Odalys Nanin News

Friday: Stroke of Passion is back at Macha Theatre by popular demand for three more shows. Check out photos from the show below!

Julio Martinez-hosted Arts in Review, celebrating the best in theater and cabaret in the greater Los Angeles area-airs Fridays (2-2:30pm) on KPFK (90.7FM). Today, Friday, June 17, Arts in Review hosts playwright/actress Odalys Nanin and actress Katarina Radivojevic, discussing Nanin's play, Skin of Honey, at Macha Theatre/Films in West Hollywood, through June 25, in conjunction with Hollywood Fringe Fest.

MACHA Theatre Co. and Treehouse Productions present the Tony Nominated and awarding winning Broadway play NEXT FALL in its 2015-1016 season. Written by Geoffrey Nauffts. NEXT FALL is about two gay men in a committed relationship with a twist, with one, Luke, being devoutly religious and the other, Adam, an atheist. The play revolves around their five-year relationship and how they make it work despite their differences. However, an accident changes everything. NEXT FALL paints a beautiful and funny portrait of modern romance, asking the hard questions about commitment, love, and faith. Directed by Robin Long.

Local Playwright Willard Manus' Joe & Marilyn: A Love Story, a new play about the troubled relationship between baseball great Joe DiMaggio and Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe, debuts this Saturday, April 23rd at 8:00 pm, runs April 23 - May 22, produced by John Lant and Anne Mesa, directed by T.J. Castronovo and starring Rico Simonini and Emily Alicia Low, produced by Write Act Rep@TheBrickhouse Theatre in North Hollywood. The play was developed at the Actors Studio Playwrights/Directors Unit (West Coast), where Manus and Castronovo are fellow-members. He shared with us a bit about the play and quite a bit about his life.

Marie Barrientos and I were in a relationship when we started righting Love Struck. The story developed as the relationship grew. It was wonderful team work, what Marie and I had back then. We still do actually. Just last night, Marie and I were discussing other possible re-writes. This play is like our child that we nurture and guide to be better and better each time. The opportunity to enhance the play with new ideas makes my directing it fresh and fun! (I speak for myself of course.) I've added media to the play and I've re-blocked it. I'm using the back scrim throughout the play as a gauze that separates the two characters. This time around we have a beautiful new set as well, and new lighting. The two actresses that I'm directing, Ivet Corvea as Rachel and Lola Anthony as Laura, fell in love with the script and are thrilled to be doing it.

Charlie 'Bird' Parker's belief that "music is like a fire to warm your hands on" and a "joyful noise" is currently being celebrated in BIRD LIVES! at the Chromolume Theatre at the Attic starring Montae Russell as the jazz icon. Written by Willard Manus and directed by Tommy Hicks, the play continues with a strictly limited engagement through September 21 only.

Chromolume Theatre has announced Bird Lives! as its next production, opening on Friday, August 15 at 8pm. Written by Willard Manus and directed by Tommy Hicks, Bird Lives! will star Montae Russell as jazz icon Charlie Parker in this solo play with music. Parker, a legendary saxophone virtuoso, ushered in a new era of jazz by pioneering bebop and influencing subsequent generations of musicians. Bird Lives! will play a strictly limited engagement through September 21 only.

Macha Theatre brings back MARILYN - MY SECRET by popular demand! The show will run today, July 19 - August 24, 2014.

Macha Theatre brings back MARILYN - MY SECRET by popular demand! The show will run July 19 - August 24, 2014.

Winner of Macha Theatre's Playwriting Competition Macha Theatre presents a workshop production of a new play, Shades by Tom Hartley, the winner of Macha's 2013 Playwriting Competition, produced and directed by Odalys Nanin. The play opens Saturday, March 29th at 8pm at Macha Theatre/Films in West Hollywood, California. The story centers on Miguel, a troubled high school student who enjoys taunting gays. Miguel's life is unexpectedly turned upside down, when a gift from his girlfriend ends-up changing his life forever - as he sets-off on an often comedic course of self-acceptance about his own sexuality. Going gay has never been this dysfunctional!

