This month on Overheard at Chica’s Café, we welcome Che'Rae Adams. Che’Rae is the Artistic Director of PlayPen in Philadelphia and the founding director of LA Writer’s Center. We discuss the current state of theater after the pandemic and what’s to come for this creative community. Che’Rae gives us an insight into her journey as a full-time artist; from an actor, to director, dramaturge, and now Artistic Director. Listen in to hear her words of wisdom about the future of theater. Che’Rae has been the Producing Artistic Director of the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with local writers. She was the Director of Operations and Programming for the Moss Theater in Santa Monica for seven years and has been the Development Executive for Playhouse Pictures Studios, Co-Artistic Director of the Road Theatre Company, and Managing Producer for the LA Women’s Theatre Festival. She began her career as the Assistant to the Staff Producer at The Mark Taper Forum where she worked on the writing workshop of the Pulitzer Prize winning Angels in America, Part II: Perestroika. As you can imagine, this was like a master class in new play development for her. Bitten by the new play bug, she went on to do other projects for the Taper that supported playwrights such as coordinating the Taper Lab Series and Mentor Playwright’s Series. There she worked with writers such as Luis Alfaro, Anthony Clarvoe, Han Ong, Oliver Mayer, Ellen McLaughlin, Alice Tuan and Mac Wellman. She has a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music (CCM) and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Northridge. For almost two decades, she has produced the Directors Lab West which takes place at the Pasadena Playhouse annually. Che’Rae has developed and directed the West Coast premiere productions of several new plays including plays by Lee Blessing, Ken Hanes, Tim Toyoma, Patricia Cardosa, John DiFusco, Jon Bastian, and Abi Morgan. She has also provided direction and/or dramaturgy for productions with Cincinnati Opera Outreach, Disney/ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, Highways Performance Space, and Troupe Vertigo at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. She has worked with prominent performers such as Tonya Pinkins, Lynn Redgrave, Kim Fields, and Carlos Alazraqui; as well as award winning directors and choreographers such as Vincent Paterson, Tom Hulce, Jane Jones, Bonnie Story, Kitty McNamee, and Tina Kronis; and distinguished designers such as Sara Clement, Cricket S. Myers, and Ming Cho Lee. As a producer for Directors Lab West she has curated close to two decades of programming (workshops, panels, and master classes) at the Pasadena Playhouse. This annual event hosts fifty international midcareer directors free of charge. Highlights include Vincent Paterson, Moises Kaufman, Jason Alexander, Martin Benson, Marc Masterson, Todd London, Sheldon Epps, George Furth, Anne Cattaneo, Des McAnuff, Jessica Kubzansky, Chay Yew, Jack O’Brien and Bill Rausch. Che’Rae is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She spent the last two years of the pandemic producing diverse online programming with HowlRound TV in response to the social inequity taking place in our society. Recently, she curated Breathe: A BIPOC Reading Series in response to George Floyd’s murder; Home: Asian Voices Reading Series to amplify Asian-American stories; and The Voices of Afghanistan project where monologues were constructed from interviews with Afghan artists in hiding. Check out her previous interview on the podcast. LA Writers Center PlayPen in Philadelphia, PA Info video on PlayPen on YouTube

My life and acting updates. It's been a few months since my last post, mainly due to the writer's and actor's strike. Negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP are ongoing, but I'm grateful for the updates each day. In the meantime, I've been attending many commercial auditions in person and through self-tapes. Although I haven't booked any of them yet, being put on avail several times in the last month tells me that I'm headed in the right direction. As a matter of fact, I have another call-back on Monday Oct 30th so let's hope for the best. There have been several changes recently as well. For one thing, I got signed by DDO Agency for voiceover, thanks to my friend Marabina Jaimes who helped me put together my voiceover demo. Last week, I had an audition for dubbing animation which was pretty exciting. Unfortunately, Chica and the Man Podcast aired its last episode on Sept 30th of this year. Working with Alex Greenwood was great fun, but our busy schedules prevented us from continuing further. Nevertheless, we still keep in touch and remain good friends. Check out the blog. Currently, I'm working on updating my YouTube channels as they're overdue for new content. This year has witnessed both loss and gain, but it's always important to be thankful for what we have regardless of life's circumstances. Join me in celebrating life and all its blessings.  

