MAECHI AHARANWA
ACTOR . WRITER . COACH . DIRECTOR
CONNECT WITH MAECHI
ABOUT MAECHI
ACTING
Maechi is a native New Yorker, a Princess Grace Award recipient (Gant Gaither Theatre Fellowship), and a graduate of The Juilliard School Drama Division.
At Juilliard she was honored to receive the Drama Division's John Houseman Prize for excellence in classical theater and to accept the Joseph W. Polisi, Artist as Citizen Award at graduation.
A few of her favorite credits include: The Greeks Part III: The Gods (Andromache), Julius Caesar(Cassius), A Raisin in the Sun (Beneatha), Sweet (Retha), and Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Martha).
Maechi spent a year at Circle in the Square Theatre School and received her BA from Temple University where she studied Theatre and African American Studies before completing her graduate level training at Juilliard. She is a company member at The Actors Center (www.theactorscenter.org).
TEACHING/COACHING
While Maechi completed her graduate training she continued to keep her passion for outreach work alive. As a teaching artist she was a part of the Juilliard ArtREACH team in Homestead, Florida and New Orleans, Louisiana, developed and was the team leader for the Juilliard Drama Intensive at Snow College, and was active as a recipient of the Gluck Community Service Fellowship.
Maechi has worked as a teaching artist for Harlem School of the Arts, The Open Eye Theater, ASTEP, IRC and in New York City Public Schools. She has developed and coordinated programs for The Juilliard School aboard Queen Mary II.
When Maechi isn't on stage she works as a private acting coach and is currently the Director of the arts education program PROJECT CLASSICS at The Classical Theatre of Harlem, where she is an Artistic Associate. For more information about actor coaching and testimonials please contact Maechi HERE.
WRITING/PRODUCING
For her company S*Fab PRODUCTIONS Maechi co-wrote, directed and produced the award winning web series Shitty Fabulous Lives.
Upcoming projects include the short LEE(in post- production) written and directed by Maechi and an Untitled Romantic Comedy(in pre-production).
You can watch the first episode of her latest project PLACEHOLDERS The Series by CLICKING HERE.
MOTHERS
“Ms. Aharanwa is a laugh and a half, beaming and preening as her arched eyebrows and fluttering eyelashes betray her thinly veiled judgments."
— Maya Philips, THE NEW YORK TIMES
UP NEXT
JULY - DECEMBER 2022
WORKSHOPS & READINGS
Maechi will work on the role of Ebony in the NBT workshop of Lee Edward Colston's FOR WHICH IT STANDS directed by Bianca Laverne Jones.
Maechi will take part in Manhattan Theatre Club's workshop of Jocelyn Bioh's Broadway Bound play, JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING. The workshop will be directed by Whitney White.
Maechi will be in a reading of Moliere's IMAGINARY CUCKOLD DIRECTED BY Lucie Tiberghien for the Consulate General of France's Bastille Day Celebration at Summerstage in Central Park.
MARCH 2022 - MAY 2022
READINGS & SEE YOU OUTSIDE (IN THE PARK)
Maechi will play Celimene in Moliere In The Park's inaugural production of THE MISANTHROPE. The production will be directed by the company's Artistic Director, Lucie Tiberghien. Opening Night is scheduled for May 13, 2022. For more information visit www.moliereinthepark.org.
Maechi will be in a reading of Donja R. Love's play WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ALL THAT BEAUTY, directed by Malika Oyetimein at Philadelphia Theatre Company.
DECEMBER 2021
WORKSHOP HAPPENINGS
Maechi will workshop JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING, a new play by Jocelyn Bioh at Manhattan Theatre Club.
SEPTEMBER 2021 - OCTOBER 2021
IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN THE THEATRE.
Maechi will join Weston Playhouse Theatre Company as the company wraps up its 2021 season with a production of Katori Hall’s popular and acclaimed play, THE MOUNTAINTOP, directed by Raz Golden.
Maechi will play Camae. For more information click here.
SEPTEMBER 2020 - MAY 2021
WORKSHOPS, READINGS, AUDIO & RADIO PLAYS
Maechi will play Ramona in the Arden Theatre Company's production of 74 SECONDS TO JUDGEMENT: A RADIO PLAY by Kash Goins, Directed by Amina Robinson. For tickets and detailed information CLICK HERE.
