Accolades
“There is physical humor aplenty, and Stevens, with the ingenious help of director Che’Rae Adams, mines it for all it’s worth.”
—Brad Schreiber, Back Stage West on “Chesapeake” by Lee Blessing | Critics’ Pick
“Literate yet idiomatic, Abi Morgan's trenchant drama of the human hunger for connection receives a gripping U.S. premiere by Syzygy Theatre Group. Working with striking designs, director Che'Rae Adams locates the script's nerve endings. Her sterling actors, cast for emotional quality, play it to the bone.”
— David C. Nichols, Los Angeles Times on “Tender” by Abi Morgan | Critics’ Pick
“Director Che’Rae Adams effectively stages the action drawing out the script’s quirky humor and gathering gloom and she is not afraid to put some fire into it.”
—Daryl H. Miller, The Daily News on “Freak of Nature” by Ken Hanes | Weekend Best
“It's been more than two decades since the Vietnam vet-fueled drama ‘Tracers’ took off from the Odyssey Theatre to blaze across the nation's stages. In ‘Walk'n Thru the Fire’ at the Hayworth Theatre, ‘Tracers’ creator John DiFusco and four talented actors share the touchstones and lessons of his life with appealing brio. Under the smooth direction of Che'Rae Adams and Janet Roston, "Walk'n" dives into issues that DiFusco has grappled with for a lifetime.”
—David C. Nichols, Los Angeles Times on “Walking Thru The Fire” by John Difusco
“Adams uses the sparse production design to great advantage, emphasizing ingeniously expressive blocking patterns and eloquent crescendos of dramatic tension to delineate the characters’ complex inter-relationships. This electrifying, supremely intelligent production easily qualifies as one of the finest offerings of the theatre year to date”
—Les Spindle, Frontiers Magazine on “Fixing Frank” by Ken Hanes
”Field’s efforts are amplified by the fluid helming of director Che’Rae Adams..."
—Julio Martinez, Daily Variety on “Pandora’s Trunk” by Kim Fields
—Brad Schreiber, Back Stage West on “Chesapeake” by Lee Blessing | Critics’ Pick
“Literate yet idiomatic, Abi Morgan's trenchant drama of the human hunger for connection receives a gripping U.S. premiere by Syzygy Theatre Group. Working with striking designs, director Che'Rae Adams locates the script's nerve endings. Her sterling actors, cast for emotional quality, play it to the bone.”
— David C. Nichols, Los Angeles Times on “Tender” by Abi Morgan | Critics’ Pick
“Director Che’Rae Adams effectively stages the action drawing out the script’s quirky humor and gathering gloom and she is not afraid to put some fire into it.”
—Daryl H. Miller, The Daily News on “Freak of Nature” by Ken Hanes | Weekend Best
“It's been more than two decades since the Vietnam vet-fueled drama ‘Tracers’ took off from the Odyssey Theatre to blaze across the nation's stages. In ‘Walk'n Thru the Fire’ at the Hayworth Theatre, ‘Tracers’ creator John DiFusco and four talented actors share the touchstones and lessons of his life with appealing brio. Under the smooth direction of Che'Rae Adams and Janet Roston, "Walk'n" dives into issues that DiFusco has grappled with for a lifetime.”
—David C. Nichols, Los Angeles Times on “Walking Thru The Fire” by John Difusco
“Adams uses the sparse production design to great advantage, emphasizing ingeniously expressive blocking patterns and eloquent crescendos of dramatic tension to delineate the characters’ complex inter-relationships. This electrifying, supremely intelligent production easily qualifies as one of the finest offerings of the theatre year to date”
—Les Spindle, Frontiers Magazine on “Fixing Frank” by Ken Hanes
”Field’s efforts are amplified by the fluid helming of director Che’Rae Adams..."
—Julio Martinez, Daily Variety on “Pandora’s Trunk” by Kim Fields
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biographies
50 word bio
Che’Rae is the Artistic Director for PlayPenn, and has been the Producing Artistic Director for the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with writers. She is also a critically acclaimed director, educator and producer for the Directors Lab West. Che’Rae has an MFA in Directing from CCM and a BA in Theatre Arts from CSUN.
