Monica Ortega
Where it All Began
Monica comes to Los Angeles, via Nashville, TN and originally from the suburban town of Holt, MI. She began competing in vocal competitions when she was just eight years old. Her solo singing began when she started singing the National Anthem at sporting events ranging from high school basketball games, to local rodeos and trapshooting competitions. After staring in every high school play and musical, she started taking on more of a production role writing and directing a show called "Drama Night Live" at the age of only fifteen.
She briefly studied Musical Theatre at Roosevelt University's Theatrical Conservatory in Chicago, Illinois before transferring to Western Michigan University. She graduated in 2005 with a BA in Theatre Performance.
Early Career
At the age of 20, Monica began her professional career at the Double JJ Ranch and Golf Resort in Rothbury, MI. At the Double JJ she was trained and performed in stunt shows and slowly realized that jumping off 30ft. buildings, while exciting, was not something she wanted to do long-term. She also had leads in Children's Theatre, Improvisation and sketch comedy shows, Singing and Dancing Variety shows, and even rode a bull while performing. For two years, she played Janet Weiss in the Rocky Horror Show. In 2005 she became the Entertainment Supervisor at the resort and worked there for two more years before moving to Nashville.
Nashville Living
In November 2007, Monica moved to Nashville with nothing more than an air mattress, a suitcase, and lots of big dreams. By the end of December she began working as a Line Dance Instructor/Entertainer at the world-famous Wildhorse Saloon with her first official day emceeing for country superstar Craig Morgan. In May 2008 her career began to take off after being a featured dancer in the Alan Jackson music video "Good Time". Soon afterwards she signed with The Block Agency and went on to being in Music Video's by Billy Currington, Trailer Choir, Montgomery Gentry, Image, Steve Richard, and Emily Osment. In August 2008 she assisted in the videography and directing of the John Karl video "Redneck Rich, Hillbilly Happy" as well as choreographing the line dance.
Monica has also been featured in commercials for America's Best Eyeglasses, Acceptance Insurance, Value City Furniture, Mary Kay, the Armed forces and a series of law commercials. She has done print ad's for First Tennessee Bank and Dollar General. Monica has emcee'd for events such as the Bret Michael's After-Show Party and hosted singing competitions at the Wildhorse. Living in Nashville less than two years, she has performed for Alan Jackson at the CMA awards and seen teaching a line dance to Gene Simmons on his reality show "Family Jewels" on A&E.
After writing and producing the Halloween show "Ghoul's Night Out" at the Wildhorse and performing and producing shows at A Cowboy Town in White's Creek, she ventured into creating her own company Variety Entertainment to offer her skills and abilities in creating shows to others. With this company she began the 80's rock party band The Manic Monkeys. In April 2009, Monica competed and became a finalist twice in the Wildhorse "Sing to Win" competition. Both her originals and party band covers can be heard at www.myspace.com/MonicaOrtega7 and www.myspace.com/TheManicMonkeys. To learn more or book entertainment, check out her company at www.Variety-Entertainment.com
Los Angeles Latest
In the fall of 2010, Monica was working in Nashville and randomly ran into the agent she was trying to get a meeting with in Los Angeles. As fate would have it, this agent was moving to Nashville and wanted to sublease Monica's place. It was then that she made another life change and decided to move across the country to Los Angeles to pursue a new level of dreams. |
Bio
