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Reviews
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Grease
"Monika Peña as Sandy has more than one song on her own—“It’s Raining on Prom Night,” “Hopelessly Devoted,” and “Look at Me, I’m Sandra Dee (Reprise)”—and shines in each, her voice capturing the sweet strength and trepidation of a young girl learning to make her own decisions."
-- Anita W. Harris, LA Theatrix
-- Anita W. Harris, LA Theatrix
Man of La Mancha
"As Aldonza, a radiant, gutsy Monika Peña reveals crystal-clear legit pipes (in an exquisite 'Dulcinea' reprise) to match the rocker vocals she showed off as Chance Theater's Lizzie Borden,"
-- Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA
-- Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA
"[Peña’s] raw emotions become razor-edged, showing masterful deliveries and execution.”
“Her character of a regularly abused firebrand hellion is played with just the right amount of sullenness, and presented as a complex woman trying to find her own self-worth and dignity in tough conditions. And Ms. Peña handily fills her mantle with layers of complexity.”
-- Chris Daniels, The Show Report
“Her character of a regularly abused firebrand hellion is played with just the right amount of sullenness, and presented as a complex woman trying to find her own self-worth and dignity in tough conditions. And Ms. Peña handily fills her mantle with layers of complexity.”
-- Chris Daniels, The Show Report
Lizzie: The Musical
• OVATION AWARD WINNER - Best Production of a Musical (Intimate Theater)
• OVATION AWARD NOMINEE - Best Lead Actress in a Musical
"...all four women are exceptionally strong, both dramatically and vocally, particularly Monika Peña in the title role... Peña imbues her strident character with grim determination,"
-- Tom Titus, LA Times
-- Tom Titus, LA Times
"Once again, I am incredibly impressed by the excellent Monika Peña... who plays Lizzie with a relate-able sensitivity that slowly stokes a fiery, bubbling aggravation that is mesmerizing to watch unfold. Of course, it helps that she has the singing pipes to truly realize this metamorphosis."
-- Michael Quintos, Broadway World
-- Michael Quintos, Broadway World
"Ms. Peña’s take on Lizzie as a double murderer, not to mention being totally nuts and still managing to be engaging – even endearing, is truly spectacular. "
-- Chris Daniels, The Show Report
-- Chris Daniels, The Show Report
"Peña, equaling if not surpassing her sensational star turn in last year's Violet, digging into Lizzie's anger and her pain and her primal urges while belting out sky-high notes to rival the roughest rock diva."
-- Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA
-- Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA
Violet
"Peña's performance of the title role is ultimately a winning one---a manic cacophony of emotions both subtle and overt, tinged with a palpable ache and longing in her singing voice that is evident right from the start."
-- Michael Quintos, Broadway World
-- Michael Quintos, Broadway World
"...and shine she does in a performance of depth, guts, humor, pain, and resilience. Add to that sensational vocals that bring Tesori and Hawley's songs to glorious life and you've got a radiant, career-propelling star turn that alone makes Violet a must-see"
-- Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA
-- Steven Stanley, StageSceneLA
Claudio Quest
"Pena [is a] first-rate pop-and-rock musical theater singer... Pena’s plucky, fearless, charismatic Fish is a feisty bundle of energy who yearns to soar."
-- Eric Marchese, The OC Register
-- Eric Marchese, The OC Register