150 word bio
Che’Rae is the Artistic Director for PlayPenn, and has been the Producing Artistic Director for the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with writers. She is the former Director of Programming for the Moss Theater at New Roads School, Development Executive with Playhouse Picture Studios and is a founding member and former co-artistic director of the award-winning Road Theatre Company. Che'Rae has directed the West Coast premieres of several new plays, including Tender by Abi Morgan, Chesapeake by Lee Blessing and has directed regionally for Cincinnati Opera Outreach, Disney/ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, Highways Performance Space, The Celebration Theatre, The Group at Strasberg, LATC and The National Black Theatre Festival. In addition, she is a co-producer for the Directors Lab West which is produced annually at the Pasadena Playhouse. Che’Rae has an MFA in Directing from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music and a BA in Theatre Arts from California State University, Northridge.
300 word bio
Che’Rae is the Artistic Director for PlayPenn, and has been the Producing Artistic Director for the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with writers. In 2007, LAWC partnered The Syzygy Theatre Group to produce a reading series which develops new work. She has been a Development Executive for Playhouse Pictures studios, Co-Artistic Director of the Road Theatre Company, and The Managing Director for the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival. After receiving her BA from California State University, Northridge she assisting 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” and coordinated the 1991 Taper Lab Series and Mentor Playwright’s series among other things.
Che’Rae has directed the West Coast premiere productions of several new plays including “Chesapeake”, by Lee Blessing for Venice Theatre Works; “Freak of Nature” by Ken Hanes at The Road Theatre Company; “Back Bar’ by Steve Simon and “Jose Gregorio” by Patricia Cardosa, both at the Lee Strasberg Theatre; “Fixing Frank” by Ken Hanes at the Celebration Theatre; “Pandora’s Trunk” at LATC starring Kim Fields and at the National Black Theatre Festival starring Tanya Pinkins; “From Bonkers to Botox”, at the Stella Adler Theatre & Aspen Comedy Festival; “Nothing to See Here” at the Comedy Central Space staring “Reno 911” actor Carlos Alazraqui; “Tender” for The Syzygy Theatre Company; “Walkin’ Thru The Fire “at the Hayworth Theatre; and “Ser” at the Disney Red Cat’s New Original Works Festival and The Company of Angeles Theatre. She has also directed for Cincinnati Opera Outreach, Disney/ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, and Highways Performance Space.
Che’Rae has taught acting and writing workshops at various institutions such as The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, The University of Cincinnati, California State University, Fullerton, UCLA Extension , and The Pasadena Playhouse. She has an MFA in directing from CCM.
767 word bio
Che’Rae is the Artistic Director for PlayPenn, and has been the Producing Artistic Director for the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with writers. She was the Director of Operations and Programming for the Moss Theater in Santa Monica for 7 years. She has also been a 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. Also for the Taper, she coordinated the Taper Lab Series and Mentor Playwright's Series working with writers such as Luis Alfaro, Anthony Clarvoe, Marlane Meyer, David Lee Lindsey, Oliver Mayer, Ellen McLaughlin, Alice Tuan and Mac Wellman.
She has a Masters Degree from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music (CCM) where she met and worked with Fred and Adele Astaire Award nominated choreographer Josh Prince, Tony winner Karen Olivo, and Broadway stars Matt Bogart, Aaron Serotsky, Damian Baldet and author Todd Almond. She also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Northridge and has been on the Steering Committee of Directors Lab West for ten years.
Che'Rae has developed and directed the West Coast premiere productions of several new plays including pieces by Lee Blessing, Ken Hanes, Patricia Cardosa, John DiFusco, Jon Bastian, and Abi Morgan. She has also directed for 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, Patti Cohenour, Liz Callaway, Jody Watley, Jon Secada, Kim Fields, and Carlos Alazraqui. She has worked with award winning directors and choreographers such as Vincent Paterson, Tom Hulce, Bonnie Story, Lula Washington, Kitty McNamee, Tina Kronis, and celebrated designers John Iacovelli, Cricket S. Myers, and Ming Cho Lee.
