Awilda Carbia

Infobox Musical artist


Img_size = 150
Name = Awilda Carbia
Img_capt = Awilda Carbia Portrait
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name =
Alias = Wiwi
Born = birth date and age|1938|1|30
Origin = flagicon|Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico
Instrument = Voice & Facial gestures
Genre = Comedy
Occupation = Actress, comedian, impersonator, television personality
Years_active = 1960's–present

Awilda Carbia (born January 30, 1938 in San Juan, Puerto Rico) is an actress, comedian, and impersonator.

Early years

Awilda Carbia, started her acting career as a child, without ever suspecting that later in her acting career, 1970s, she would portray a children's television show host that was called: "Estrella Galaxia", (Galaxy Star), broadcasted by WAPA-TV. Later, she abandoned the show, and her daughter, Puerto Rican television host, Mirayda Chávez, took over, and characterized "Estrellita Galaxia", (Little Galaxy Star).

1960s

During the 1960s, Carbia, performed as a comedian in several television shows, such as: "Rendevous Nocturno", produced by the late Cuban television producer: Tony Chiroldes, and "El "Show del Mediodía", (The Mid-day Show), produced by the Puerto Rican producer, Tommy Muñiz. Later, she became part of the cast of television sit coms in WAPA-TV in Puerto Rico, such as: "Ja, ja, ji, ji, jo, jo", (Ha,ha,he,he,ho,ho), with the late Puerto Rican comedian, Jose Miguel Agrelot, "Don Cholito", to whom the new Puerto Rican Coliseum, in Hato Rey, has recently been named after him.

1970s - "'1980s

In 1971, making a short turnabout in her career as a comedian, Carbia became the leading lady of the telenovela broadcast by WAPA-TV "El Silencio Nos Condena", (Silence Condemns Us), opposite Cuban leading man, "Eliseo Pereira". As the 1970s came about, there was an actor's strike in WAPA-TV, and the whole cast of comedians of Tommy Muñiz Productions, to which Awilda used to belong, created a new company, called "ASTRA". Together, they produced a different television comedy series called "Ahí Va Eso", (There it Goes), this time telecast by "Rikavision", channel 7, then WRIK-TV.

Later, Awilda, moved to Telemundo, and became the leading lady of her own television show inside the legendary music and comedy series that aired for 40 consecutive years, "El Show de las 12", (The 12 o'clock show). She was also featured in two comedy series: "La Encubierta Descubierta", (The Discovered Cover Up) and "Awilda lo Divierte", (Awilda Entertains You), as well as being a member of the comedy cast for "El Show de Chucho", (Chucho's Show). The latter was the #1 television show for many years.

Later, when Chucho Avellanet abandoned the show, Awilda Carbia, alongside Otilio Warrington, (Bizcocho) and Juan Manuel Lebron, took over the show, and from being the stars of the comedy cast, they became the stars of the show, then called: "Estudio Alegre", (Cheerful Studio) and later, "Musicomedia", (Musicomedy). She also starred, opposite Juan Manuel Lebron, Benito Mateo and Rosita Velázquez in the hit Sunday prime-time TV sit-com, "En Casa de Juanma y Wiwi" (At Juanma and Wiwi's House). She also starred in the celebrated Puerto Rican Spanish-language production of the musical comedy titled "40 Kilates" (40 Karats).

Awilda Carbia, starred in a new concept series of a one woman comedy act, titled: "Desconcierto". ("Desconcierto, in the Spanish language is literally the antonym of the word: "Concert"). She impersonated Puerto Rican celebrities such as: Myrta Silva, Carmita Jimenez, Lucecita Benitez, Yolandita Monge, & Nydia Caro, among many others. Carbia's, series of "Desconciertos", made their debut at the Tapia Theater in San Juan, and were performed in various theaters and night clubs of Puerto Rico such as: Caribe Hilton Hotel, and at the Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré in Santurce. "Desconcierto" kept running on stage for 15 consecutive years, in two month's seasons.

Then, in the late 1980s, Awilda Carbia, signed an exclusivity contract with WQII-TV, TeleOnce, and she produced her own weekly comedy series: "Soy Awilda", (I'm Awilda). It aired for three consecutive years.

Later, Carbia, accepted an offer from the late actress and producer: Lucy Boscana, to perform opposite her, in a dramatic television mini-series, in a leading role. It was filmed between Argentina & Puerto Rico, and it's titled: "Cita en Buenos Aires", (A Date in Buenos Aires).

1990s - 2003

On-Stage, she's performed the leading lady in many "Zarzuelas' (Spanish Operettas), comedies and musicals. She starred as Miss Adelaide in the 1991 Puerto Rican revival of "Guys & Dolls," opposite Ivan Rodríguez as Nathan Detroit, Osvaldo Ríos as Sky Masterson, and Cristina Arzuaga as Sarah Brown. The English-language production played at the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in San Juan.Carbia also joined her daughter "Myraida Chavez", in an original theater production staged throughout various locations around the island called, "Dos Mujeres de mi Tierra" {Two Women of my Land), acknowledging the poetry of Julia de Burgos, and the music of Sylvia Rexach.

In 1998, she performed the multiple leading roles of the Puerto Rican comedy play: "Lo Mejor está por Venir", (The Best is yet to Come) where she portrayed three different women characters.

"Al derecho y al revés", (Upright and the other way round), "Salvemos los delfines", (Save the dolphins), "Cosas de papi y mami", (Daddy & Mommy's things), "Teatruras de gala", (Gala Ball of theater belongings), "Morisquetas", (Grimaces) & "Nacionalmente correcta", (Nationally correct) were among the theater productions Carbia performed as the leading lady.

In 1999, she returned to television, through Telemundo, Channel 2, starring in a new sit-com called: "Los Seijo Díaz", (The Seijo Diaz family), again opposite Juan Manuel Lebron. It aired through 2003.

Later years

In 2005, she performed one of the leading roles, in the Puerto Rican Film: "El Sueño del Regreso", (The Dream of a Come Back) produced and directed by the Puerto Rican film director: Luis Molina Casanova. Also, she performed on stage, as a serious actress, portraying Hellen Keller, in a drama stage production at the Raul Julia Theater, in Santurce.

Then, in 2007, she starred in the Puerto Rican musical: "Fuego a la Lata", (Fire Blast) at the Angel O. Berríos Performing Arts Center in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

Presently, Awilda Carbia is the guest comedy star of the daily television talk show "Contigo", (With you) broadcasted by "Tu Universo Television", WIPR-TV, channel 6, where the leading host is her daughter "Myraida Chavez". In addition to her guest appearances, she hosts her own daily talk show on radio station 940-AM.

ee also

*List of famous Puerto Ricans
*List of notable residents of San Juan, Puerto Rico
*Paquito Cordero
*Juan Manuel Lebrón

External links

*http://www.prpop.org/biografias/a_bios/awilda_carbia.shtml
*http://www.prpop.org/noticias/mar07/awilda_carbia_mar09.shtml
*http://www.phase9.tv/movies/elsuenodelregresso.shtml
*http://www.aarp.org/aarp_benefits/natl_events/puerto_rico/speakers/awilda_carbia.html