Macha Theatre/Films presents a reimagined version of Garbo's Cuban Lover written and produced by Odalys Nanin, directed by Ivonne Coll and Nanin, a suspenseful dramedy that explores the glamorous and secretive lives of the most celebrated divas of Hollywood's Golden Age: Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich, and their love affairs with the enigmatic Mercedes de Acosta. New scenes, plus music and images of the time period have been added to the latest version of this well-received play. July 20 - August 25. Opens Sat. July 20, at 8pm, plays Sun. July 21 at 3pm & Sun. July 28 at 3pm & 7pm. August shows: Thursdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm. Tickets: $35; Opening $40; Tickets/info: www.machatheatre.org or (323) 960-4429. Macha Theatre, 1107 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood 90069

Macha Theatre/Films presents a reimagined version of Garbo's Cuban Lover written and produced by Odalys Nanin, directed by Ivonne Coll and Nanin, a suspenseful dramedy that explores the glamorous and secretive lives of the most celebrated divas of Hollywood's Golden Age: Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich, and their love affairs with the enigmatic Mercedes de Acosta. New scenes, plus music and images of the time period have been added to the latest version of this well-received play. July 20 - August 25. Opens Sat. July 20, at 8pm, plays Sun. July 21 at 3pm & Sun. July 28 at 3pm & 7pm. August shows: Thursdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm. Tickets: $35; Opening $40; Tickets/info: www.machatheatre.org or (323) 960-4429. Macha Theatre, 1107 N. Kings Road, West Hollywood 90069

Two months from today Marilyn Monroe fans will celebrate what would have been her eighty-seventh birthday. It's hard to imagine her at such an advanced age, considering her beauty, vivacity, and girlish manner. Her death was indeed tragic, but it has left us with an image of Marilyn with her charms undiluted by advanced age.

Macha Theatre/Films presents the world premiere of 'Marilyn-My Secret' written by Willard Manus and Odalys Nanin, directed by Odalys Nanin. This dramedy with music, chronicles the life of Norma Jean from unwanted orphan, to bit player, to sex goddess including the untold story of Marilyn's affairs with both female and male lovers - - from her acting coach to the president of the United States. The play runs tonight, March 30 - April 21, at the Macha Theatre in WeHo.

Macha Theatre/Films presents the world premiere of 'Marilyn-My Secret' written by Willard Manus and Odalys Nanin, directed by Odalys Nanin. This dramedy with music, chronicles the life of Norma Jean from unwanted orphan, to bit player, to sex goddess including the untold story of Marilyn's affairs with both female and male lovers - - from her acting coach to the president of the United States. The play runs March 30 - April 21, at the Macha Theatre in WeHo.

By the time you leave Darrin Hagen's Bitchslap! you'll either hate or adore two of Hollywood's legendary divas, namely Bette Davis - the actress and Joan Crawford - the movie star. Both left a trail of indelible marks by which to be judged. They were bitchy, glamorous - well, at least Crawford - fiercely prepared - well, at least Davis - overbearing, and always clamored for good press. Ta da! In comes Hedda Hopper, one of the bitchiest, most well-dressed, most obsessively efficient and most overbearing reporters old Hollywood had to offer. Not two, but three queens! Hagen's campy piece is not without its flaws, but will surely entertain you and actually make you perk up your ears to hear a thing or two about Davis and Crawford that you may not have known. That's right, Darrin Hagen has done his homework and very well researched his stars, so movie buffs should be more than pleased. Now onstage through June 17 at the Macha Theatre, ladies and gentlemen, Bitchslap!

MACHA THEATRE/Films presents the West Coast Premiere of BITCHSLAP! by Darrin Hagen, directed by Odalys Nanin.

MACHA THEATRE/Films presents the West Coast Premiere of BITCHSLAP! by Darrin Hagen, directed by Odalys Nanin.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary Odalys Nanin's Garbo's Cuban Lover, in its third revival, currently at the Macha Theatre in WeHo, still copiously exudes the passion of Cuban writer Mercedes de Acosta (in Hollywood from 1931 until her tragic illness & death in 1968) for her art and the supposed love of her life, Greta Garbo. Based on the rumored lesbian relationships that de Acosta had with Garbo, Dietrich, Tallulah Bankhead, Eva Le Gallienne and others, Lover is Nanin's lovingly woven fictional account of how she believed it happened.

Hardly a heavyweight, fascinatingly exotic drama as was the case with Odalys Nanin's Garbo's Cuban Lover, the one-act Lavendar Love, now on stage @ the Macha Theatre, still has enough Hollywood nostalgia, sensuality and camp going for it to call it enjoyable.