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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