As the Director of Programming for The Moss Theater she works with numerous musical acts including Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), Duo Del Sol, Jazz Bakery, Musical Theatre Guild, 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 with Moby, Kevin Costner, Linda Ronstadt, Penn Jillette, Diane Keaton, Maria Bello with 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 Steering Committee member for Directors Lab West she has created close to ten years of programming (workshops, panels, and master classes) annually at the Pasadena Playhouse. Highlights include Vincent Paterson, Moises Kaufman, Jason Alexander, Martin Benson, Marc Masterson, Todd London, Sheldon Epps, Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliot, Des McAnuff, Jessica Kubzansky, Chay Yew, Jack O’Brien and Bill Rausch.
Che'Rae is also an experienced public speaker and teacher 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 is on faculty at Hussian College In Studio Los Angeles. She has also served on panels for Hollins University, The New Playwright’s Festival at the College of the Desert, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Che’Rae has been the Producing Artistic Director of the LA Writers Center since 2006. Her writers are Academy Award winners, New Century Writer Award Finalists, SCR California New Plays Prize Winners, PEN West Literary Award Drama Nominees, New York Drama Desk Award winners, Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award Winners, Heideman Award Recipients, Mercer Great American Songwriting Program (at Northwestern University) Residents, and Playwrights’ Center Jerome Fellows. They have been produced at The Public Theater, South Coast Repertory Theater, The Pasadena Playhouse, The Alleyway Theatre in New York, San Jose Repertory Company, The Road Theatre Company, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT), Downtown Urban Theater Festival, LATC, Sacred Fools, The NYC International Fringe Festival, Actor’s Express Theatre, Currican Theatre, Annex Theatre, Celebration Theatre, and The National Black Theatre Festival, among others.
Che’Rae has had 22 articles published online at NOHOARTSDISTRICT.COM, and published a workbook for writers called Writing is Hard… She is the recipient of a SDC Foundation Observership award and 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.
Che’Rae is the Artistic Director for PlayPenn, and has been the Producing Artistic Director for the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with writers. She is also a critically acclaimed director, educator and producer for the Directors Lab West. Che’Rae has an MFA in Directing from CCM and a BA in Theatre Arts from CSUN.
150 word bio
Che’Rae is the Artistic Director for PlayPenn, and has been the Producing Artistic Director for the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with writers. She is the former Director of Programming for the Moss Theater at New Roads School, Development Executive with Playhouse Picture Studios and is a founding member and former co-artistic director of the award-winning Road Theatre Company. Che'Rae has directed the West Coast premieres of several new plays, including Tender by Abi Morgan, Chesapeake by Lee Blessing and has directed regionally for Cincinnati Opera Outreach, Disney/ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, Highways Performance Space, The Celebration Theatre, The Group at Strasberg, LATC and The National Black Theatre Festival. In addition, she is a co-producer for the Directors Lab West which is produced annually at the Pasadena Playhouse. Che’Rae has an MFA in Directing from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music and a BA in Theatre Arts from California State University, Northridge.
300 word bio
Che’Rae is the Artistic Director for PlayPenn, and has been the Producing Artistic Director for the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with writers. In 2007, LAWC partnered The Syzygy Theatre Group to produce a reading series which develops new work. She has been a Development Executive for Playhouse Pictures studios, Co-Artistic Director of the Road Theatre Company, and The Managing Director for the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival. After receiving her BA from California State University, Northridge she assisting 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” and coordinated the 1991 Taper Lab Series and Mentor Playwright’s series among other things.
Che’Rae has directed the West Coast premiere productions of several new plays including “Chesapeake”, by Lee Blessing for Venice Theatre Works; “Freak of Nature” by Ken Hanes at The Road Theatre Company; “Back Bar’ by Steve Simon and “Jose Gregorio” by Patricia Cardosa, both at the Lee Strasberg Theatre; “Fixing Frank” by Ken Hanes at the Celebration Theatre; “Pandora’s Trunk” at LATC starring Kim Fields and at the National Black Theatre Festival starring Tanya Pinkins; “From Bonkers to Botox”, at the Stella Adler Theatre & Aspen Comedy Festival; “Nothing to See Here” at the Comedy Central Space staring “Reno 911” actor Carlos Alazraqui; “Tender” for The Syzygy Theatre Company; “Walkin’ Thru The Fire “at the Hayworth Theatre; and “Ser” at the Disney Red Cat’s New Original Works Festival and The Company of Angeles Theatre. She has also directed for Cincinnati Opera Outreach, Disney/ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop, and Highways Performance Space.
