Favorite Plays Of 2024

I had a goal to read or see 100 plays this year. I fell a bit short at 70. Still, not bad.

If you want to read or see more plays in 2025, then I have two amazing resources for you! The first is our Vs. Tuesday Night Reading Series. We read a play every Tuesday night either on Zoom or live at Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice. (Started back in 2018 in the lobby of our old home space, we’ve now read over 250 plays). The second is Vs. Theatre Club. We gather as a group–on average, about once per month–to go see plays and support our local theatre community. Started in 2022, we’ve had over 30 club outings. If you’re interested in joining either or both groups, drop me a line and I’ll add you to the distro list. All are welcome!

I’ll start off with some of my favorite plays READ in 2024 (in alphabetical order and only including NEW plays that I hadn’t read prior):

A Case For The Existence Of God by Samuel Hunter (h/t to Pete for the recommend; grateful to AK and Sue for an amazing Vs. Tuesday Night read that has definitely stayed with me)

A Soldier’s Play by Charles Fuller (I had only seen the film, never read or seen the play; grateful to Will and Andy for bringing this one in for a Vs. Tuesday Night)

Aunt Jo by John Kolvenbach (LOVE this play, a future Vs. Tuesday Night reading is in the works!)

Grand Guignol (such a fun macabre live night @PRT; a Halloween celebration featuring all original works by Gareth Williams; h/t to Gareth for organizing the festivities; Jeffrey Johnson’s MC’s skills are second to none!)

Rathmine’s Road by Deidra Kinahan (h/t to Alex for the recommend)

Sam and Lizzie by Emily Kaczmarek (h/t to Jen C for the recommend; LOVE this play, a future Vs. reading is in the works!)

Something Clean by Selina Fillinger (h/t to Jen C)

The Fall To Earth by Joel Drake Johnson (h/t to Carolina for bringing this one in for a Vs. Tuesday Night)

When You Comin’ Back Red Ryder by Mark Medoff (the inaugural Vs. Live@PRT reading! thank you again to Dalia V and PRT for offering us space; h/t to Marla for bringing this one in; hadn’t read this play before and it really resonated)

Below are some of my favorite plays SEEN live in 2024 (in alphabetical order and almost all were Vs. Theatre Club nights!):

A Doll’s House Part 2 by Lucas Hnath (directed by Allen Barton at Beverly Hills Playhouse)

A Permanent Image by Samuel Hunter (directed by Andrew D. Weyman at Pacific Resident Theatre; this was actually the second time I’ve seen the play as it was done a while back at Rogue Machine; Dalia and the rest of the ensemble were spectacular and loved that it was the same cast as the original Vs. Tuesday Night reading!)

Crevasse by Tom Jacobson (directed by Matthew McCray at Victory Theater Center; Ann Noble and Leo Marks both give tour de force performances)

Dido Of Idaho by Abby Rosebrock (directed by Abigail Deser at Echo Theater)

Ghost Waltz by Oliver Mayer (directed by Alberto Barboza at LATC)

Here Comes The Night by Lisa Kenner Grissom (directed by Hailey McAfee at the Zephyr Theatre; love that this was a prior Vs. Tuesday Night reading and that the production had the same two dynamite actors from the reading)

Hollywood Fringe (I saw several fringe shows this year, all featuring Vs. Tuesday Night artists and all awesome! I love that some of these shows originated from prior Tuesday Night readings)

I, Daniel Blake adapted for the stage by Ken Loach (directed by Simon Levy at the Fountain Theatre; JD Cullum was riveting as Daniel Blake and headlined a terrific ensemble)

If I Needed Someone by Neil LaBute (directed by Frederique Michel at City Garage Theatre)

Iphigenia In Splott by Gary Owen (directed by Rosie Glen-Lambert at the Broadwater Black Box Theatre; Hailey McAfee, who also directed Here Comes The Night, was the actor in this one-person show and she was fantastic; I wrote this blog post about it)

Iron Skirt Stories Salon (directed by Andrew Hawkes at RD Studios; I’ve seen every single Iron Skirt show and they’re always amazing; Amy and Sasha do an incredible job sourcing and producing an all-star lineup of all-female storytellers)

The Brother’s Size by Tarell Alvin McCraney (directed by Bijan Sheibani at the Geffen Playhouse; this was actually the second time I’ve seen this play as I saw it many years back at the Fountain Theatre; a great inaugural production for the Geffen’s new AD who is also the playwright; I wrote this blog post about it; two other great shows I saw at the Geffen in 2024 were Fat Ham and Waiting For Godot; a terrific season and look forward to upcoming shows!)

The Civil Twilight by Shem Bitterman (directed by Ann Hearn Tobolowsky at the Boroadwater Studio; Andrew Elvis Miller and Taylor Gilbert were a dynamite duo; the show has extended yet again through January 26th)

Three Witches by Michael Perlmutter (directed by Ann Noble at Moving Arts; another prior Vs. Tuesday Night reading that made its way into full production; I especially love that the night I saw it, the theatre was almost entirely comprised of Vs. artists and allies; such a fun Vs. Theatre Club night!)

Vanya by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Simon Stephens (directed by Sam Yates; this one person adaptation of Chekhov’s masterpiece, Uncle Vanya, was one of the best pieces of theatre I’ve ever seen in my life…and I saw it on the big screen at the UCLA as part of their National Theatre Live programming; Andrew Scott was as good as it gets, an acting clinic; I wrote this blog post about it; loved it so much that I plan to make it the inaugural Vs. Films screening; coming soon in 2025!)

Well, that’s a wrap for 2024. It was a great year for live theatre, and I’m really excited for 2025.

Happy New Year! May it bring you continued community, much love, good health and creative fulfillment.

P.S. – Thank you again for reading this blog. I am very grateful for all of you!