Naturally Tan features Tanya Thomas in an exploration of her identity as a vivacious drag queen named Tanvi. The show underscores her challenges of fitting in as a minority in Singapore and her quest for acceptance in America. Through a captivating blend of music, dance, and storytelling, Tanya navigates themes of colorism, racial identity, and self-worth, presenting a poignant reflection on the beauty standards that affect the Asian diaspora. Directed and developed by Jessica Lynn Johnson, this one-woman show offers a rich narrative filled with multidimensional characters.
Cast and Creative team for Naturally Tan at Santa Monica Playhouse
Cast
Pina
Mafia Anonymous: The Women Speak
Marilyn Anderson
How to Live Like a Millionaire, When You’re a Million Short
Carmen Scott
Dream Role
Jen West
Dream Role
Rheagan Wallace
STAGE MAMMA
Jessica Lynn Johnson
STAGE MAMMA
Heather Dowling
STAGE MAMMA
William Duffy
The Advocate
Maria Fagan Hassani
Atypical Grace
Jessica Lynn Johnson
Atypical Grace
Christinna Chauncey
Atypical Grace
Lauri Fraser
The Hairdresser…your therapy session or mine?
Janora McDuffie
Earth, Wind & Car Fire
Rob Nagle
The Advocate
Pina
MAFIA: The Women Speak
J.T. Melaragno
Absolutely Halloween
Isabel Lindley
Absolutely Halloween
Cydne Moore
Absolutely Halloween
Hilary Kang Oglesby
The Advocate
Clarissa Park
The Advocate
Reina Guthrie
The Advocate
Joseph Perez
Absolutely Halloween
Maegan Mandarino
Big Hair: A Rad and Wild Love Affair.
Tanya Thomas
Naturally Tan
Rosie Byrne
The Best of Constance & Florence
Kate Huffman
The Best of Constance & Florence
Berry Under Your Bed
Cruel Landlord
Celine Athan
Cruel Landlord
Emmet Sempek
Cruel Landlord
Theda Weston
The Six at Ten
Jeannette Lawler
EXES: The musical
Joseph Lewczak
EXES: The musical
Olivia Facini
EXES: The musical
Anne DiGiovanni
EXES: The musical
Daniel Ledesma
My Great Turnaround
Ruthie Danziger
My Great Turnaround
Misha Kofman
The Six at Ten
Tim Torre
The Six at Ten
Madeleine Lemay
The Six at Ten
Venessa Verdugo
HOOLIGANI
Paul Linke
The Summer I Got Old
Shelley Cooper
Rag Doll on a Bomb Site
Tara Parker
Jane and the Magic Album
Marcello Padilla
Jane and the Magic Album
Aubrey Clyburn
Jane and the Magic Album
Jane Ellen Stern
Jane and the Magic Album
Megan Wright
Absolutely Halloween
Graham Silbert
Absolutely Halloween
Charlotte Robinson
Absolutely Halloween
Paulina Combow
Adopted by Appalachians
Jackie Brehiman
Cruel Landlord
Jenn Brown
If Truth Be Told
Ian Michael Scheller
My Unexpected Journey Into Magic
Natasha Mikha
Marilyn Monroe, Unknown Letters
Andrew Searles
Black Don’t Crack
Zuleika Moreno
Black Don’t Crack
Mz. REKA
Black Don’t Crack
Rahvaunia Johnson
tHis Is Very IMPORTANT
Dee Freeman
Poison Gun
Albie Selznick
Letter From David
Rejyna Douglass-Whitman
Trans Mom vs Family court: Justice Sees No Gender
Miles Otway
Black Don’t Crack
Alia Atkins
Black Don’t Crack
Darrell Goss
Black Don’t Crack
Jeff Keller
Black Don’t Crack
Creative Team
William Duffy
Performed
Jackie Brehiman
Performed
Maegan Mandarino
Written & Performed
Tanya Thomas
Written, Produced & Performed
Rosie Byrne
Performed
Kate Huffman
Performed
Mike Veasey
Directed
Lou Stone Borenstein
Written
Berry Under Your Bed
Performed
Rob Nagle
Performed
Celine Athan
Performed
Emmet Sempek
Performed
Rejyna Douglass-Whitman
Written, Performed, Produced & Composed
Madeleine Lemay
Written & Directed
Venessa Verdugo
Written, Produced & Performed
Lee Costello
Directed
Jenn Brown
Written & Performed
Tim Swiss
Directed
Heidi Jo Scheller
Directed
Natasha Mikha
Written, Produced & Performed
