Local Stage Artists Recognized at the LANPP Awards

Los Angeles New Play Project Honors Local Artists at Reception

On November 20, the Los Angeles New Play Project (LANPP) celebrated outstanding contributions to local theater by awarding several talented artists during a reception. Among the honorees are performers whose works address pressing themes such as politics, American history, immigration, and suspense.

LANPP provides substantial support to playwrights, offering grants that are twice the size of the average National Endowment for the Arts award. This year’s recipients include:

• Prince Gomolvilas for “Paranormal Inside” at East West Players in Downtown LA
• John Fazakerley for “Corktown ‘39” at Rogue Machine Theatre in Hollywood
• Benjamin Benne for “at the very bottom of a body of water” at Theater at Boston Court in Pasadena
• Maddox K. Pennington for “Embers Borne West” at the Fountain Theatre in East Hollywood

“Paranormal Inside” is a gripping sequel to Gomolvilas’s earlier work, “The Brothers Paranormal,” which premiered in Los Angeles in 2022. This new play revisits the story of Max and Delia, who are united by shared tragedy and compassion. As they navigate the challenges of intergenerational trauma, they face a malevolent spirit that threatens to consume them.

In “Corktown ‘39,” Fazakerley tells a true political thriller based on an obscure Irish Republican Army plot to assassinate the King of England while he is in the United States. The play raises profound questions about the cost of standing up for one’s beliefs.

Benne’s “at the very bottom of a body of water” follows Marina, who copes with devastating grief through the ritualistic act of buying a catfish from her local fishmonger. When her fishmonger disappears, her predictable routine unravels, leading her toward unexpected romance and the possibility of renewal.

“Embers Borne West” by Pennington examines the complexities of migration, assimilation, identity, and grief. The narrative centers on Wenona and Jay, who, despite coming from different backgrounds, grapple with the same existential questions as they navigate their interconnected pasts and presents.

LANPP has supported the creation of thirteen impactful new plays, awarding each playwright a grant of $20,000. In addition, producers received $20,000 to help alleviate production costs. The eligibility period for submissions has been expanded to include plays produced throughout the entire calendar year of 2025, enabling theaters to submit their strongest works without time constraints.

Founded in 2021 by director Paula Holt, LANPP is poised to continue its grant-giving program for years to come, further enriching the Los Angeles theater scene.