Company in the News Nov-2024

See what PlayGround-LA Writers, Alumni, and Company Members are up to this November!

A few of Jonathan Josephson‘s spooky Wicked Lit adaptations were produced throughout October including several productions of “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” as well as the academic premiere of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The New Catacomb” (which, according to the Conan Doyle Database, is the only theatrical adaption of this story every produced!). He also began multiple playwriting workshops at Muir High School in Pasadena and will serve as a Playwright Mentor for Ensemble Theatre’s Young Playwright’s Program. More at jonathanjosephson.com

Michael Kaplan‘s play “Four Top” is running at The Group Rep Theatre in North Hollywood through November 17th. This is a fun, brisk relationship comedy that is receiving rave reviews. Learn more here!

Playground-LA’s Casting Associate Scarlett Redmond helped cast the brand new game show BUY IT NOW, now streaming on Prime! Give it a watch!

Playground-LA Writer’s Circle alumna Rachel Borders was announced as a winner of the 2024/2025 Play LA prize. Over the next year she and four other playwrights will each write a new play while paired with a local LA theatre. Learn more here!

Allie Costa has a recurring role on The Kit Bull Story, which is streaming whenever you listen to podcasts. Two of her plays, Low Tide and Domesticated, will be performed by Patch Plays in London on November 3rd. What’s Past is Prologue will be part of the Salem State University Veterans Play Festival in Massachusetts November 8th-10th. Clean Slate will be produced at Colgate University in New York November 15th and 16th. Starting in mid-November, two of her plays will be streaming on Open-Door Playhouse: Two Girls, directed by Bernadette Armstrong, and Rise Up, directed by Rachel Berney Needleman, who also directed the first staged reading of Rise Up at PlayGround! Learn more here!

Evan Baughfman‘s newest play, HAPPY DEATHNIGHT- a sci-fi comedy inspired by both “The Terminator” and the song, “Happy Birthday”- will be a part of the Force of Nature Productions show, “The SyFi Channel Focus Group Experience.” This is the companion piece to FON’s latest show, “SHPIDER!”- a spoof of B-movie creature films. Both “SHPIDER!” and “Focus Group” play on weekends in November at the Brickhouse Theatre in North Hollywood. More info available here!

Baylee Shlichtman‘s play PENELOPE: A LESSON IN DROWNING will receive its LA Premiere with Secondary Location productions at the McCadden Place Theatre. Directed by Jahnavi Aithal. Dates November 15 at 8pm, November 16 at 2 pm and 8 pm, and November 17 at 2pm. Learn more here!

Frieda de Lackner is directing a staged reading of The Dragon’s Chosen, the first place screenplay winner at the Ojai Film Festival on Nov 3. Mae Ruling and Tony Kim star in the performance. Her film, 172 Push-Ups, based on Scott Mullen’s play and staring Playground members Krystal Mosley, Christina Wren, Jonathan Wray, Jahnavi Alyssa, and Jon Gentry, screens at the Ojai Film Festival on Nov 4. Learn more here!

Forrest Hartl is directing an immersive improv show, Theatre 101: Live!, at his alma mater, Cerritos College December 5-15.