This month, join us at Overheard at Chica's Café as we welcome Kelly Keefe to the show. We'll have a great time as we share stories about the lessons we've learned through entertainment and life. She'll discuss her music releases, books, and how she developed Heartspace.co through mindfulness. Listen in for helpful hints from the entertainment industry and learn how to find success in your artistic endeavors. Kelly Keefe is a multi-disciplinary artist, including comedy, music, writing, and more. As a wordsmith, best-selling author, innovative leader, empowerment guide, and Reiki teacher and the founder of The Heartspace.co established in 2016 helping individuals and groups elevate into states of thriving. She works deeply with the Divine Feminine energy to endlessly create uplifting experiences, creations, and teachings. Her music is a multi-dimensional experience created intending to expose and elevate the different facets of herself, and as a reflection - of everyone. Kelly is a world traveler serving, performing, and creating as needed and desired. Ready to thrive and live alive? Welcome to The Heartspace. Instagram: @iamkellykeefe Heartspace.co TheKellyKeefe

In this month's episode, I'm joined by Steve Walker, a theatrical agent. We talk about what it takes to be a successful actor, from preparing for auditions, marketing oneself and honing one's skills. Listen in as Steve gives us a crash course on the responsibilities of an agent and the things actors should focus on. Steve Walker has been a talent agent for 17 years with Connor Ankrum & Associates in Los Angeles. He holds a Master's Degree in Administration from New York University and used to oversee the daily operations of multiple small theater companies before relocating to the West Coast. With a deep-rooted admiration for actors, Steve values the effort they put into preparing for auditions.

This month we welcomed Marabina Jaimes, an amazing fellow actor. Our conversation was so lively that we kept interrupting each other! We touched on the SAG-AFTRA Actor's strike, a labor dispute concerning television and film. While it's still permitted to make commercials and do dubbing, many unions are supporting the writers and actors faced with the stalemate. Marabina has won numerous awards for her diverse talents. Sonia mentions the movie she appeared in alongside Bob Odenkirk—'Life Upside Down'. Tune into this fun and informative episode. Stage, Film, and Television Performer, Voice Talent, Director, and Producer. Best known as "Mara" the Emmy Award Winning Host of PBS "Storytime", Carmen in Klasky-Csupo's "Santo Bugito" (CBS), and Principal subject in the documentary "Now En Espanol" (PBS).   A multiple award-winning producer, she adds a Telly and Omni Award for Co-Hosting/ Co-Producing @TheTrendTalkShow, and just won "Best TV Pilot" for Renee Vaca's "Inland Empire" at the Mexican American Film Fest.   Hispanic Lifestyle Magazine named her a "Latina of Influence" and she is the Lead Bilingual Voice Over Coach at www.AcademiaDeLaVoz.com. Recent credits include Bosch Legacy, High Heat, The Patient's of Dr. Garcia, and This Fool. Marabina Jaimes' website. Marabina Instagram. Life Upside Down with Bob Odenkirk.

This month's episode is with musician, songwriter and music teacher Jane Witzenburg. We discuss her journey into acting and music and how she progressed during difficult times. Her band Summercatz has performed throughout the Los Angeles area. Jane is currently teaching privately and at in the Los Angeles Unified School District. http://summerlinmusicstudio.com Summercatz Band website Butterfly Video Insane Song Video

On this month's episode of Overheard at Chica's Café, I have the pleasure of interviewing Doreen Calderon, a fellow actor and long-time friend of mine. We've shared the stage together in a musical, and right now you can catch her in Fatal Attraction on Paramount+. Our conversation covers her experiences as an actress and how she helps other actors develop their skills. Doreen Calderon is an American television, film and theater actress. She can be seen in the recurring role of "Maureen Walker" in Fatal Attraction (Paramount+). In 2022, she played!"Raquel Torres” in the Oscar nominated Live Action Short, Please Hold. Recent TV credits include White House Plumbers (HBO), Riverdale (CW), Loot (AppleTV), and Call Me Kat (FOX). Doreen has been a core performing member of the nation's longest running Asian-American improv-comedy troupe, Cold Tofu, since 2017. She is also a Certified Impact Catalyst (coach), and a professional Dream Interpreter.   imdb.me/DoreenCalderon IG: @doreen_calderon IG: @the.recognized.actor Youtube Channel: @DoreenCalderon TheRecognizedActor.com cellardoordreams.com/

