Company in the News June 2023
See what PlayGround-LA Writers, Alumni, and Company Members are up to this June!
Joni Ravenna‘s critically acclaimed, one man play, “Beethoven and Misfortune Cookies,” will have a special performance SATURDAY NIGHT, JUNE 24th @ 8:00pm at The Chance Theater in Anaheim as part of the Chance fundraiser. Mention “joni” for $10 dollars off the ticket price. Tickets available here. “Beethoven and Misfortune Cookies” was part of the 2021 San Francisco Playground Solo Festival. Also, Joni Ravenna’s ten minute play (based on Playground’s final prompt for ’23) “TOM CRUISE SAVES THE PLANET” will have a live staged (and taped) reading as part of LEFT EDGE THEATRE’S 2023 International Hindsight Festival on July 3rd, at the California Theater in Santa Rosa.
Sylvia Cervantes Blush is back at UCLA on June 10th premiering Mario Vega’s one act play THE MENDOZAS STORM THE CAPITOL as a script in hand staged reading. No tickets or reservations required. Parking prices vary. UCLA Department of TFT, Macgowan Hall 1330. 1:30pm and 7:00pm. Limited seating. Arrive early to guarantee entrance.
Rhea MacCallum‘s short play, Be My Fur Baby, originally written in response to a Playground prompt, will be produced by Edmonds Driftwood Players in their 12th Annual Festival of Shorts. The production runs from Thursday, June 29th through Sunday, July 2nd at the Wade James Theatre in Edmonds, WA. For additional details, click here.
Julia Belanova is recurring as Sasha on Season Five of Mayans M.C. on FX! You can see Julia in Episode #503, now on Hulu! Click here to watch.
Esther Banegas Gatica encourages you to Support Chicano/An emerging Chicana Playwright/ Female-led theater All-Latine cast /All BIPOC creative team in helping CHICANA LEGEND make it to SHEATL and any little bit helps! This story is Young Lulu embarks on an epic, video game coming-of-age adventure to become “a Chicana Legend” – the ultimate inspiration to her community. Lulu must make good choices, combat small-town chisme and defend her family’s reputation, all with the weight of the community on her shoulders. Just as Abuela warned her…one little mistake, it’s GAME OVER. Will Lulu rise to the challenges of each level or become a Chicana Myth? Press Start to find out! Click here to support!
Evan Baughfman‘s play, TARANTULANCHE!, will have its premier performance June 23-24 as part of EXIT Theatre’s Short Play Festival in Arcata, CA. TARANTULANCHE! was originally written during PlayGround’s 10th season, in response to the prompt “CHILD’S PLAY: ADAPTED NURSERY RHYMES.” (The story is inspired by “The Itsy-Bitsy Spider”… and climate change!) Tickets and info available here.
Allie Costa recently recorded two songs for a fun new musical and she recorded an episode of a podcast interview series. Her play There Will Be Polar Bears will be performed June 18th at the Cockpit Theatre in London. Creepypasta was part of Make the Cut, held at The Pleasance in London, while Dear Neighbor was in a one-night-only festival of site-specific theatre in Massachusetts. Who She Could Have Been, a story of a couple struggling to rebuild and reconnect after losing their child, was performed in Minnesota. Learn more at http://www.alliecosta.com http://www.imdb.me/alliecosta
Bailey Jordan Garcia has been announced as The Director of Mentorship at The Blank Theatre for their 31st year of the Young Playwrights Festival!
Andrew Joseph Perez is about to break the 50-titles mark on Audible after diving into audiobook narration during the pandemic. You can find titles under his name and, for those seeking spice, under his pseudonym Julio Maxwell on www.audible.com.
Mildred Inez Lewis‘ The Peace of Home which won an L.B. Williams award from New Circle Repertory will be read by The Beekeepers Theater at the Pride Playreading in Sheffield, MA. Her script for the short Mirrored has gone into preproduction.
Carolyn Deskin is beginning her Shakespeare training at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts this summer. www.carolyndeskin.com
Rhea MacCallum‘s play, Independence Day, will be produced by Actors Theatre Playhouse, June 8th through the 24th at 7:30 PM in West Chesterfield, New Hampshire.