Andrés López Forero

Infobox actor
name = Andrés López


caption = Andrés López, considered the pioneer of "stand-up comedy" in his country
birthname = Andrés López Forero
birthdate = birth date|1971|6|25|mf=y
birthplace = Bogotá, Colombia
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
yearsactive =
spouse =
website = http://www.andreslopez.com

Andrés López, (born June 25, 1971 in Bogotá, Colombia), comedian, actor, considered the pioneer of "stand-up comedy" in his country. Lopez gained notoriety in Colombia after releasing his show called "La Pelota de Letras" ("The Ball of Letters") which earned him a Double Diamond award from Universal Music.

Beginning of his Career

As a student of Systems Engineering and Anthropology 1990 he started performing in the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá. Later the University assigned a classroom for him to teach the art of stand-up comedy to people interested in performing dramatic and comedic theater. He also created the University Newspaper “El Mercurio” where there was room for people to express themselves artistically by placing their stories, paintings, poems and photographs.

Later he went to Toronto to study Experiential education and became a dedicated reader and a researcher of human behavior. Lopez returned to Colombia to work at "La Mega RCN". A pop-music radio station which was aimed mainly at young people. There he became a creative force by developing many comedy skits such as 'Tratame Suavemente' (Treat me Softly) better known as 'Catalina y mi Andy', 'Juan Bracitos' (Juan Little Arms), 'Jason Libardo' and many others for the morning show also known as El Mañanero. On 2008 he uploaded new material of those skits on iTunes.

Due to the rising popularity of the morning show it was given its own TV show by RCN TV. Pido La Parola, as this show was called was mainly based on sketches, spoofs and prank calls, many of which were led by Andrés López.

Theater Plays

López has also been performing in various venues as part of the cast. In 1998 he performed in the Colombian version of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare or “Las Obras de William Shakespeare” directed by Juan Angel and co-starred by David Guerrero and Fernando Solórzano. Andrés played Juliet Capulet, Desdemona, Lady Macbeth, Ophelia and other Shakespearian women on this work.

In 2003 the show changed its name to “The Royal Shakespeare Criollo” and later changed it again to “Shakespeare para locos”. The original version by the Reduced Shakespeare Company was first performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1987 and is London's longest-running comedy.

Recent career

López's most recognized show "The Ball of Letters"-"La Pelota de Letras" consists of a subtle sociological analysis of life in Colombian families between the 1960's and the 2000's. In the first two years, more than 900,000 people attended his shows since his first appearance at the Hard Rock Cafe Bogota in the beginning of 2004. In 2005 and 2006, when he opened a concert with 44,000 guests, he was given a standing ovation after the show.

More than 400 sold out shows at the National Theater, Teatro Nacional, 5 tours around Colombia and more than 350 private shows for companies. Andres has performed in many cities in Colombia and internationally.

In 2005 he won the “HOLA” Award for the "Outstanding Solo Performance" after his sold out shows in New York and Miami

In December 2005, he launched, "La Pelota de Letras" on DVD in the Hard Rock Cafe Bogota under the Universal Music Colombia label .

On March 2 of 2006 Andrés López was presented with a Diamond DVD from Universal Music Group. [ [http://www.universalmusic.com.co/artistas-ver.php?ID=279 Universal Music Group "Andrés López - La Pelota de Letras"] ] [ [http://www.colombianitos.org/english/pelota_letras.htm Colombianitos] ] Attending this celebration was singer Wilfrido Vargas. By the end of 2006 Lopez had sold more than 100,000 DVDs, and the "Ball of Letters" is now the best selling DVD in Colombia.

López began his international tour in July 2006 performing in the cities: Los Angeles at the Alex Theatre [ [http://www.alextheatre.org/ Alex Theater] ] ; Panamá at Teatro Balboa; Quito at Teatro Nacional; Toronto at the John Bassett Theater [ [http://colombiaencanada.ca/lapelotadeletras/ Colombia en Canada] ] ; New York at the Town Hall [ [http://www.the-townhall-nyc.org/ The Town Hall NYC] ] ; Miami at James L. Knight Center [ [http://www.jlkc.com/ James L Knight Center] ] ; Greenville at the Peace Center [ [http://www.peacecenter.org/show.asp?ProductID=768 Peace Center] ] ; Madrid at Teatro Gran Via and Palacio de Congresos de Madrid; Houston at Stafford Center [ [http://www.staffordcentre.com/ Stafford Center] ] ; Orlando at Osceola Performing Arts Center and Atlanta at the Center Stage Theater. An average of 1,500 people attended these shows.

