France-Luce Benson News

Playwrights Foundation, the West Coast’s premier launchpad for exceptional new plays and playwrights, has announced the semifinalists and finalists for the 45th Bay Area Playwrights Festival (BAPF), which will be presented as a hybrid (in-person and streamed) festival July 29-August 07, 2022. For more information and a complete list of winners, the public may visit  playwrightsfoundation.org or call 415-626-2176.

The Fountain Theatre extends its world premiere production of Detained through May 15. Written by France-Luce Benson, conceived and co-created by immigration attorney Judy Rabinovitz, this gripping new docudrama is based on interviews with longtime U.S. residents held in immigration detention, and with their family members, advocates, attorneys and representatives of ICE.

 How do families stay together, even when they are kept apart? Performances of Detained at Fountain Theatre will continue through April 10.

Certainly, almost every American can talk about how we are descendants of immigrants who dreamed of living in a free country and did whatever was necessary to arrive on our shores. As a direct descendant of four grandparents and one parent who escaped from Eastern Europe in the early 20th Century, when I read about the Fountain Theatre presenting the world premiere of DETAINED, written by The Lily's 2021 Lorraine Hansberry Award-winning playwright France-Luce Benson, 'a gripping new docudrama composed of a compilation of true stories that explores the rippling impact of mass deportations on families,' I knew I wanted to speak with her about her inspiration and vision for the play.

How do families stay together, even when they are kept apart? The Fountain Theatre presents a gripping new docudrama, a compilation of true stories that explores the rippling impact of mass deportations on families. The world premiere of Detained, written by 2021 Lorraine Hansberry Award-winning playwright France-Luce Benson and directed by Mark Valdez, winner of the 2021 Zelda Fichandler Award, opens February 19 at the Fountain Theatre.

The Lillys has announced the winners of the 2021 Lilly Awards. 

Jon Lawrence Rivera, Artistic Director of Playwrights' Arena – the first and oldest theater dedicated to discovering, nurturing, and producing original works written exclusively by Los Angeles playwrights – has announced the cast for WAITING by Daniel A. Olivas, which includes Shanelle Darlene, Valentina Guerra, Amir Levi, and Raul Vega Martinez.

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced additional casting and members of the creative teams for all three of their 2021 Live Season productions, which begins July 6 and will take place outdoors, socially distanced, and with safety prioritized.

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced members of the creative teams for all three of their 2021 Live Season productions, which will take place outdoors, socially distanced, and with safety prioritized.

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced the recipient of the 2021 L. Arnold Weissberger New Play Award and the 2022 Jay Harris Commission, as well as recipients of 2021 WTF Commissions through WTF’s Andrew Martin-Weber New Play and Musical Commissioning Program.

Following a year of unparalleled challenges and thrilling innovations, Artistic Director Mandy Greenfield has announced Williamstown Theatre Festival's return to live performances this summer – outdoors, socially distanced, and with safety prioritized.

The program launched at Hollywood High School in Fall 2020 and is now expanding to the Compton Unified School District, where it will commence March 8 at Clarence A. Dickinson K-8.

Braata Productions joins a long list of arts organizations documenting this time in our history when a pandemic has changed us forever! Braata's Radio Play series Caribbean in Queens features 5 audio plays about 5 different Caribbean-American households in Queens as they navigate life as family, as immigrants, during a pandemic, and just life in general!

Today (January 28) in live streaming: LCT looks back at The Light in the Piazza, Jack Plotnick and friends take over Stars in the House, and more!

Atlantic Theater Company has announced casting for African Caribbean MixFest, a series of free readings co-produced by playwright Guadalís Del Carmen and playwright, director and Artistic Director of the Young Vic Kwame Kwei-Armah, that will run virtually Tuesday, January 19th through Friday, January 29th.

Atlantic Theater Company will present African Caribbean MixFest, a series of free readings co-produced by playwright Guadalís Del Carmen and playwright, director, and Artistic Director of the Young Vic Kwame Kwei Armah, that will run virtually Tuesday, January 19 th through Friday, January 29th. 

The Borough of Manhattan Community College's Theatre Program has invited a number of playwrights to be part of its classes, new spring production, and overall season entitled 'Life, Love & Liberation.'

The Fountain Theatre is readying Raise Your Voice a?" Vote!, a guerrilla style, immersive theater event set to take place over the course of two days at six locations throughout the City of Los Angeles. Watch the live-stream every hour on the hour beginning at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25 at www.FountainTheatre.com.

Art imitates life when the Fountain Theatre presents Talking Peace, a new 10-minute, site-specific a?oeZoom-within-a-Zooma?? by acclaimed playwright France-Luce Benson.

Alternative Theatre Los Angeles in association with LA Stage Alliance presents 'Together LA: A Virtual Stage Festival' celebrating the vibrant and diverse intimate theatre scene of the greater Los Angeles area. Each night starts at 7 p.m. PST, and each piece runs approximately 10 minutes. Free with Reservations.