In today's episode we have Kristi Schultz, a theatre maker, director and educator. We discuss her journey from college to New York where she worked at a strip house. Don't get too excited she wasn't stripping. Her stories from that time are entertaining and are the premise of her solo show Operation Dollhouse. We discuss how she got started in Los Angeles. Join in to this interesting and might I say, educational episode of life in the dollhouse. Kristi Schultz is a hyphenate Theatre maker and Teaching Artist using interdisciplinary movement-driven performance practices to reinvent classics, adapt literature, and devise original work. Kristi is on the Theatre Faculty at Marlborough School in Los Angeles and Artistic Director of the Marlborough Ensemble Theatre.  Kristi developed the Musical Theater and Dance Program at New Roads School. Her productions of IN THE HEIGHTS and CHICAGO, received several Jerry Herman Award nominations including Best Production. She won the award for Best Staging & Choreography for IN THE HEIGHTS. In the years under her guidance, the New Roads Dance program grew exponentially. At New Roads, she was an Artistic Producer for the Moss Theater, producing guest productions and developing guest artist partnerships. She also implemented a workshop lab for Performance Activism. She has been a guest faculty member at the Arkansas Arts Center Children's Theatre, Bluepalm Arts, Rembiko Edinburgh Project, and CalArts Interim Project teaching acting, movement, and composition, and leading professional development for Faculty, as well as guest Directing.  From 2006 to 2010, she was Producing Artistic Director of the award-winning LA company, Zoo District, helming their 3 year residence at [Inside] the Ford as part of the Ensemble Theatre Collective. At the Ford, she directed a critically acclaimed production of Ionesco's THE SUBMISSION and THE FUTURE IS IN EGGS, produced and performed in THE DEFENDERS in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the show garnered 5 Garland Award Honorable Mentions. For Zoo District, she received grants from the Doris Duke Foundation, Network of Ensemble Theatres, Flintridge Foundation, and LA County Arts Commission. At the Ford, she curated and presented original works in progress in SHOT IN THE DARK and JOUR DE BOSSE CABARET. She was commissioned by Padua Playwrights to direct the World Premiere of Murray Mednick's play, DESTRUCTION OF THE 4th WORLD. Currently, she is dedicated to championing new voices with several projects on deck. As Covid struck in 2020, she was directing the premiere of FLESH by Ash Nichols at INKFest at the Broadwater, and her last live performance was a workshop of THE INCIDENT at MeetCuteLA.  She is working on her own solo performance piece, OPERATION DOLLHOUSE. She has been a Company Member and Festival Producer for SON OF SEMELE ENSEMBLE, continuing to produce original work for the Quick Creation Festival throughout COVID in a virtual format.  She could also be seen performing with the Grand Guignolers. She is an Associate Producer for the SSDC Director's Lab West 2023. Other work in New York incudes Third Rail Dance in SPUN, Director at New York's Theatre Studio, Inc., Choreographer for Yale Drama Cabaret's ROCKY HORROR. She spent many years as a musical theatre performer and dance captain, making special appearances as a singer/entertainer at a variety of New York and Los Angeles corporate events, industrials, and fundraisers, including The Drama League's annual Broadway Bash. An alumna of Carnegie Mellon University School of Drama, the British American Drama Academy, SITI Company Intensives, Frantic Assembly Train, and the SDC Director's Lab West, she is a member of AEA, TCG, and the Network of Ensemble Theatres.    Theatre Maker, Director, Educator www.kristischultz.com @schultzie56

Norma and I have been friends for many years. Our friendship began during an audition, and we've stayed in touch ever since, discussing how the entertainment business has changed over time. We cover topics like what they expect of an actor when they are auditioning, working on a self-tape or going into the casting office, and how long it usually takes to complete an audition from start to finish. This episode gives you an idea of what to expect if you're interested in pursuing a career in acting. Norma Maldonado Bio Born on Governors Island, New York County, New York, actress Norma Maldonado has had a love for acting since childhood. She is of Puerto Rican and Spanish heritage. Norma's father, Juan Arturo Maldonado, was in Air America for the US Air Force. Her family frequently relocated and required her to adapt to many new surroundings. She has starred in dozens of film and television projects including Showtime's Hombre, The Good Doctor, Recurring Guest Star on Jane the Virgin and The Fosters. She had guest roles in The Librarians. Superior Donuts, Amazon's Mad Dogs, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Closer among many others. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Puerto Rico and completed one year of clinical psychology at Albizu University. Later, she went on to earn a Masters in Communications from the University of Georgia. Over the years, she developed an ear for languages and accents. Her fluency in English, Spanish and Serbian has helped open doors to many interesting roles, including that of a rape counselor in a short film for the United Nations. She helps St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and groups working to stop the sex trafficking of children and young people.

Oops! I forgot to get a guest for this month. If you listen to my other podcast, you'd know why. It's a downer, so I don't want to discuss it here. I decided I'd tell you about some films and TV shows and my experience with them. I basically just go through a few on my resume which you can catch on my website, https://sonialozada.com/resume/. You can see that on my IMDB profile. Most of my experiences on the set have been exciting and fun. Check out the tidbits you can find out about life as an actor.