2012 is off to a killer start. I feel so blessed and fortunate to be in the position I am right now. Yes, I have a ridiculously busy schedule on my plate but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Coming into this year, I was mentally prepping myself for all the work I was going to be putting in. I’m doing a show at Second City called 3x3x3 with my buddies Chris and Steve where we each write an original, 10-minute one-act play every week for 8 weeks based on audience suggestions (for example, this week I got Action: Fist Pumping, Relationship: Tom & Jerry, Title of Play: “The Banana Splitters”…which, needless to say, turned into a live cartoon). It’s an insane process but also unbelievably fun.

On top of that, I’m rehearsing for a sketch show that opens in February, I’m headed to Gainesville with Promise Ring for the annual improv festival down there, and I was lucky enough to be placed on a Harold team at iO. As if this weren’t enough, I received a voicemail as I landed in Miami for the holidays asking if I’d be interested in filling in for a Second City Communications gig in Virginia. Turns out, it was an annual Rookie Development event with Major League Baseball. I jumped at the chance and had an absolute blast! Apparently, they were in need of a Spanish-speaking actor/improviser since they have a “Latin Day” for all the Hispanic players.

I can humbly say that my Cuban roots along with some connections with fellow Hispanic performers who put in a good word helped me get this amazing gig. I met tons of young rookies who were incredibly nice, especially the Hispanic players who, after watching me in the Latin Program as “Carlos the Rookie,” shouted out at me for the rest of the week saying things such as “Oye, Carlito!”, “Heyyy, Miami!!!” or “Cuba, que bola?!” It was a beautiful brotherhood: they respected me for being able to make things up on the spot and be “funny”; I respected them for their athletic ability to hit/throw a 100mph fastball.

Here are some photos from the trip:

The view from the Lansdowne Resort in Virgina.

MLB Swag!

Reppin’ the home team!

Trip to DC and a view of the White House.

Faux MLB interview.

The whole gang. Where’s Eddie?

Let’s keep ‘em coming, 2012! :)