage East. Check out the article. If you want, you can download a copy of it here.

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‘ A Year in the Life of TwentyFive Strangers Living in a City by Lake’

Back Stage East
01 May 2008

If you’ve got a pile of admiration you haven’t place for, consider placing it in the lap of director Shaun Colledge. He’s helming AYear in the Life of Twenty- Five Strangers Living in a City by the Lake, a play by Matthew Fotis that traces series of...read more...

Tech Tags: Back Stage East newspaper News

Pre-show Press

Here's an article about my upcoming show, A Year in the Life of Twenty-five Strangers Living in a City by the Lake: http://BroadwayWorld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=26920.

New Play! - "A Year in the Life..."

"...of 25 Strangers Living in a City by the Lake." Yeah, that's the real title. Fifteen words and 63 characters if you include spaces. How could it be anything other than an awesome production?

Here are the details:

• Opens Friday May 2nd, closes May 18th
• Wednesdays (May 7 & 14): 8:00 PM
• Thursdays (May 8 & 15): 8:00 PM
• Fridays (May 2, 9, & 16): 8:00 PM
• Saturdays (May 3, 10, & 17): 8:00 PM
• Sundays (May 4 & 11): 4:00 PM
• Closing Night! (Sunday May 18): 5:30 PM
  
• The Parker Theater / Algonquin Theater
• 123 E. 24th St. (Between Park & Lexington)
• MAP
• Tickets: $15 at http://www.smarttix.com/show.aspx?showCode=YEA0
  or (212) 868-4444

Alexander Dies Monologue

This is a recording of the monologue that I performed during Just for Giggles on February 18th. It's also the same monologue I did at the Monologue Challenge on January 7th.

• Alexander Dies

See I A... Trailer and Screenings!

The trailer for the short film "See I A..." (formerly titled "Running Blood") has been released and can be viewed here:

Many thanks go out to Jill Ahrold, Imagine Me, and Big Colums Productions for putting this all together. Screenings of the film will take place April 4th and 5th:

I'd also like to make note of an upcoming benefit for the Shooting Stars program at PS 87 which will feature the previews of both Imagine Me shorts as well as the classic film, Some Like it Hot. Proceeds will help provide scholarships for kids to participate in theatre and film production!

Video from the February Showcases!

The Actor's Project NYC just posted some video from Just for Giggles and Theatre of the Diverse. Two of my scenes are up!

• The Glass Whatever

• A Strange Hotel

Showcase Tickets Discounted! ...and prize?

Hey, if you go here - www.theactorsprojectnyc.com/discount.html - before Friday and buy a ticket, you can get in for $20 instead of $25 or $30. Also, whoever sells the most tickets wins a year of membership and admission to networking events with The Actor's Project...and that would be great! Cheaper for you and bonuses for me. If you buy a ticket, I'd most definitely be indebted to you. Please let me know if you buy a ticket so I can turn in an official count.

Here are the details again:

Just for Giggles - An all-comedy showcase featuring sketches, scenes, and monologues. I take part in several scenes and play a couple of funny characters. I even get my butt kicked a little bit! Good times. AND JUST ADDED: I will be performing my Monologue Challenge-finalist bit Alexander Dies! So if you missed the Monologue Challenge, here's another chance to see it!

• Monday February 18th 7:30 PM
• Admission: $25/$30 - DISCOUNT TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
• The Abingdon Theatre
• 312 W. 36th St. (bet. 8th/9th)
• MAP

Theatre of the Diverse - A combination of dramatic and comedic sketches, scenes, and monologues. I take part in a couple of things again here, one of which will be a repeat from the Just for Giggles showcase; the other is only being done at Theatre of the Diverse.

• Monday February 25th 7:30 PM
• Admission: $25/$30 - DISCOUNT TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
• The Abingdon Theatre
• 312 W. 36th St. (bet 8th/9th)
• MAP

Updates

The Best Party Ever
Turns out I won't be the g-string-clad character in the show. My mom is relieved. And I'm okay with that, too.

Running Blood
Had the cast read-through on Monday and filming began on Thursday. My first scenes are coming up on Sunday. Exciting!

Showcases
Showcases are taking place on Monday the 18th and Monday the 25th. Check out more info here: www.justinhoch.com/actor.html.

New Play! - "The Best Party Ever"

I just signed on to partake in the next run of The Best Party Ever. Performing every Saturday in March, the show is about two hours and is wild and crazy. I've been told each actor plays 4-5 characters throughout the show. Oh, and at the audition, the writer/director/producer asked me how I felt walking onstage wearing only gloves, socks, a hat, and a thong...

So yeah, practically naked.

Naturally, I said I was comfortable with that. I'm just not sure anyone else will be.

Anyway, here's the press release and all the relevant details:

Tired of the Bar Scene? Looking for something Fun to do this weekend? A Hip pre-cursor to your evening?

You're invited to The Best Party Ever, a satirical two act play about a keg party followed by an office party consisting of vignettes, sketches, and monologues.

This show ignites onstage with a congo line in the first act and a bunny hop in the second act with a brief intermission where audience members are given free drinks!

Performing: Every Saturday in March @ 5:00 p.m.
Reservations: 212.684.2690
Admission: $24 Includes Two Drinks / $28 Includes Three Drinks
     *(Wine, Beer, Cola, Water)*

The Richmond Shepard Theatre
309 E. 26th St. @ 2nd. Ave
Running Time: 1 Hour and 50 minutes

http://www.myspace.com/bestpartyeverysaturday

Running Blood - my first leading film role!