Zuleika Moreno
Co-Producer/Performer
Mz. REKA
Producer/Performer
Miles Otway
Host
Carmen Scott
Written, Performed & Produced
Cynthia Spierer
Written
Christinna Chauncey
Acting Coach
Jessica Lynn Johnson
Produced
Maria Fagan Hassani
Written & Performed
Pina
Presented
Heather Dowling
Solo Character Coach
Jessica Lynn Johnson
Directed & Developed
Rheagan Wallace
Written, Performed & Produced
Jen West
Directed & Produced
Eric Scott Golovan
Directed
Becca Beberaggi
Written, Performed & Produced
Zach Ring
Written, Directed & Produced
Joseph Megel
Directed
Janora McDuffie
Written & Performed
Ernie Silva
Directed
Sonja Marie
Written & Performed
Leslie Stewart
Produced
Paul Linke
Directed
Phil Stewart
Written & Performed
Marilyn Anderson
Writer
The California Shakespeare Company
Written & Performed
Aaron Wilson
Music
Lindsay Perry
Directed
Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett
Written & Performed
Susan Landon
Featuring
Wendy Hammers
Featuring
Pattie Fitzgerald
Featuring
Suzanne Bressler Zoltan
Associate Producer
SUBMIT UPDATES
Santa Monica Playhouse Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Jewish for Dinner – a romantic comedy about love, lies & latkes (1/18/26-3/1/26)
Stand-up Jesus! Blessed be the Punchlines! Sold Out in October – now it’s the Second Coming! (1/17/26-3/21/26)
Stand-up Jesus! Sold out in October, he’s back for the second coming! (1/17/26-3/21/26)
Award-winning show Black Bastard leaves audiences screaming for more! (12/13/25-12/14/25)
ALEICHEM SHOLOM! The Wit and Wisdom of Sholom Aleichem – a “Brilliant” musical comedy (12/7/25-12/14/25)
All About Santa - the Rudie-DeCarlo holiday musical for kids 2 to 102 (12/6/25-12/14/25)
Thanks for Sharing – celebrate Thanksgiving in true Theatre R.A.W. style (11/17/25-11/18/25)
BIG HAIR; a Rad & Wild Love Affair – the dynamic love story of Gilda Radner and Gene Wilder (11/16/25-11/16/25)
Big Hair: A Rad and Wild Love Affair (11/16/25-11/16/25)
Santa Monica Playhouse BFF Free Theatre Festival DOUBLE FEATURE DAY (11/15/25-11/15/25)
Santa Monica Playhouse is at 1211 4th Street.
Videos
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Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler
The Old Globe (2/7 - 3/8) | |
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Louisa Gillis
North Coast Repertory Theatre (1/14 - 2/8) | |
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Ann Hampton Callaway - Here's to Life
Feinstein's at the Nikko (1/31 - 1/31)
PHOTOS
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Ballybunion Backs Bill!
The Broadwater Main Stage (2/26 - 3/15) NEW PLAY LOS ANGELES PREMIERE
PHOTOS
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Millennials Are Killing Musicals
The Colony Theatre (4/30 - 5/17) NEW MUSICAL | |
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BOY IN A BOX
The Whitefire Theater (2/27 - 2/27)
PHOTOS
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Akhnaten
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (2/28 - 3/22) | |
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Delphi
Getty Villa (2/13 - 2/15) | |
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Circus Vargas Presents 'Masquerade!'
Westfield Plaza Bonita (2/20 - 3/9) | |
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Fiddler On The Roof
Yucaipa Performing Arts Center Indoor Theatre (4/3 - 4/12) | |
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Once The Musical
Electric Company Theatre (2/2 - 2/25) | |
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