Company in the News Sep-2024

See what PlayGround Writers, Company Members, and Alumni are up to this September!

Ben Chau-Chiu is the assistant director of Cal Shakes’ AS YOU LIKE IT, directed by Elizabeth Carter. Also working on the production are fellow PlayGround company members Rebecca Ennals, Leontyne Mbele-Mbong, Jed Parsario, Stacy Ross, Jeunee Simon, and Chris Steele! It’s very queer and BIPOC-filled! Runs Sep 12-29, Thurs-Sun. Tickets $75-85, students $25, parking pass $10. More info available here.

Natalia Delgado is the stage manager for the World Premiere of PARADISE, written by Tere Martinez and directed by Samuel Prince. The production is presented by La Lengua Teatro en Español and Brava Theater at BRAVA THEATER’s Studio (upstairs), 2781 24th St, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA from September 5th – 29.  More info available here.

Lana Richards will be directing a staged reading of American Hunger by Nikhil Mahapatra for the New Works Festival at EnActe Arts on September 14. More info here.

Ross Peter Nelson‘s production company, Raven’s Feather, will be presenting Bremner Duthie in SINGING INTO THE DARK, 1934 at the Helena Avenue Theatre September 19-22. More info here.

Rachel Bublitz‘s play FUNNY, LIKE AN ABORTION opens the third and final production in its National New Play Network’s Rolling World Premiere on September 21st with The VORTEX in San Antonio, Texas. More info available here.

Julia Brothers goes into rehearsal for the world premiere of the almost 100-year-old play, SUMP’N LIKE WINGS by Lynn Riggs at The Mint Theater on Theater Row in NYC. Directed by Raelle Myrick-Hodges (Bay Area represents!), the play runs September 21st – November 2nd. More info available here.

Excerpts from three of Maury Zeff‘s short stories will be performed by actors and streamed online in the New Short Fiction Series, Los Angeles’ longest-running spoken word series, on Wednesday, September 25 at 7:00 pm (PT). More info available here.

Kimberly Ridgeway is directing THE THANKSGIVING PLAY at the Altarena Playhouse (Alameda, CA) from October 25 – November 24, 2025. More info available here.

Linda Ayres-Frederick is looking forward to the filming of her short piece ALMOST later in October on location at Phoenix Theatre which will be directed by Dave Usner. It is currently in pre-production. She is also very excited to be featured with Pablo Sanfrancisco in Lisa-Marie Newton’s STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN, which will also be filmed in October in Pacifica. Lisa-Marie and Pablo will also be in ALMOST. Both film projects are part of the Encounters Film Collective “Stairwells” Series.

Annette Amelia Oliveira lent her talents to two new audiobooks now available on Audible.com (or in your library). In Obitchuary, a comic take on this literary genre, she did straight reads of some very odd obituaries for Penguin Random House Audio. In Scholastic Audio’s graphic novel, The Deep Dark, Annette plays an Abuela who deeply loves her trans granddaughter yet regularly sends her down to the cellar to feed the monster.

Gisela Feied starts this fall at Cornish School for the Arts in Seattle. They’re very sad to be so far from the Bay Area, but very grateful for the opportunity to continue their education in a city that feels a lot like home. Best believe Gisela will be watching Monday Night Playground streaming and they will return to the Bay. Break legs, friends!

Michael Barrett Austin recently portrayed Edward Kynaston in the ARC Players’ reading of  COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY and is preparing for a workshop of THE BRIDGE, a new musical by Patricia Cotter and the Kilbanes, at Marin Theatre.

Melina Cohen-Bramwell was the assistant dramaturg on THE UNTIME at Marin Shakes, which closed recently.

Cindy Goldfield is starting rehearsal soon for Fallen Angels at the Aurora. More info here.

Everett Holland had the opportunity to attend Venture For America’s selection day.