tHis Is Very IMPORTANT features a powerful one-woman performance by Rahvaunia Johnson, directed and developed by Jessica Lynn Johnson. The show follows Eena as she creates a space for three women—Mary, Samantha, and Val—to share their personal stories about life, love, and living with HIV. Through a blend of humor and emotional depth, the narrative examines themes of identity, stigma, and resilience, offering a thought-provoking experience that resonates with audiences.
Cast and Creative Team for tHis Is Very IMPORTANT at Santa Monica Playhouse
Cast
Wendy Hammers
Wise Ass Women from the Westside
Pattie Fitzgerald
Wise Ass Women from the Westside
Cynthia Spierer
A Crack in Everything
Lauri Fraser
The Hairdresser…your therapy session or mine?
Pina
Mafia Anonymous: The Women Speak
Rheagan Wallace
STAGE MAMMA
Carmen Scott
Dream Role
Marilyn Anderson
How to Live Like a Millionaire, When You’re a Million Short
Joseph Perez
Absolutely Halloween
Susan Landon
Wise Ass Women from the Westside
Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett
Trust Me, I’m From Essex
The California Shakespeare Company
Will Power Shakespeare Hour
Becca Beberaggi
I’m Not Here Right Now
Phil Stewart
John Huston: The Stuff that Dreams Are Made Of
Sonja Marie
FREE BRICKS
Janora McDuffie
Earth, Wind & Car Fire
Zach Ring
The Advocate
Isabel Lindley
Absolutely Halloween
J.T. Melaragno
Absolutely Halloween
Cydne Moore
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
Graham Silbert
Absolutely Halloween
Charlotte Robinson
Absolutely Halloween
Jackie Brehiman
Cruel Landlord
Venessa Verdugo
HOOLIGANI
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
Jeff Keller
Black Don’t Crack
Darrell Goss
Black Don’t Crack
Alia Atkins
Black Don’t Crack
Miles Otway
Black Don’t Crack
Rejyna Douglass-Whitman
Trans Mom vs Family court: Justice Sees No Gender
Albie Selznick
Letter From David
Dee Freeman
Poison Gun
Rahvaunia Johnson
tHis Is Very IMPORTANT
Paulina Combow
Adopted by Appalachians
Megan Wright
Absolutely Halloween
Jane Ellen Stern
Jane and the Magic Album
Aubrey Clyburn
Jane and the Magic Album
Marcello Padilla
Jane and the Magic Album
Tara Parker
Jane and the Magic Album
Shelley Cooper
Rag Doll on a Bomb Site
Theda Weston
The Six at Ten
Madeleine Lemay
The Six at Ten
Tim Torre
The Six at Ten
Misha Kofman
The Six at Ten
Ruthie Danziger
My Great Turnaround
Anne DiGiovanni
EXES: The musical
Paul Linke
The Summer I Got Old
Creative Team
Phil Stewart
Writer
Paul Linke
Director
Leslie Stewart
Producer
Sonja Marie
Writer
Becca Beberaggi
Writer
Paulina Combow
Producer
Maegan Mandarino
Writer
Tanya Thomas
Writer
Zuleika Moreno
Co-Producer
Mz. REKA
Producer
Miles Otway
Host
Rejyna Douglass-Whitman
Performer
Rejyna Douglass-Whitman
Writer
Laura Maccabee
Director
Albie Selznick
Writer
Juliette Jeffers
Director
Dee Freeman
Writer
Luis Villanueva
Tech/Art Producer
Ernie Silva
Director
Paulina Combow
Writer
Rahvaunia Johnson
Creator
Jeannette Lawler
Drums
Joseph Lewczak
Musical Director
Olivia Facini
Director
Anne DiGiovanni
Producer
Anne DiGiovanni
Writer
Zach Ring
Director
Zach Ring
Writer
Joseph Megel
Director
Janora McDuffie
Writer
Marilyn Anderson
Writer
Heather Dowling
Solo Character Coach
Jessica Lynn Johnson
Director
Rheagan Wallace
Producer
Rheagan Wallace
Writer
Jen West
Producer
Jen West
Director
Carmen Scott
Producer
Carmen Scott
Writer
Pina
Writer/Performer
Pattie Fitzgerald
Performer
Becca Beberaggi
Producer
The California Shakespeare Company
Writer/Performer
Aaron Wilson
Music
Lindsay Perry
Director
Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett
Producer
Lindsay Lucas-Bartlett
Writer
Susan Landon
Performer
Wendy Hammers
Performer
Suzanne Bressler Zoltan
Associate Producer
Eric Scott Golovan
Director
Cynthia Spierer
Writer
Christinna Chauncey
Acting Coach
Jessica Lynn Johnson
Producer
Heather Dowling
Director
Maria Fagan Hassani
Writer
News About tHis Is Very IMPORTANT at Santa Monica Playhouse
We have no news on this show at the current time.
About the Theatre
Santa Monica Playhouse Frequently Asked QuestionsFAQ
New Town! New Luck! (2/28/26-3/1/26)
My Lawyer is an Angel – a serious new comedy by Jerry Mayer (2/21/26-4/26/26)
OY! What They Said About Love – Valentine’s Weekend with Steve Budd, one of the Bay Area’s premier comedy performers (2/14/26-2/15/26)
The Lost Princesses of OZ – a brand-new Rudie-DeCarlo musical comedy for all ages (1/31/26-4/26/26)
Jewish for Dinner – a romantic comedy about love, lies & latkes (1/18/26-3/1/26)
Stand-up Jesus! Sold out in October, he’s back for the second coming! (1/17/26-3/21/26)
Stand-up Jesus! Blessed be the Punchlines! Sold Out in October – now it’s 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)
Santa Monica Playhouse is at 1211 4th Street.
More Los Angeles Coverage
Videos