Maechi will play May Miller in AN ICON'S BELIEF IN FALLEN SOLDIERS by Chima CHIKAZUNGA part of ICONS: HARLEM RENAISSANCE IN MOTION - The Classical Theatre of Harlem, in collaboration with Venus Radio Theater, presents ICONS: Harlem Renaissance in Motion, a stunning collection of radio dramas performed and written by black artists in celebration of the Harlem Renaissance.
Prepare to be taken back in time, to hear of the lives and stories of Harlem’s greats as embodied by today’s best performers and writers. Featuring a slate of playwrights curated by Shawn René Graham, ICONS is the binge you’ve been waiting for.
Maechi will workshop La Race by 2021 Page 73 Playwriting Fellow BLEU BECKFORD-BURRELL Directed by TAMILLA WOODARD
Maechi will participate in the developmental workshop of This Space Between Us by 2013 Interstate 73 Playwright PETER GIL-SHERIDAN Directed by MARGOT BORDELON.
FEBRUARY 2020 - MARCH 2020
WINTER WORKSHOPS & READINGS
Maechi will play Ann in NY Classical Theatre's staged reading of Carlyle Brown's drama THE AFRICAN COMPANY PRESENTS RICHARD III dircted by Stephen Burdman. Set in 1821 the play is based on the true story of the first African American theatre company in New York City.
Maechi will participate in the developmental reading of YEMANDJA, playing the role of Abeni. Book by Naima Hebrail Kidjo, music by Angelique Kidjo, with direction by Cheryl Lynn Bruce. The reading will be produced by Rachel Chanoff of The Office Performing Arts + Film
DECEMBER 2019
HOUGHTON FESTIVAL
Maechi is thrilled to return to The Juilliard School's Houghton Festival Readings at Signature Theatre.
She will participate in a workshop and staged reading of PRIMARY TRUST written by Eboni Booth and directed by Knud Adams.
NOVEMBER 2019
ANTICIPATED 2020 RELEASE
Maechi will play Dinah Lockmeyer in the film INTRUSION produced by FireFly Films, written by Brian Broome & Brad Grimm who will also direct. In INTRUSION "Retired" Detective Michael Manzeno is hired to investigate the mysterious death of Caroline Lockmeyer in the beachfront town of Ocean Crest. In order to unravel the truth surrounding Caroline's death, Zeno must harness his gift - "The Messenger," an aberration of his past who guides him through the web of dangers lurking beneath the surface of this decaying beach town. The case quickly grows more complicated revealing a string of drugs, violence, and corruption stemming from the Cardinal Skulls, a dangerous cult seeking power beyond the physical world.
AUGUST - OCTOBER 2019
WORLD PREMIERE
Maechi will be Ariana in The Playwrights Realm world premiere production of MOTHERS by Anna Moench, directed by Robert Ross Parker.
"The moms at Mommy-Baby Meetup are used to competing
— whoever’s the most devoted to her family, has the best-
behaved child, and the most satisfied husband wins. But
as the chaos of the outside world encroaches on their turf,
passive-aggression falls by the wayside, and each mom will
have to decide just how much she loves her child."
Previews begin September 13th.
For tickets and information CLICK HERE.
MAY/JULY 2019
SUMMER WORKSHOPS & READINGS
Maechi will be in the Vineyard Theatre's workshop of Antoinette Nwandu's TUVALU OR THE SADDEST SONG directed by Danya Taymor.
Maechi will be in the reading of WHEN WE WERE KINGS, currently being adapted for the stage, directed by Niegel Smith.
Maechi will be in Roundabout Theatre's reading of ORANGE CRUSH by Daniel Goldstein directed by Trip Cullman.
JANUARY - APRIL 2019
WORLD PREMIERE
Maechi will be in the upcoming world premiere of Tori Sampson’s IF PRETTY HURTS UGLY MUST BE A MUHFUCKA, directed by Leah C. Gardiner and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly, at Playwrights Horizons. The new play, a Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist, is a contemporary riff on a West African fable brimming with live music and dance. For detailed information and tickets CLICK HERE.