In November 2023 on Overheard at Chica’s Café, we welcomed 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 the Director of Programming for The Moss Theater she worked with numerous musical organizations including Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), Duo Del Sol, Jazz Bakery, Musical Theatre Guild, and Musicians At Play Foundation (including Seth McFarlane’s Jazz Band). As part of the Moss Theater’s Live Talks LA and Writers Bloc series, she has hosted celebrities such as John Irving, Jason Segel, Shepard Fairey, Moby, Kevin Costner, Linda Ronstadt, Diane Keaton, Maria Bello, Camyrn Manheim, Eric Bogosian, Herb Alpert, Deborah Voigt, Ann Rice, Nicholas Kristof, Amy Tan, Russell Brand, Mitch Albom, Malcolm Gladwell, and Kristoffer Kristofferson.
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 also an experienced public speaker and educator, having taught acting and writing workshops at various institutions around the country such as The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, Catholic University, Miami Dade University, California State University Fullerton, UCLA Extension, Azusa Pacific University and Hussian College. She has also served on panels for Hollins University, USC, The New Playwrights Festival at the College of the Desert, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
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.
Che’Rae has had 22 articles published online at NOHOARTSDISTRICT.COM, and self-published a workbook for writers called Writing is Hard… She is the recipient of a SDC Foundation Observership award where she shadowed James Burrows on the TV show Will and Grace. She has been nominated for a Cincinnati Enquirer Entertainment Award and Backstage West Garland Critics Citations Award. Fun fact: In 2009, Che’Rae played Gladys Presley in Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis which opened the Aria Casino in Las Vegas.
Check out her previous interview on the podcast.
Check out the November 2023 podcast here.
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.
For one thing, 
This month, join us at Chica’s Café as we welcome Kelly Keefe a Multi-Disciplinary Artist to the show. We had 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 
In this month’s episode, I’m joined by Steve Walker, a theatrical talent 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.
In July’s episode we were lucky enough to have a chat with the multi-talented actor Marabina Jaimes. We dove into topics ranging from the ongoing SAG-AFTRA Actors’ Strike, which focuses on film and television contracts, and how the Writers Guild and other unions are supporting these actors. Dubbing and commercials are still allowed despite the strike. Marabina has won awards for her work in multiple fields. We also discussed Bob Odenkirk’s movie “Life Upside Down”. 
June’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.
In May’s episode of Overheard at Chica’s Café, I have the pleasure of interviewing Doreen Calderon, who plays Maureen Walker in Fatal Attraction. She’s 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.
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 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.
Sonia Iris Lozada acting experience. Oops! Forgot to ask one of my friends to do the podcast. 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