Company in the News May 2023

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

M.J. Kang’s WATERMELON LOVE, presented at this year’s Best of PlayGround-LA Gala, has been selected to represent PlayGround-LA at the inaugural One PlayGround Festival, taking place June 2-4 at Potrero Stage in San Francisco and simulcast. She is also part of Road Theater’s Under Construction 4 – their virtual group – which features playwrights from all over the U.S.

Allie Costa recently booked and recorded a new audio drama series. She also performed in a workshop of a new musical. She can be heard in Piecing Together the Portraits of You, which was just screened at the Massachusetts Independent Film Festival. Her play Who She Could Have Been runs May 11th-13th at Duluth Playhouse. Learn more at http://www.alliecosta.com http://www.imdb.me/alliecosta

Mae Ruling is performing in the Pretty Funny Women showcase at Flappers in Burbank on May 18th at 8pm. She’d love to see you all there!

Evan Baughfman‘s novel, BAD FOR YOUR TEETH, is now available through D&T Publishing. It’s another scary story—for horror fans young and old. This one is in the “dental horror” subgenre, and it contains a multitude of humor, suspense, and surprise! “What terrible secret does Dr. Sharp hide behind his shiny smile? Eleven-year-old Jase and his quirky, new friend, Braxton, discover there may be very good reason to fear their dentist. The boys believe Dr. Xander Sharp, D.D.S. (“Deadly Dr. Sharp”) and his assistant, Alexis, have kidnapped two of their patients and brainwashed the kids’ parents into thinking their children have gone to “Colorado.” But if the missing middle-schoolers aren’t away in some other state, where could they possibly be?” Available NOW in Hardcover, Paperback, and eBook at: https://mybook.to/Badforyourteeth

Krystal Mosley recently booked a role on the AMC/ALLBLK tv series Wicked City season 2.

Mildred Inez Lewis’ LOUISIANA SHOAL, a 2023 Best of PlayGround selection, is in production for the Fade to Black Fest (Houston, TX). Actors Ensemble of Berkeley is at work on BONWIT TELLER’S REVENGE.

Jully Lee was recently in COLEMAN ’72 by Charlie Oh, now playing at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA. Up next, she will be in the staged reading of CHINESE REPUBLICANS by Alex Lin at Second Stage’s Tony Kiser Theatre in New York on May 22. jullylee.com

Hugo Carbajal is playing the role of Elyot Chase in Arizona Theatre Company’s production of Private Lives, by Noel Coward. Reimagined in Argentina with an all Latine cast. Directed by KJ Sanchez. Playing in Tucson and Phoenix, now thru May 28. See schedule for details.

Joe Luis Cedillo was recently accepted to join Ensemble Studio Theater Los Angeles’s Playwright’s Unit. He’ll also be appearing at the Frida Kahlo Theater in May performing in a workshop production of REAL MEN HAVE CHI-CHIS.

Carolyn Deskin just finished touring Europe with a new standup set. She’s now headed back to Los Angeles to begin filming on a short film.

Lime Arts productions is presenting Twenty By Twenty Fringe all virtual plays and films. Esther Banegas Gatica directed City of Kings and served as a line producer for several pieces. Make sure to support and spread the word and sign up for the free performances here: https://www.limearts.org/fringe

Christina Wren recently appeared in ABC’s Will Trent and filmed an episode of Cross with Aldis Hodge (many thanks to Frieda for the support!!!). She also enjoyed sitting on a panel with Zack and Debbie Snyder as part of the Man of Steel Full Circle event, raising funds for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. It’s an important cause, if you’re looking for one to support!

Jennie Webb‘s new full length “Temporary Measures: a play about legacy” will be presented on Sunday, May 21 at 5pm as part of the Playwrights Union 13th Annual FIRST PEEK reading series. Created during PU’s February writing challenge, “Temporary Measures” is directed by Susan Vanita Diol, and features Kwana Martinez, Katherine Griffith and Brian M. Cole. Admission is free; advance registration required. The reading will feature an ASL interpreter for deaf or hard of hearing audience members.

Joni Ravenna‘s play, “BEETHOVEN AND MISFORTUNE COOKIES” which was part of the 2021 PlayGround Solo Performance Festival and has had dozens of other productions in the last several years, will be performed at The Chance Theatre in Anaheim on June 24th at 8:00pm as part of the Chance Theatre Fundraiser.

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.