Che’Rae has taught acting and writing workshops at various institutions such as The Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, The University of Cincinnati, California State University, Fullerton, UCLA Extension , and The Pasadena Playhouse. She has an MFA in directing from CCM.
767 word bio
Che’Rae is the Artistic Director for PlayPenn, and has been the Producing Artistic Director for the LA Writers Center since 2006 where she develops new work with writers. She was the Director of Operations and Programming for the Moss Theater in Santa Monica for 7 years. She has also been a 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. Also for the Taper, she coordinated the Taper Lab Series and Mentor Playwright's Series working with writers such as Luis Alfaro, Anthony Clarvoe, Marlane Meyer, David Lee Lindsey, Oliver Mayer, Ellen McLaughlin, Alice Tuan and Mac Wellman.
She has a Masters Degree from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music (CCM) where she met and worked with Fred and Adele Astaire Award nominated choreographer Josh Prince, Tony winner Karen Olivo, and Broadway stars Matt Bogart, Aaron Serotsky, Damian Baldet and author Todd Almond. She also has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from California State University, Northridge and has been on the Steering Committee of Directors Lab West for ten years.
Che'Rae has developed and directed the West Coast premiere productions of several new plays including pieces by Lee Blessing, Ken Hanes, Patricia Cardosa, John DiFusco, Jon Bastian, and Abi Morgan. She has also directed for 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, Patti Cohenour, Liz Callaway, Jody Watley, Jon Secada, Kim Fields, and Carlos Alazraqui. She has worked with award winning directors and choreographers such as Vincent Paterson, Tom Hulce, Bonnie Story, Lula Washington, Kitty McNamee, Tina Kronis, and celebrated designers John Iacovelli, Cricket S. Myers, and Ming Cho Lee.
As the Director of Programming for The Moss Theater she works with numerous musical acts including Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO), Duo Del Sol, Jazz Bakery, Musical Theatre Guild, 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 with Moby, Kevin Costner, Linda Ronstadt, Penn Jillette, Diane Keaton, Maria Bello with 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 Steering Committee member for Directors Lab West she has created close to ten years of programming (workshops, panels, and master classes) annually at the Pasadena Playhouse. Highlights include Vincent Paterson, Moises Kaufman, Jason Alexander, Martin Benson, Marc Masterson, Todd London, Sheldon Epps, Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliot, Des McAnuff, Jessica Kubzansky, Chay Yew, Jack O’Brien and Bill Rausch.
Che'Rae is also an experienced public speaker and teacher 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 is on faculty at Hussian College In Studio Los Angeles. She has also served on panels for Hollins University, The New Playwright’s Festival at the College of the Desert, and the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.
Che’Rae has been the Producing Artistic Director of the LA Writers Center since 2006. Her writers are Academy Award winners, New Century Writer Award Finalists, SCR California New Plays Prize Winners, PEN West Literary Award Drama Nominees, New York Drama Desk Award winners, Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award Winners, Heideman Award Recipients, Mercer Great American Songwriting Program (at Northwestern University) Residents, and Playwrights’ Center Jerome Fellows. They have been produced at The Public Theater, South Coast Repertory Theater, The Pasadena Playhouse, The Alleyway Theatre in New York, San Jose Repertory Company, The Road Theatre Company, the Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT), Downtown Urban Theater Festival, LATC, Sacred Fools, The NYC International Fringe Festival, Actor’s Express Theatre, Currican Theatre, Annex Theatre, Celebration Theatre, and The National Black Theatre Festival, among others.
Che’Rae has had 22 articles published online at NOHOARTSDISTRICT.COM, and published a workbook for writers called Writing is Hard… She is the recipient of a SDC Foundation Observership award and 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.