I’m Chana Wise, a Southern California playwright, librettist, and lyricist whose work spans musical theatre, plays, and songs. My writing combines humor, heart, and richly drawn characters, exploring the relationships that define our lives.

I wrote the book and lyrics for Mary Marie (NAMT Festival, 2014; Richard Rodgers Award finalist, 2015; TRU Voices finalist, 2019), Bagels! The Musical (Neil Simon Festival New Play finalist, 2015; JETfest finalist, 2016; TRU Voices finalist, 2019), Tinseltown Christmas, and the short musical film The Coffee Quintet, all with music by Carl Johnson. I have also written lyrics for The Max Factor Factor, Earthbound, The Island, and Cardinal Sins. My songs have been performed by the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra and the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra.

My newest play, Koroneiki, will receive its world premiere at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles in February and March 2027. Mary Marie has also been selected for PCPA’s InterPlay Series as part of its 63rd Season, with a staged reading planned for Summer 2027.

In addition to my ongoing collaboration with composer Carl Johnson, I continue to develop new theatrical works including my newest show with composer Kevin Kelso: The Food Show, a new musical revue celebrating our lifelong relationship with food.

Thank you for visiting. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to explore the site, learn more about my work, and, if you’d like to stay informed about future productions and projects, join my mailing list.