This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Image via The Fountain Theatre
In what appears to be a robbery turned deadly, the theatre community this weekend mourned the loss of award winning director and producer, Ben Bradley, of the Fountain Theatre. He was stabbed to death around 5:50 p.m. on Saturday evening in his Koreatown apartment on the 100 block of South New Hampshire, some two miles from the theatre in East Hollywood where he greeted audiences while also managing the box office, among working other various roles. At this point, police are working off few clues. "We have very little to go on," said Officer Karen Rayner to the LA Times. "We are asking for the public's help."
Bradley's body was discovered after he did not show for a rehearsal. He was directing "The Ballad of Emmett Till," scheduled to open in February, about "the Chicago youth who was savagely beaten to death by Southern whites in 1955," reported The Wrap, which noted the crime's "cruelly ironic twist" because Bradley was African American. After a long meeting Sunday, theatre officials decided to continue with the play in honor of him, said the Times.
Bradley won the 2006 OVATION Award for Best Production and Best Director for "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," according to the LA Weekly. His production of "Direct from Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys" earned him L.A. Weekly and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle awards, both for Best Ensemble. He also produced Voices, the theatre's "groundbreaking free theatre program for persons with HIV/AIDS
Anyone with information about this crime is urged to contact Olympic Homicide Detectives Herman Frettlohr and Matthew Gares at (213) 382-9470. During non-business hours or on weekends calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crimestoppers at 800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crimestoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.
