My Shows
News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

PlayGround-LA Celebrates Season 9 With Best Of PlayGround-LA Gala

Plays to be presented in this year's Best of PlayGround are: Guiding Light by Starina Johnson, We Jump Broom by Mildred Inez Lewis, Courage by Scott Mullen and more.

By:

PlayGround-LA Celebrates Season 9 With Best Of PlayGround-LA Gala Image

PlayGround-LA will cap off its ninth season on Monday evening, April 12, with Best of PlayGround-LA, a one-night gala celebration of the best playwrights and short plays selected from more than 150 submissions and 36 works developed as part of the season's Monday Night PlayGround staged reading series. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's gala event will be live streamed only via Zoom on April 12, with actors performing remotely.

The Gala will feature an all-star performance of the six Best of PlayGround winners and, at the conclusion of the evening, audience members will participate in the selection of the People's Choice Award and recipient of the 2021 PlayGround-LA full-length play commission. The event is admission-free (donations gratefully accepted) and includes a virtual reception with the artists following the show. Advance reservations are required and include access to the live-stream and on-demand viewing for up to one week. For tickets or more information, visit PlayGround-LA.org/bestof. Zoom access information will be sent on the day of the performance. All proceeds support PlayGround-LA's playwright incubator programs.

Best of PlayGround-LA

The six plays to be presented in this year's Best of PlayGround are:

Guiding Light by Starina Johnson
We Jump Broom by Mildred Inez Lewis
Courage by Scott Mullen
Underworld by Nicholas C. Pappas
The Speck by Nicki Spencer
Waiting for Umoja by Daysha Veronica

About the Plays

Guiding Light by Starina Johnson
A new look at one of the oldest stories in history that started one of the most popular religions of all time.

We Jump Broom by Mildred Inez Lewis
In the Antebellum South, star-crossed lovers consider their future.

Courage by Scott Mullen
In the midst of a global pandemic, two strangers reflect on their life decisions and regrets.

Underworld by Nicholas C. Pappas
Tensions are high between two rulers of the underworld as they try to help a man process his death.

The Speck by Nicki Spencer
A woman's interview for her dream job is challenged by an unexpected visitor.

Waiting for Umoja by Daysha Veronica
A family faces old tensions during Christmas dinner as the conversation turns to gender roles, politics, and Kwanza.

Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Direction of a Play - Top 3
1. Joe Mantello - Death of a Salesman
21.1% of votes
2. Duncan MacMillan, Jeremy Herrin - Every Brilliant Thing
15.6% of votes
3. Whitney White - Liberation
9.8% of votes

Need more Los Angeles Theatre News in your life?
Sign up for all the news on the Spring season, discounts & more...


Videos


The Most Happy Fella in Los Angeles The Most Happy Fella
North Coast Repertory Theatre (6/03-6/28)
In the Blink of an Eye: A Musical Memoir in Los Angeles In the Blink of an Eye: A Musical Memoir
The Pico (6/19-6/21)
Hunting the Irish Heiress in Los Angeles Hunting the Irish Heiress
Newport Theatre Arts Center (6/05-6/05) VIDEOS
Melt : The Play in Los Angeles Melt : The Play
The Marilyn Theatre at the Lee Strasberg Institute (6/11-6/13) PHOTOS
A Haunting Revue II in Los Angeles A Haunting Revue II
Impro Theatre (6/06-6/26) PHOTOS
Chameleon - A New Musical in Los Angeles Chameleon - A New Musical
Hudson Theatre - MainStage (6/03-6/07)
My Life is a Sonnet in Los Angeles My Life is a Sonnet
Broadwater Studio (6/07-6/27)
Mike Blaha: Pivotal Nomad in Los Angeles Mike Blaha: Pivotal Nomad
Broadwater Studio (6/07-6/24)
MISS MAGNOLIA BEAUMONT GOES TO PROVINCETOWN in Los Angeles MISS MAGNOLIA BEAUMONT GOES TO PROVINCETOWN
Los Angeles LGBT Center’s Davidson/Valentini Theatre (6/17-6/28) PHOTOS VIDEOS
Jenn Collela: LIVE at the Nikko in Los Angeles Jenn Collela: LIVE at the Nikko
Feinstein's at the Nikko (6/04-6/05) PHOTOS