MANCHESTER – A new video production by Ricardo Garcia, a Leisure Village West (LVW) resident who last year brought that community together as cast and crew members of the telenovela soap spoof “Where is my Guacamole?” followed up that hit with “The Golden Playground.”
That production which also involves seniors in LVW and beyond recently premiered at a clubhouse at LVW. The project was showcased with a red-carpet event that Garcia called, “nothing short of spectacular.” It featured a star-studded parade that culminated in a moving tribute to the celebrated Venezuelan director and actor.
Garcia had also played the role of Pancho (Guacamole) last year when he got the community of LVW involved as cast members and production assistants for his outrageous spoof of a Spanish soap opera, “Where Is My Guacamole?”
Garcia knows a lot about that genre having appeared in several telenovelas. “I worked for Telemundo television and have been working in the entertainment business for years. First, I was an actor and I worked in soap operas in Venezuela and I came here to the United States.”
He told The Manchester Times that he “was working in TV and I wanted to produce and so I went to a school here. I went to the New York Academy.”
Later he formed his own social group – the Latin American Group – and made his soap spoof a key project that brought the club together to have fun.
More recently, during a Latin American Group celebration worthy of a Hollywood premiere, Garcia was honored with an “Oscar” statuette, marking a moment both memorable and moving for his involvement with his video projects. His response touched the hearts of those present:
“I have received many international awards as an actor and director of theater and television, but this is one of the most important because it is given to me by luminous beings from the heart,” Garcia said.
He said, “this magical event is nothing more than a reflection of the phenomenon that is The Golden Playground. The cast of older adults, most of them new to acting, has dared to show that talent has no age, turning this series into a viral hit on YouTube with thousands of views and comments.”
Ricardo Garcia, left, prepares to photograph cast members of his latest production, “The Golden Playground” in a scene shot at Horicon Lake in Lakehurst. (Photo courtesy Ricardo Garcia)
“It is the first time in the United States that a blockbuster of this magnitude has been made with a senior cast,” he added. Garcia serves as director of the project and production assistance is proved by “the talented Andrea Destefano and Barbara Jewkes. This comedy has won plaudits from critics and celebrities alike.”
Garcia said, “it is worth mentioning that ‘We Are One’ is not just entertainment. It is an inspiring movement that encourages older adults to be protagonists in the media and on social platforms, transmitting a message of togetherness, love and a lot of joy.”
Cast members of “The Golden Playground” include township residents Rae Tutela, Linda Plati, Linda Labita, Maria Walter, John Walter, Carmen Genovese, Pete Jewkes, Barbara Jewkes, Karen Mc Ginley, Karen Ochs, Brenda Christian, Lou Venezia, Barabara Owens, Donna Rathbun and Barbara Genovese.
The adventure won’t end in LVW. Garcia is taking “The Golden Playground” to other corners of Ocean County. He said he was “ready to bring our infectious enthusiasm to the communities of Toms River, Manchester, Lakewood, Lakehurst, Brick and more. And now is your chance to join the cast! We are opening casting for all those seniors who wish to be part of this wonderful comedy.”
“If your dream is to act or be part of our production, don’t think twice. Contact us and reserve your seat on ‘The Golden Playground’ school bus! For all our followers and future fans, the invitation is open: subscribe to our WeAreOneRG YouTube channel, leave your comments and join the celebration of our great success. Get ready to be part of something truly extraordinary,” Garcia added.
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