HAPPY HAVENS CHURCH OF HIGHER ENLIGHTENMENT BRINGS A DARKLY COMIC CULT TO THE LOS ANGELES STAGE

Happy Havens Church of Higher Enlightenment

Original play written and directed by Paris Herbert-Taylor runs September 8–13 at the Hobgoblin Playhouse in West Hollywood

LOS ANGELES, CA – August 2026 – What happens when the search for belonging, purpose and enlightenment leads somewhere a little more sinister?

Happy Havens Church of Higher Enlightenment, a new original 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 the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway finalist 2024 ten minute piece by the same name, Happy Havens Church of Higher Enlightenment is a dark comedy about faith, community and the seductive appeal of having someone else provide all the answers. The play enters the world of a seemingly welcoming spiritual community built around the teachings of its charismatic Dear Leader. As its members surrender more and more in pursuit of enlightenment, the line between devotion and control becomes increasingly difficult to ignore.

“I’ve always been fascinated by the question of why intelligent, seemingly rational people are drawn into groups like this,” says 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.”

Herbert-Taylor, who works primarily as a screenwriter and producer, returns to live theatre with Happy Havens, taking on both writing and directing duties alongside producer Samantha Schoen.
“Getting to put something on its feet ourselves has been an incredibly rewarding return to the immediacy of making theatre,” Herbert-Taylor says. “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.”

The production features Colin Koth (Lioness, The Upshaws, Upcoming: All for Love), Lindsay Elston (High Potential, NCIS: NOLA), Lee Shorten (Man in High Castle, Ghost of Tsushima, Swan Song), Mae Ruling (Carole & Clark, member of Playground LA), alongside newcomers David William and Martin Renteria.