Rising Star Venessa Verdugo: “Putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes before we act or speak can prevent so much hurt and misunderstandings; We never know what someone is going through behind closed doors.” Read the full article by Yitzi Weiner on Medium (member-only story)

"Venessa Verdugo plays Hooligani with an almost careless ease. She channels this terrible woman, this spiteful, vengeful ice queen of sex trafficking and drug smuggling. Capable of doing just about anything for money, like so many criminals before her, she makes her flimsy excuses. For my family. For freedom. For fear. All lies are easily seen through. But Venessa spins them with impressive believability. Hooligani is ‘Sopranos’ like in its impeccable, sickening validity. [..

Venessa has added another character to her solo show HOOLIGANI which she hopes to premiere at future festivals. She continues to write and work with producer Jessica Lynn Johnson and take acting classes with acclaimed director and coach John Coppola.