Company in the News October 2026

See what PlayGround-LA Writers and Company Members are up to this month including: Jonathan Josephson, Evan Baughfman, Sylvia Cervantes Blush, Allie Costa, Esther Banegas Gatica, Rachel Harner, and Edward Hong!

Jonathan Josephson‘s company Unbound Productions is producing “Wicked Lit 2026: La Llorona and The Headless Horseman” at Chance Theater, five nights only: October 29-November 2, 7:30pm and 9:00pm nightly. The show includes his adaptations “Las Lloronas” and “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” More at wicked-lit.org

Edward Hong will be in the upcoming Renaissance Theaterworks production of Lauren Yee’s THE GREAT LEAP! It will be having its Wisconsin premiere January 10th to 31st, 2027 (Previews Jan 8 & 9). Come through if you happen to be in the Milwaukee/Chicago area! TICKETS

Rachel Harner was named the 2026-2027 recipient of the Jonathan Sethna Harvardwood LGBTQ+ Fellowship for projects that elevate LGBTQ+ characters, themes, and stories by creatives and screenwriters who are Harvard University alumni. She will be developing a 10-episode video science fiction podcast.

Esther Banegas Gatica‘s “Come Tomorrow”, originally part of Monday Night Playground, will be published in the anthology, ¡FUEGO! Fire We Carry: A 10 Years of Works by Breath of Fire Latina Theater Ensemble. It is a collection with forty-six writers with original works and creative contributions reflecting the breadth of the ensemble’s artistic community. The anthology honors the stories that have helped ignite and sustain the organization over the past decade. Book edited by Adriana Alba, Diana Burbano and Sara Guerrero with a book launch event in October 9th in Santa Ana, tickets for sale! MORE INFO

Allie Costa had the good fortune to book several movies this summer, playing everything from a mathematician pursuing her PhD to an otherworldly customer service representative. She also appears in the animated film Blooky: The Book Who Wanted to Be Read, which was screened at Cannes and is currently on the film festival circuit. Her play Drop in the Ocean is currently running in The Bahamas, produced by Shakespeare in Paradise. Her play Boxes Are Magic, which began at PlayGround-LA, was recently performed at The Village Playbox in New Jersey. Her play Don’t Fear the Reaper, which also began at PlayGround-LA, will be performed in New York on October 18th. The earnest mockumentary film The 10th Annual Wanstead Butter Sculpting Competition, which Allie wrote, just had its world premiere in London. Five plays Allie wrote and three films she wrote, directed, edited, and performed in were selected for the Alabama International Fringe Festival. For more information about any of these projects, visit alliecosta.com and imdb.me/alliecosta

Evan Baughfman‘s new story, WRITE OR VERY WRONG, is featured on the Micro Terrors podcast, “…a fictional horror podcast designed to entertain – and spook! – children ages 8 and up.” What is WRITE OR VERY WRONG about? “A girl discovers the dark secret behind a classmate’s amazing writing ability…” Find the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts… And also HERE.

Sylvia Cervantes Blush is directing two staged readings of new works by Sophie Goldstein and Gabby Chavez. Both plays are tackling very important and poignant topics that are guaranteed to spark a flame in your heart. “By Any Means Necessary” by Sophie Goldstein as part of the Company of Angels New Works Festival. “Unproud” by Gabby Chavez with the OC Playwrights Alliance Embark New Works Festival. MORE INFO