Andrés López

Andrés López (born June 25, 1971 in Bogota, Colombia) is a comedian and actor. He is considered a pioneer of stand-up comedy in Colombia. 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-Colombia. Beginning of his career As a student of Systems Engineering and Anthropology 1990 he began 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 theatre. He also created the University Newspaper "El Mercurio" which provided a vessel for people to express themselves artistically by placing their stories, paintings, poems and photographs. Andres traveled to Toronto, Canada to study Experiential Education and became a dedicated reader and a researcher of human behavior. He 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. In 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 Shakespearean 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 Andres most recognized stand-up comedy 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. More than 2,500,000 people attended his shows since his first appearance at the Hard Rock Cafe Bogota in the beginning of 2004. In 2005, 2006 and 2010, he opened concerts with more than 44,000 guests and was given a standing ovation after the shows. To date, he has performed more than 1500 sold out shows in Colombia and other countries, with 10 tours around Colombia and more than 500 private shows for companies. In December 2005 he launched La Pelota de Letras on DVD at the Hard Rock Cafe Bogota under the Universal Music label. International Tours Andres began the "La Pelota de Letras" international tour in July 2006 performing in the cities: Los Angeles at the Alex Theatre; Panamá at Teatro Balboa; Quito at Teatro Nacional; Toronto at the John Bassett Theatre; New York at the Town Hall; Miami at James L. Knight Center; Greenville at the Peace Centre; Madrid at Teatro Gran Vía and Palacio de Congresos de Madrid; Houston at Stafford Centre; Orlando at Osceola Performing Arts Centre and Atlanta at the Centre Stage Theatre. An average of 1,500 people attended each show. On April 23, 2007 Andrés launched a new DVD called Me Pido La Ventana (I have the Window!). On the same day Andrés was presented with a Double Diamond DVD from Universal Music Group. From May to June 2007 Andrés performed in Spain. It was the biggest Latin comedy tour after the famous Les Luthiers. On September 2007 Andrés toured the USA with Me Pido la Ventana: Orlando, FL at Bob Carr Performing Art Center; Queens, NY at Colden Auditorium Queens College; Elizabeth, NJ at The Ritz Theatre and Performing Arts Center; Atlanta, GA at Center Stage; Houston, TX at Stafford Center Theatre and in Boston, MA at The Symphony Hall where he performed "La Pelota de Letras". On January 19, 2008 for the first time, a Colombian artist Andrés, performed in the South Beach Comedy Festival sponsored by IMPROV, Comedy Central, The Miami Herald and others, at The Fillmore, The Jackie Gleason Theatre 7:30pm, Jan 16-19 2008 Andrés performed with comedian Kathy Griffin, and others, Dave Attell, Jeff Dunham, Jeffrey Ross, Katt Williams, Kristina Wong, Louis C.K., Ralphie May and Stephen Lynch. In January 2008 Andres toured Spain with Me Pido la Ventana. In 2008 Andrés also performed in San José, Costa Rica and Toronto, Montreal and London, Canada. On December 2008 for the first time Andres performed in Mexico City at Lunario.25, November 2008, The Second Commission of the Senate of the Republic of Colombia presented Andres Lopez with the Order of Merit to the Democracy in the Degree of Great Gentlemen. 2009 January and March 2009. Andrés begins the international tour of "Frutica Picada" at the Intercontinental West Hotel , West Palm Beach, FL and at Teatro Byron Carly , Miami Beach, FL, Hotel Crown Plaza, Fort Myers, FL March 7 2009, together with other celebrities he performs "Un Día por la Paz" /One day for the peace" in Cartagena, Colombia June 2009 and August 15 and 19 launches at the Hotel Dann Carlton, Bogotá a Seminar to teach "Successful Comedy in Business and Life" / "La Comedia Exitosa en los Negocios y en la Vida". June 2009, Costa Rica at the Teatro Mélico Salazar "Flutica Picada" was sold out weeks before the show. June, 26 & 27 2009 López performs "Frutica Picada" at the Teatro Stage Fest , Queens, NY "and "La Pelota de Letras 1000 Version" and August 8 at West Palm Beach, FL July 31 and 1, 2 of August 2009 he performs "Frutica Picada" at the Teatro Metropolitano in Medellín and September 20 at the Teatro Consuegra Higgins in Barranquilla. November 4t, 2009. The show proceeds from the show "La Pelota de Letras 1000 Version" were donated to the Colombian Red Cross to benefit children and youth that live and in the street. The December 2009 López produces and launches the new DVD "We are the Comedians" "Somos los Comediantes" with other Colombian comedians. López performs "Frutica Picada" in Venezuela from August to November 2009 with huge success and sold out shows, in Margarita, Caracas, Maracay, Valencia, Maracaibo, Mérida, San Cristóbal, Barquisimeto and Puerto Ordaz He closes 2009 with a special Christmas show at the Teatro Astor Plaza, Bogotá. 