THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES Cast Spotlight: Maria Manzano Johnson & September Schecter

Maria Manzano Johnson holds a Master's Degree in Theatre from Binghamton University and has worked professionally as an actress, storyteller, director and teaching-artist. She is thrilled to be performing with Bigger Dreams Productions once again after having way too much fun in A Comedy of Tenors and Love, Loss and What I Wore. She has also acted locally with Catskill Community Players and most recently appeared in The Savannah Sipping Society. She has acted in numerous productions at the Cider Mill Playhouse and toured with Creative Theatre of Princeton and the Appleseed Players, a company she co-founded. Maria has also performed at the Home for Contemporary Theater and Art in NYC and with Scranton Public Theater. She has worked in film and performed in commercials for television and radio. Maria lives in Oneonta with her incredibly supportive husband, Eric and their crazy dog Paolo.

Coming back to community theater for her fourth performance in The Vagina Monologues, September considers community theater to be a form of self-care and a way to re-live some of the best memories from high school and college. September is a local high school History teacher, teaching US History, Women’s History and Human Rights - helping to educate her students on the subjects that surround VM. Winston Churchill said in 1948 - “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” a sentiment that she works in earnest to have not apply to her students. September truly wishes that in coming to VM you are able to find healing and connection with the monologues that you hear. Know that if you relate to any of the actions or situations shared during this performance that you are not alone, and she hopes that you find VM to be as healing as she has.