About
Venessa Verdugo is a descendant of the Verdugo, Pico and Griffith Families of Los Angeles. A California native born and raised, her elementary school years were spent at Bethany Baptist in Whittier, later graduating from the Rosary Academy for Girls. After attending Cal State Fullerton, Venessa further her studies at the Stella Adler Conservatory West at the suggestion of actor Benicio del Toro.
While interning for casting director Bonnie Timmermann on Michael Mann’s blockbuster HEAT, she was able to get her SAG card as well as meet and watch Al Pacino, Robert De Niro and many other legendary actors work.
As the daughter of a homicide detective, it is her desire to use her work to give victims of crime a voice. In 2010 Venessa wrote and performed her first solo show HEIRESS,’69, based on the life of Manson murder victim/coffee heiress Abigail Folger. Her next show; HOOLIGANI, deals with the subject of human trafficking and had a successful run at the 2025 Hollywood Fringe Festival. The show was officially selected for the Binge Fringe at Santa Monica Playhouse in the fall of 2025.
Projects
Venessa's latest solo show, HOOLIGANI, tells the story of Russian Madame Tetyana.
Though found guilty of the crimes of human trafficking and prostitution by the jury ( the audience), Russian Madame Tetyana Komisaruk has returned to make her case before they decide what her punishment will be.
Based on true events that took place in the 90’s, HOOLIGANI tells the story of a tumultuous time in world and local history.
The show, written and performed by Venessa, premiered at the Hollywood Fringe Festival in 2025. In the fall of 2025, the show was selected for the Binge Fringe Festival at Santa Monica Playhouse and was performed at the 30 minutes Or Less Festival at the Stephanie Feury Theatre in Los Angeles, January 2026.
Manson murder victim/ coffee heiress Abigail Folger returns from death to speak at a parole hearing for her killers. At this time she reveals to the parole board (the audience) her memories of family, childhood and life along with the dreams she had for it before it was so viciously taken from her. She pursues to answer the question why her life ended as it did. Was her murder, along with those of the other victims, fate or could it have been avoided?
The story, written by Venessa,originated as a one woman show. The book version is available on Kindle and the short film can be watched on Prime.
Photos
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