Maija DiGiorgio

Maija DiGiorgio is a comedian, actress, and film director from New York City. "As the daughter of an Italian native father, an African American mother, an Irish step mom, a Korean aunt and an old Sicilian grandmother. I don't know whether to be aggressive aggressive, passive aggressive, passive passive or slave slave." Maija’s comedy is her personal commentary on dating, relationships, heritage, politics, culture and more. Maija enjoys making people laugh through her translation of the human condition, peppered with stories from different times of her life.

Comedy career

DiGiorgio began her comedy career in New York City where she was born and raised. Her high-voltage stage act was recognized by the Daily News and the New York Post warning audiences, “to catch Maija before television audiences do”.

DiGiorgio made her national television debut on NBC’s Showtime at the Apollo where she received three standing ovations. In the following months, she made appearances on Russell Simmons’ Def Comedy Jam, NBC’s Friday Night, PBS’ Into the Mix, The Keenan Ivory Wayans’ Show, and performed at HBO’s Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen. She then wrote her first one woman show - Rats! - which she performed Off-Off-Broadway and for which she received rave reviews. DiGiorgio also made appearances on Def Comedy Jam, Sex and the City, Fred Silverman's Mouth Off, and Byron Allen's Comics Unleashed, ”, Fox's "Laughs," BET's "Comic View," Showtime's "Michael Vick Comedy Explosion," Netflix's "Uncontrolled Comedy Hour,". DiGiorgio attended the Edinburgh Festival Fringe where she debuted the Hollywood Outlaw Comedy Tour. She co-created the show America Dehoochified: The Smart Women's Guide to Men, which she performs at universities across the U.S.

Maija has performed at legendary venues from The Beacon Theater to the Apollo to hundreds of top comedy clubs, festivals, and military bases, throughout the United States to Japan and around the world. Time Out New York referred to her as "the Excellent Maija" and one of "the freshest, funniest, unique voices to grace the microphone." The New York Daily News wrote, "Don't miss Maija. Catch her before TV audiences do."

Maija has performed with a myriad of industry standouts, including Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Dane Cook, Wanda Sykes, Jim Norton, Lisa Lampanelli, Jeff Ross, Louis CK, Mike Epps, and Tracy Morgan.

Career in films

DiGiorgio took a break from the comedy circuit to focus on her film career. She directed the film, "Bitter Jester," which centered on being a female comic in search of pursuit of justice and honor in the art of stand up. and featured over 50 stars from the world of comedy, including George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Chevy Chase, Kevin James, Phyllis Diller, Rich Vos,Jim Norton and more, screened on the festival circuit at Cinequest, TriBeca Film Festival, and the US Comedy Arts Festival among others. DiGiorgio later released the director’s cut, titled Hollywood Outlaw Movie. DiGiorgio formed Hollywood Outlaws, Inc. under which to write, direct, and produce films and stage productions.

A Sanford Meisner trained actress under William Alderson, Maija performed a one woman tour de force, "RATS!" from New York City to California. Her performance featured six stories of love gone wrong told through six modernized Shakespearean characters receiving rave reviews.

Career in Radio

She made her mark in radio when she co-hosted "The Hot 97 Morning Show with Ed and Maija" with Ed Lover, in New York City. During her tenure, at the station, their morning show was the number one radio station in the country.^[1]

Early life

Born and raised in New York City. By the time she was six, she was booked as a drummer on the set of Francis Ford Coppola’s Cotton Club. By eight, she was performing showstopping musical numbers with Chazz Palminteri in the Off Broadway, The King’s Men (on the Paul Whiteman Band). Maija grew up as no stranger to show business. Her mother, Sylvia Copeland, was a renowned concert vocalist and prodigy on the piano who performed around the world. Maija grew up in the tap studio of her uncle, Tony Award winning choreographer, Henry Le Tang. Due to the combined influence of her family, Maija was introduced to a show business world that transformed her into the dynamic, well rounded character actress that she is today

References