Support MACHA Theater To Continue Creating New And Impactful Programming

MACHA Theatre Co., a non-profit organization, has been producing theatrical productions focused on Latina LGBTQI stories for close to 20 years. Odalys Nanin, MACHA’S artistic director has dedicated her career to finding the untold LGBTQ experience stories and writing and/or adapting plays resulting in an impressive award-winning and critically acclaimed roster of produced theatrical production. She is currently running an IndieGogo Campaign to raise monies to find a new venue for her theater and to produce the critically acclaimed and audience favorite Frida Kahlo: A Stroke of Passion where she plays the title role.

MACHA Theatre Co. was founded in 2000 by Nanin due of the lack of Latina-LGBTQI stories in the theater community, the lack of leading roles for lesbians of color and a lack of real cultural inclusion or representation of the Latina lesbian experience in mainstream theater.  MACHA is an acronym Mujeres (Women) Advancing Culture, History, and Art.

For the past 19 years, MACHA has produced award-winning, high quality, and exciting theater featuring lesbians of color in the title roles.  Audiences have been following the company since inception. Producing two productions per year and one writing workshop, they have invited mentors like Maria Irene Fornes – nine-time Obie Award-winning playwright – and Professor Cherrie Moraga – Chicana activist – to work with us.

MACHA is the only professional theater company lead by a Latina lesbian in the United States.  With limited venues providing producing, writing, directing and performance opportunities, MACHA has been filling this role by offering cultural, equity and inclusion to both the LGBTQI community and women of color – both integral parts of the city of Los Angeles.

In 2007, Nanin found a home at the old Globe Playhouse in West Hollywood. Under the new name of MACHA Theatre the doors opened on April of 2007 with two new plays, Skin of Honey, directed by Odalys Nanin, and The Adventures of Lieutenant Nun, directed by Ivonne Coll.

After 10 years of continued success, in 2017 the landlord for the venue sold the entire corner which included MACHA Theatre.  The new landlords, real estate investors, unfortunately, doubled the rent and in 2017 MACHA lost their home and over $26,000.

In 2019 MACHA was able to rent other venues to produce Love Struck, and in 2020 their plan is to reprise the critically acclaimed production of Frida: Stroke of Passion.  

MACHA Theater is currently running an IndieGogo Campaign

 To donate or share of this campaign with friends and family CLICK HERE.

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“Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?”

We all think we know about Frida. But Odalys Nanin’s Frida Stroke of Passion production at Casa 0101 takes you beyond what you know and gives you insight into the last week of Frida’s painful end. When this play was last seen in 2017, it ran for three months. Unfortunately, this production of Macha Theater’s Frida Stroke of Passion at Casa 0101 which runs Friday, Saturdays, and Sundays is all sold out!

Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist who painted many portraits, self-portraits, and works inspired by the nature and artifacts of Mexico. Born in 1907 with polio, she was destined to live her life in pain after a traffic accident at age eighteen caused lifelong pain and medical problems. She joined the  Mexican Communist Party, which led to her meeting her future husband and fellow Mexican artist Diego Rivera. She traveled abroad where her art gained international acclaim and picked up more popularity after her death.

There is a lot to love about this production; the constant drama, the pain of both body and soul, and Frida’s love of life moments — all delivered by a talented cast of twelve.

Nanin embodies the spirit of Frida in a nuanced performance and transformational portrayal. Sandra Valls stands out as famous Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, and one of Frida’s lovers.

As Frida’s life comes to an end so does the play with an unforgettable wake and procession that will stay with you long after the play has ended. Chavela is there to honor Frida with accented her beautifully haunting song as the cast of characters in Frida’s live all pay tribute to an icon in the art world, who inspired a nation by representing their culture, while bold examining the issues of identity, postcolonialism, gender, class, and race in Mexican society.

The small procession of Frida’s funeral attended by all her loves, beginning with her “Toad Face” Diego Rivera (Oscar Basulto). Also joining in are Frida’s other lovers Tina Modotti (Mantha Balourdou); Josephine Baker (Ebony Perry); Maria Felix (Marjorie Burgos); Cuban Teresa Proenza (Kesia Elwin); and her Nurse Judith (Tricia Cruz).

But this is hopefully not the end of Frida Stroke of Passion, it must live on in another production! Make sure you catch that one.

The post “Frida Stroke of Passion” Is Must-See Theater first appeared on .