HAPPY HAVENS CHURCH OF HIGHER ENLIGHTENMENT To Play Hobgoblin Playhouse

Happy Havens Church of Higher Enlightenment, a new play written and directed by Paris Herbert-Taylor, will make its Los Angeles debut September 8–13 at the Hobgoblin Playhouse in West Hollywood.

Based on Herbert-Taylor's 2024 Samuel French Off-Off Broadway finalist ten-minute play of the same name, the expanded work is a dark comedy exploring faith, community, power and the desire to belong.

The play enters the world of a seemingly welcoming spiritual community centered around the teachings of its charismatic Dear Leader. As the members surrender more of themselves in pursuit of enlightenment, the distinction between devotion and control becomes increasingly difficult to identify.

“I've always been fascinated by the question of why intelligent, seemingly rational people are drawn into groups like this,” said Herbert-Taylor. “That felt like a really fun and unsettling space to explore. I also wanted to use the comedy to examine power, how easily it is handed over, how quickly it can be abused, and how absolute power corrupts, even if you have the purest intentions starting out.”

The production will feature Colin Koth (Lioness, The Upshaws), Lindsay Elston (High Potential, NCIS: NOLA), Lee Shorten (The Man in the High Castle, Ghost of Tsushima, Swan Song), Mae Ruling (Carole & Clark), David William and Martin Renteria.

Herbert-Taylor, who works primarily as a screenwriter and producer, returns to live theater with the production, serving as both writer and director. Samantha Schoen produces.

“Getting to put something on its feet ourselves has been an incredibly rewarding return to the immediacy of making theatre,” Herbert-Taylor said. “There's something special about building a world from scratch with actors in a room and then getting to share it directly with an audience.”