On April 23, 2007 Andrés launched a new DVD called "Me Pido La Ventana" ("I have the Window!", as he translates it). On the same day Andrés López was presented with a Double Diamond DVD from Universal Music Group.

From May to June 2007 Andrés performed in Spain, the biggest Latin comedy tour after the famous Les Luthiers [ [http://www.atrapalo.com/espectaculos/evento-12624-la-pelota-de-las-letras--de-andres-lopez `La pelota de las letras´- de Andrés López - Teatro en Barcelona - Atrapalo.com ] ] [ [http://www.latinoamericaexterior.com/hemeroteca.php?num=052&seccion=noticias&cat=Inmigracion&subcat=Catalunya&id=1378 El cómico colombiano Andrés López triunfa en los escenarios españoles con su ‘Pelota de las Letras’ ] ]

On July 2007 Andrés was presented with another Diamond DVD from Universal Music Group. Andrés López sold more than 70,000 DVDs of "Me Pido la Ventana", his second DVD, since its launching on April 2007.

On September 2007 Andrés toured USA with Me Pido la Ventana: Orlando, FL at Bob Carr Performing Art Center [15] ; Queens, NY at Colden Auditorium Queens College; Elizabeth, NJ at The Ritz Theatre and Performing Arts Center; Atlanta, GA at Center Stage [16] ; Houston, TX at Stafford Center Theatre [17] and in Boston, MA at The Symphony Hall [18] where he performed "La Pelota de Letras".

News

Andrés López is the official voice for the MTV Latinamerican Awards 2008. Premios MTV Latinoamérica will take place on October 16, 2008 in Guadalajara, Mexico

Since the end of 2007, Andres is part of the agency William Morris [ [http://www.wma.com/andres%5Flopez/summary/ William Morris Agency ] ] . In January 19, 2008 for the first time a Colombian, Andrés López, performed on a Festival sponsored by IMPROV, Comedy Central, The Miami Herald and others, at The Fillmore, The Jackie Gleason Theatre 7:30pm.

More information at: South Beach Comedy Festival [ [http://www.southbeachcomedyfestival.com/comedians.php?comedian=13 South Beach Comedy Festival | Jan 16-19 2008 ] ]

Andrés performed with other comedians like Kathy Griffin, nominated to the Emmy Awards and famous for been the cast on the show Suddenly Susan, Brooke Shields. Other Comedians: Dave Attell, Jeff Dunham, Jeffrey Ross, Katt Williams, Kristina Wong, Lous C.K., Ralphie May and Stephen Lynch.

Media

According to Revista Semana, López is one of the 40 Most Influential People in Colombia under 40. [ [http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?IdArt=87076 Revista Semana: Los 40 menores de 40. Semana Magazzine: "40 younger than 40"] ]

The most important newspaper in Colombia, El Tiempo, has also described his show "The Ball of Letters"-"La Pelota de Letras" as:

"The performance portrays the customs of recent generations of Colombians, which is better than any sociology study".

On December 2007, El Tiempo and the Ministry of Culture gave an award to the 10 most important artist of the last 10 years, Andrés was ranked fifth.

Other Activities

López has created a motivational speech product for employees which includes parts of his shows and these products have been used by businesses to bring about radical internal changes.

Companies using López include: Hewlett-Packard, Alquería, Oracle Corporation, Roche, Microsoft, Merck & Co., IBM, The Coca-Cola Company, BAT, Unilever, Grupo Santander, Porvenir, ETB, Pharmacia, Pfizer, Intel Corporation, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Nestlé, Avantel, Alpina, Bavaria, Altria Group, Colsubsidio and more.

López has also taken part in numerous talk shows, hosting TV programs as well as a multitude of interviews on TV and radio; he has also written for newspapers and various magazines.

Scientology

Andres became a Scientologist in 2003. Today he performs conferences about the booklet "The way to happiness", written by the founder of the Church of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard.

Lopez is an active member of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, CCHR. In Colombia he fights against the use of Psychiatric Drugs on children.

In August 2006, Andres Lopez attended the 37th Anniversary Gala at the Celebrity Centre International in Hollywood, California. [ [http://www.scientology.org.za/articles/608082142532.vm Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Hosts 37th Anniversary Gala ] ] He also visited the headquarter office of The Way to Happiness in Glendale, California.

In October 2006, Andrés López attended a meeting of the IAS, International Association of Scientologists, in the United Kingdom. He was presented with the plaque of "Patron".

