Los Angeles, CA--(HISPANIC PR WIRE)--August 31, 2004--Rick Najera's hit comedy LATINOLOGUES(TM) received the prestigious Image Award for Best Live Theatrical Performance at the 19th Annual Image Awards Gala in Beverly Hills on Thursday August 26, 2004 by The Imagen Foundation, a non-profit organization recognizing the positive portrayal of Latinos in the entertainment industry. The Image Awards have become one of the most prestigious award programs in the entertainment industry and exemplify the best of what Hollywood can produce in portraying Latinos.

"It is a great honor to receive this award and to be recognized for all the hard work," comments writer, director, and creator of LATINOLOGUES(TM) Rick Najera. "This show has been a platform for many careers and I'm proud to have created an outlet where Latinos can participate and showcase their skills as actors."

Also nominated with LATINOLOGUES(TM) in the category for Best Live Theatrical Production were Cesar and Ruben produced by Ed Begley Jr., Culture Clash's "Chavez Ravine" and Abuelo's Legacy. Placido Domingo was honored during the evening with a Lifetime Achievement Award and a Norman Lear Writer's Award was given to John Leguizamo.

Rick Najera's LATINOLOGUES(TM) is a compilation of comedic and poignant monologues about Latino life in America. The show is and continues to be a service and a showcase for the Latino community, and has been home to more than 80 different actors including Eugenio Derbez, Rene Lavan, Cynthia Klitbo, Edward James Olmos, Maria Conchita Alonso, Fernando Carrillo, Cristian De La Fuente and many more. The show has been performed across the country and has just been produced into a DVD series due out early 2005. LATINOLOGUES(TM) is currently running at the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles and has just been extended. The show is slated to be performed in Las Vegas in September 2004.

Najera, an established writer with credits on groundbreaking shows such as Fox's MAD TV and In Living Color, also received an award nomination in 2004 from the Writers Guild of America for Best Writing in a variety / sketch and previously an ALMA (American Latino Media Arts) Award for Best Writer in a television series. He has received a Golden Eagle Award for best writer, '100 Most Influential' Award from Hispanic Business Magazine and 'Hollywood's 50 Most Creative' by Variety. He is well known and respected in Hollywood for his award-winning comedic writing ability and his diverse talent as an actor and is currently writing two animated pilots for Disney.

For more information on the winners of the 19th Annual Image Awards, visit http://www.imagen.org. Najera is represented by Art Rutter at the Shapiro/Lichtman Agency (310) 859-8877, arutter@shapiro-lichtman.com. For information on Rick Najera or LATINOLOGUES(TM), visit http://www.ricknajera.net or http://www.latinologues.net.