2010 January to March 2010 season of "Frutica Picada" in Colombia, Pereira, Barranquilla and Armenia. March 2, 2010. Tour in Australia 2011. In Melbourne, Australia 29 of April, he performed "La Pelota de Letras 1000" at Athenaeum Theater. Brisbane, Australia 30 of April, "La Pelota de Letras 1000" at The Trivoli. Sydney, Australia, 1 of May, La "Pelota de Letras 1000" Enmore Theatre Newtoun as part of the Sydney Comedy Festival. Tour Venezuela 2012 May 13, 14 "La Pelota de Letras" and May 15 with "Frutica Picada" at Santa Rosa de Lima Theater, Caracas Venezuela. In 2012 Andrés performed "La Pelota de Letras Recargada" (The Ball of Letters Recharged) and "Me Pido la Ventana con Frutica Picada" (I Want the Window with Sliced Fruit) in Venezuela in the cities of San Cristobal and Barquisimeto. He also performed in Bucaramanga, Colombia and in the United States; Los Angeles, Orlando, Miami, Charlotte, New Jersey and Boston. In 2013 he launched the Stand-Up Comedy show "Llegar a Marte" with means "Landing on Mars" but also "Llegar a Amarte" which is monophonic means "Falling in Love". He tours Colombia performing in Bogotá, Medellín, Manizales, Bucaramanga, Ibagué, Armenia, Barranquilla, Montería, Cartagena and Cali. He has performed the new show in Guatemala, Costa Rica, Miami, Orlando, Washington and Houston. In 2014 Andrés performed La Pelota de Letras for the first time in Buenos Aires Argentina and was invited to perform a comedy sketch in Palermo University. Recent Tours In 2014, Andrés López performs Llegar A Marte in Costa Rica, Panamá and Bogotá. In 2014 and 2015 Andrés celebrate 10 years of La Pelota de Letras, Colombia's longest-running stand-up comedy show. He performed in Bogotá in 2014. In 2015 he performed in Bucaramanga, Cali, Miami and Bogotá. In Bogotá will also performed Llegar A Marte. In 2014, 2015 and 2016 Andrés performed with the Bogota Symphonic Orchestra where he combined comedy and classic music in public events for the City of Bogotá. In 2016 he performs his shows Llegar a Marte and La Pelota de Letras Recargada in the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and in Colombia in the cities of Barranquilla, Pereira and Pasto. From June to August and December he performs both shows in Bogota, Colombia. He also performs both shows in Houston, Los Ángeles, Quito, Cuenca, Miami, New York, Medellín and Tampa. In 2017 he performed with the Symphonic Orchestra of the Maestro Andrés Cristancho in Bogota, Colombia. In May and June of 2017 Andrés performed in the US his shows Llegar a Marte and La Pelota de Letras Recargada at Miramar Cultural Center in Miramar, FL; Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale; Palm Beach Central High School in West Palm Beach, FL; South-Dade Cultural Arts Center in Miami, FL; Clarion International Airport in Orlando, FL; State Theatre in Washington, DC; Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago, IL; McGlohon Theatre and Booth Playhouse in Charlotte, NC; Rich Theater in Atlanta, GA; Ritz Theatre in Elizabeth, NJ; Miller Theater in New York City, NY; Stafford Centre in Houston, TX; Grapevine Place Arts in in Dallas, TX; Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach, FL. Movie Actor He was the main character in the movie "De Rolling por Colombia" by Director Harold Trompetero. He also records in 2014 the movie De Rolling por Colombia 2. Por un Sueño Mundialista (Rolling in Colombia. For a World Cup Dream) where he performs nine main characters in the movie. ------------------------------------------------------------ Voice Actor In 2016 Andrés López doubles the voice of Max, the main character of the Spanish version of the movie The Secret Life of Pets. A movie by Illumination Entertainment and Universal Studios Entertainment Hollywood. In 2017 he doubles the voice of Buddy, the main character of the movie Rock Dog a film produced by Mandoo Pictures and Huayi Brothers. ------------------------------------------------------------ TV Broadcasting Between May and June 2010 RCN, Colombian Television Network, aired "La Pelota de Letras". They received their highest ratings for the week. "Frutica Picada" was aired exclusively on OnDIRECTV, from 11 to 14 of June to the countries: Argentina, Peru, Chile, Venezuela, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, Uruguay and the Caribbean. DirecTV officially published a document on its website that indicates that the show had the highest rating in Latin-America in June and July second only to the Opening of the World Cup FIFA 2010. Writer August 2010. López launches at the Book Fair in Bogotá his book "La Pelota de Letras, manuscrito original" with the editor Ediciones B, according to President of Ediciones B, Philippe Vergnaud, the book was the most sold book at the fair. Host On October 16, 2008 Andrés López was part of the host at the MTV Latin American Awards 2008 which took place in Guadalajara, Mexico. In 2010 and 2012 Andrés López was the host and performed his Stand-Up Comedy at the International Humor festival for Caracol Television, Colombian Television Network. This festival has been on air every year since 1982. 