Hollywood Chola

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This show is phenomenal. Funny. Raw. Real. I laughed and cried. Performance was perfect. Yelyna is so talented. This is definitely a must see! ... full review

Watching Yelyna tear the stage up like the powerhouse that she is was incredible! This is a story that NEEDS to be told, and folks NEED to listen. I was blown away by her seamless ability to blend her original music, her original story, and her immense well of talent together. I left feeling inspired by Yelyna's truth and unapologetic stage presence. Run, don't walk, to see Hollywood Chola! ... full review

Get in line to cheer and applaud Yelyna De Leon as she looks to remove herself from the Hollywood "Chola" stereotypes of filmdom, while battling Hollywood racism, xenophobia, and infuriating, old-fashioned toxic masculinity. Therapy may not cure everything, but it's front and center in award-winning Josefina Lopez's latest one-woman play, where Xochi Sanchez (De Leon) deals with a court-ordered therapy session-turned personal revelation. With an awesome soundtrack of original hip-hop and rap, Hollywood Chola is an important and passionate look into stereotypical HOLLYWOOD film rolls and the need for, not just the industry, but us all to rise higher to present the Latin community the respect and grace they rightfully deserve. ... full review

Hollywood Chola delivers exactly what the title promises—and so much more. Funny, insightful, authentic, and incredibly entertaining, this one-woman show takes audiences on a captivating journey through actress Yelyna De León's career in Hollywood. With humor, heart, and honesty, Yelyna shares her experiences of repeatedly being cast as a "chola" while fighting to be seen as more than a stereotype in the entertainment industry. Her storytelling is sharp, relatable, and inspiring, offering a powerful look at identity, perseverance, and representation. What makes this show truly special is Yelyna herself—charismatic, talented, and magnetic from start to finish. And the music? Absolutely infectious. You'll find yourself dancing in your se... full review

Yelyna shines in this funny, fearless, and surprisingly timely story of a Latina actress who keeps getting cast as gang members and criminals—until one day life decides to get a little too method. Written by Josefina Lopez, the play follows an actress whose professional expertise in looking “suspicious” eventually results in her being mistaken for the very stereotype Hollywood keeps paying her to portray. When reality imitates art, she finds herself in court-mandated anger management. Because apparently being Latina in America can occasionally be a full-contact sport. What follows is a smart, entertaining, and often hilarious examination of the assumptions people make when they see a brown face. The script deftly weaves history, comedy... full review

It was a strong portrayal of the very real battles that BIPOC artists have to fight against hurtful, limiting and persistent stereotyping in the creative industries.... full review