Ortiz Earns Obie Award for His “The Woodsman” Puppet Designs

James Ortiz is a real puppet master…

James Ortiz

The Latino actor, director, writer and puppet designer has received an award at the 61st annual Obie Awards, established by the Village Voice to acknowledge achievement in off-Broadway theater.

The Woodsman

Ortiz picked up the award for his puppet designs for New World Stages’ production of The Woodsman, the one-of-a-kind show Ortiz created that tells the tale of the Tin Man, the woman he loved, and the witch that would stop at nothing to keep them apart.

It’s Strangemen and Co.’s critically acclaimed take on one of America’s original fairy tales, the Wizard of Oz.

The Woodsman

The Village Voice now runs the Obies with the American Theatre Wing, which also co-presents the Tony Awards (with the Broadway League).

The ceremony was held Monday evening at Webster Hall and hosted by Lea DeLaria.

Ortiz serves as the co-artistic director of Strangemen & Co. His design/directorial credits include The Tempest (DC Shakespeare), SeaWife (Naked Angels), Mercury Fur (The New Group), King Lear (Delacorte Theater in Central Park), Ludic Proxy (Soho Rep), King Lear (Theatre for a New Audience), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (New Place Players), Miss Lilly Gets Boned (Studio 42), My Base and Scurvy Heart (Studio 42) and An Intimate Evening with Typhoid Mary (Glass Bandits).

Bratt Lending His Voice to “Despicable Me 2”

It’s about to get downright despicable for Benjamin Bratt

The 49-year-old half-Peruvian American actor has signed on to replace Al Pacino as the voice of the villain Eduardo in the animated film Despicable Me 2.

Benjamin Bratt

Bratt, who wrapped up his stint on ABC’s Private Practice earlier this year, will get right to work on the film that Univeral Pictures has slated for a major summer release on July 3.

Despicable Me 2 is the fourth film from Illumination Entertainment and the sequel to its 2010 hit Despicable Me, one of Universal’s most profitable films ever, with north of $540 million worldwide on a $69 million budget.

The sequel is directed by Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin, and scripted by Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio.

Bratt’s other movie credits include Snitch, La Mission, The Woodsman and Traffic.