A few days ago I was cast as Kenny, an ex-cop who is caught up in a cat-and-mouse chase with the CIA after witnessing a torture session that he shouldn't have seen. It's an action-thriller and promises to be a lot of fun!

One cool thing about this project is that it's being done by a group of middle and high school students with an artisitic director supervisor. Last year, one of their projects was named an honorable mention at the Tribeca Film Festival - so these kids are no slouches! And, I'm getting paid, too, which is a nice bonus.

Filming will take place in February and is slated to be released in April!

February Showcase Dates Finalized

The showcases I've been talking about for weeks have now been scheduled! The theatre was finally able to confirm our reservation so now it's on. The details are as follows:

Season 10: February Showcases - presented by The Actor's Project NYC. Although some scenes and sketches will be performed in both showcases, the majority of the content will be different.

Just for Giggles - An all-comedy showcase featuring sketches, scenes, and monologues. I take part in several scenes and play a couple of funny characters. I even get my butt kicked a little bit! Good times.

• Monday February 18th 7:30 PM
• Admission: $25/$30 - TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
• The Abingdon Theatre
• 312 W. 36th St. (bet. 8th/9th)
• MAP

Theatre of the Diverse - A combination of dramatic and comedic sketches, scenes, and monologues. I take part in a couple of things again here, one of which will be a repeat from the Just for Giggles showcase; the other is only being done at Theatre of the Diverse.

• Monday February 25th 7:30 PM
• Admission: $25/$30 - TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE
• The Abingdon Theatre
• 312 W. 36th St. (bet 8th/9th)
• MAP

Stage Readings on 1/16 and 1/18

I will be taking part in two different readings next week.

The Society for Saving Men (formerly, Dick Shtick)

The first is a very intense play about men, masculinity, and gender role expectations in our society and runs the gamut from old to young, gay to straight to cross-dresser.

I read the part of Blake, who is a troubled, troubled young man with a drug problem and emotional issues. It's really far away from any part I've ever played. Since this isn't a full-scale production, all of the actors will essentially be reading from the scripts, so it's going to be a little different than what most of you would think of as theatre. As you can guess from the title, it's got a lot of profanity and fairly gruesome dialogue. I wouldn't suggest bringing the kiddies.

Here are the details:

• Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
• 6 PM (arrive around 5:45) and will be followed by a Q&A
• 1501 Broadway (at 44th, right next to the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square)
• 7th floor, Room 710
• Admission is FREE

If you would like to attend, please send me an email as there is very limited seating.

The Virgin, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The second is an emotional comedy that begs the question, can the Wicked Witch and the Virgin Mary be civil, let alone sisters? In a different take on the typical culture clash story, two estranged half-sisters, one Catholic and one Wiccan, struggle to fulfill their father's last wish in order to receive their inheritance and in the process challenge every belief either of them have ever known.

Again, this one is a reading and not a full production. I will be the Stage Reader and also read three character parts throughout the play. I haven't even seen the script in total yet, so I don't have much more to go on at this point than that.

Here are the details:

• Friday, January 18th, 2008
• 8 PM (arrive around 7:45)
• 12 W. 45th Street (Bet. 5th & 6th Aves.)
• 3rd Floor
• Suggested $5.00 donation for admission
  

Monologue Challenge Results!

I did not win the Monologue Challenge, but I did make the top 5 as a finalist! As we performed, the judges gave us ratings and the five highest-ranked actors were declared finalists. The audience members then cast ballots to pick the winner.

Unfortunately for all the rest of us, an adorable 70-ish-year-old woman took part and did a piece where she tells the story of how a man showed up, naked, in her room one day with a beautiful bracelet around his erect "pee-pee" as a token of his affection. She rejected him and the bracelet fell to the floor as its support was, ahem, deflated. It was hysterical and none of us really stood a chance at that point.

It would have been great to win, don't get me wrong, but it was definitely a step in the right direction. I made some contacts and I had a chance to make a good impression with some industry folks And it was a lot of fun, simply watching so many great monologues. Kudos to all who took part.

Upcoming Events

In the next several days, I will be posting some information on here and on my web site about upcoming events, in addition to the mass emails. Let me know at justin@justinhoch.com if you would like to subscribe.

Monologue Challenge - Jan. 7th @ 7:30 PM

I'm competing in a monologue competition! Judges pick the finalists, audience picks the winner! That means I need to you be there and cheer loud if I make it to the finals! And if I don't, at least you'll get to see a bunch of funny stuff and good acting. It's win-win.

If you want to go, tickets are $15 and they are VERY limited, so call soon and book them! 212-560-0991.

353 Studios
353 West 48th Street
2nd Floor(Between 8th and 9th)

Bring friends! Don't be late! Competition starts promptly at 7:30!

Here's the announcement:
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Limited to 30 Contestants! One-Minute Monologues

Winner will receive 3-months free membership into The Actor's Project NYC. A performance of that monologue in our February Industry Showcase. Two free Premium Seat Tickets to Theatre of the Diverse. A Free Agent/Actor Forum. Free 2-Session Private Coaching with Bobby Holder. A free Two-Look Session with a top New York Photographer (www.davecrossphotography.com) or Half-Off a Full Session. And a few more industry-related prizes!
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