Since Andres began speaking of Scientology in Colombia, the media has been conducted many articles and interviews about this belief. [ [http://www.canalrcn.com/noticias/index.php?op=info&idC=29696&idP=119&idS=749 Canal RCN - Noticias RCN ] ] [ [http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?IdArt=88464 Articulo Archivado Los nuevos creyentes ] ]

Notes

References

* [http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?IdArt=64617 Revista Semana: Un mes para morirse de la risa] (Revista Semana - "A month to die laughing")
* [http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?IdArt=90375 Revista Semana: La pelota de letras] (Revista Semana - "The Ball of Letters")
* [http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?IdArt=88261 Revista Semana: Ditcionario de etspresiones colombianizadas] (Revista Semana - "Ditcionary of Colombianized etspressions" [sic, the bad grammar is intentionally in the original] )
* [http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?IdArt=88464 Revista Semana- Cienciologia: Los nuevos creyentes] (Revista Semana - "Scientology: the new believers")
* [http://www.semana.com/wf_InfoArticulo.aspx?IdArt=87076 Revista Semana: Los 40 menores de 40] (Revista Semana - "40 younger than 40")
* [http://www.eltiempo.com/cultura/2007-02-12/ARTICULO-WEB-NOTA_INTERIOR-3434922.html El Tiempo: Andrés López cuenta su época de adolescente y universitario en su nuevo DVD 'Me pido la ventana'] (El Tiempo - "Andres Lopez talks about his adolescence and college student time in his new DVD "I have the Window")
* [http://66.119.67.254/noticias/articulo/html/act617671.htm terra.com.co: Comediante Andrés López juega con idioma en "La pelota de letras"] (Terra Networks - "Comedian Andres Lopez plays with language in the "Ball of Letters")
* [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:fy6EVYxQhFQJ:www.elperiodicodelsur.com/sur/paginas/personajes.html+Andr%C3%A9s+L%C3%B3pez+comediante&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=10&gl=us El Periodico del Sur - Personajes: Andres Lopez] (El Periodico del Sur - "Characters: Andres Lopez")
* [http://www.cali.gov.co/index.php?servicio=Noticias&funcion=ver&id=6205 Gobierno de Cali: METROCALI INVITA A UN ENCUENTRO CON ANDRÉS LOPEZ] (Government of Cali - "MetroCali invites to a meeting with Andres Lopez")
* [http://www.terra.com.co/bogota/nuestro_invitado_recomienda/19-05-2003/nota89963.html terra.com.co: Andrés López, Cuando la rutina es hacer stand-up comedy] (Terra Networks - "Andres Lopez, when routine is to do stand-up comedy")
* [http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:t2Z_qypFZtoJ:www.eltiempo.com/cultura/2006-11-09/ARTICULO-PRINTER_FRIENDLY-PRINTER_FRIENDLY-3318773.html+Andr%C3%A9s+L%C3%B3pez+comediante&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=32&gl=us Andrés López demandó a comediante que presentó adaptación de 'La pelota de letras' en Venezuela] (El Tiempo - "Andres Lopez sued comedian that presented an adaptation of the 'Ball of Letters' in Venezuela")
* [http://www.universalmusic.com.co/artistas-ver.php?ID=279 Universal Music: Andrés López - La Pelota de Letras] (Universal Music Group - "Andres Lopez, The Ball of Letters")
* [http://www.colombiaespasion.com/VBeContent/NewsDetail.asp?ID=4239&IDCompany=1 Colombia es pasion: El humor nacional rueda por el mundo en una pelota] (Colombia is passion: "National humour rolls through out the world on a ball")
* [http://www.colombia.com/entretenimiento/noticias/DetalleNoticia2777.asp Colombia.com: "Una Pelota de Letras" para recordar buenos y divertidos tiempos] (Colombia.com - "A Ball of Letters to remember good and fun times")
* [http://www.eltiempo.com.ve/noticias/default.asp?id=92381 El Tiempo (Venezuela): Autor denunció plagio de pieza en Venezuela] (El Tiempo (Venezuela) - "Author denounced plagiarism of piece in Venezuela")

External links

* The following sites are forwarded to the [http://www.glfventure.com/AndresLopez/index.html official web page] :
** [http://www.andreslopez.com www.AndresLopez.com]
** [http://www.lapelotadeletras.com www.LaPelotadeLetras.com]
** [http://www.pelotadeletras.com www.pelotadeletras.com]
** [http://www.mepidolaventana.com www.mepidolaventana.com]

* Blog [http://lapelotadeletras.blogspot.com BLOG Andrés López and La Pelota de letras]
* My Space [http://www.myspace.com/andreslopezcolombia Comedian Profile Andrés López]
* Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Andres-Lopez/7272131671 Comedian Profile Andrés López]

ee also

*List of comedians
*List of stand-up comedians