2011 In January 2011 DirecTV bought the rights from Caracol Television to air the International Humor Festival where Andrés was the host. On 2013, DirecTV Latin America launched the first and second season of the Talk Show "Andrés López de Noche" (Andres Lopez at Night). Andrés López role as host with interviews of the most influential show business people in Latin America. Also in 2014 he records the third season of Andrés López de Noche. In 2016 he was the host of the Colombian version of Big Shots, Grandes Chicos. TV show produced by RCN Televisión Colombia. In 2016 he was also the creative director of the campaign for ACT II popcorn for all Latin America. Andrés López created a video shown at the 58th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards as an introduction to the awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Marketing Campaigns In 2014 Andrés was also the image of the marketing campaign to promote in Latin America the shows "Duck Dynasty" for A&E and "Brooklyn Nine Nine" for TBS. He also was the image of the marketing campaign of the product Ariel Pods and Minigols for P&G. López has been on TV Campaigns for "Video On Demand" for Comcast, "Family Talk with Roll Over" for AT&T, Long Distance calls in USA for Orbitel. Andrés performed to golfers at the Club Country de Bogota as a welcome to the Nationwide Tour after the Celebrity Pro-Am of Juan Pablo Montoya to the benefit of Formula Sonrisas and Camilo Villegas Fund. Andrés was invited by Connie Freydell to play golf at the Celebrity Pro-Am but Robert Gould played for him and Andrés was his caddie at the tournament. On April 10, 2010 Andrés performs a Stand-Up Comedy show at the Plaza de Bolívar Bogotá for a Red Bull event, where David Coulthard did a show with his Formula 1 car. Since April 2009, Andrés has been focused on entertaining his followers via Twitter and Facebook where he has more than 2,000,000 fans, making him one of the most followed Colombian celebrities. He has been creating series like #NiñaFresa, Insulto Subrepticio del Día #ISdD and #Divide2. In 2016 he promoted the campaign by McDonald's to collect plastic cups to raise awareness about abandoned animals in Colombia. He promote the movie La La Land in Colombia and the ASUS products in Colombia. Awards In 2005 he won the "HOLA" Award for the "Outstanding Solo Performance" after his sold out shows in New York and Miami On March 2 of 2006 Andrés López was presented with a Diamond DVD from Universal Music Group. 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. On April 23, 2007 Andrés López was presented with a Double Diamond DVD from Universal Music Group for La Pelota de Letras DVD. 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. December 5, 2006 was presented with the Premio Orquidea USA for best international talent 2006. On January 1,.2008 Andrés was presented with the award "The 10 people of the culture" by El Tiempo Newspaper and the Ministry of Culture On November 2008, The Second Commission of the Senate of the Republic of Colombia presented Andres Lopez with the Order of Merit to the Democracy in the Degree of Great Gentlemen. Other awards: "ON Award to the Creative Mind" by Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, Cali Colombia. Recognitions by Casa Militar de la Presidencia de la República de Colombia, Ministerio de Defensa Nacional de Colombia, Ejército Nacional, Base Aérea Palanquero, Dirección de Protección y Servicios Especiales de la Policía Nacional de Colombia, Escuela Naval de Suboficiales de Barranquilla, Cuarta Brigada de Medellín, Central de Inteligencia Militar, Comando de Apoyo Logístico de la Infantería de Marina. Media According to Revista Semana, López is one of the 40 Most Influential People in Colombia under 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. Since March 14, 2010 Andrés is the appointed messenger for the Prevention of Crime, a project lead by United Nations in Colombia. September 2010 Andrés is part of the campaign "Sexuality with Sense" "Sexualidad con Sentido" lead and financed by Ministry of Social Protection and the Population Found of United Nations (UNFPA), Ministry of National Education Special Programs of the Presidency. In 2016 Andrés López performed a special event in Guayaquil, Ecuador. The show proceeds from the show were donated to the international Ronald McDonald House Charities. 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.