Ben Bradley, L.A. Director at the Fountain Theatre, Dead at 59

By Kenneth Jones
04 Jan 2010

Ben Bradley
Ben Bradley

Los Angeles-area theatre director Bennett Bradley, a fixture at the Fountain Theatre there, was found stabbed to death in his Wilshire apartment on Jan. 2, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Police are investigating the crime as being linked to a robbery. Mr. Bradley, 59, won many awards for his direction of productions at the Fountain over the past 16 years. His roles at the Fountain, an Off-Broadway-style theatre in L.A., include audience development, producer and director.

In February, his West Coast-premiere production of The Ballad of Emmett Till, which he had begun work on, is set to open. The show will go on as a tribute to Mr. Bradley, according to the Fountain leadership.

"We've all been together for such a long time," producing artistic director Simon Levy told the L.A. Times. "We're just all in shock. We're baffled. . . . There is hardly anybody in this theatre community who does not know Ben in one way or another. He was just this big, loving personality."

Mr. Bradley is a graduate of Carroll College where he majored in theatre.

Most recently he directed the Fountain's critically acclaimed production of August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean (LADCC Awards for Production of the Year and Best Director). He received the 2006 OVATION Award and the 2007 NAACP Award for his direction of the Fountain's critically acclaimed production of August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone. Other directorial credits at the Fountain include Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill (winner of the NAACP Award for Best Actress) and Direct from Death Row: The Scottsboro Boys (winner of Best Ensemble, L.A. Weekly Award, and Best Ensemble, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award).

Mr. Bradley produced the Fountain's acclaimed productions of Photograph 51, Yellowman, Master Class and Central Avenue, and co-produced the Fountain's The Darker Face of the Earth, I Am A Man and Four by Tennessee.

Before joining the Fountain Theatre family, Mr. Bradley worked at the Los Angeles Theatre Center as lobby subscription manager.

According to his bio on the Fountain website, he was passionate about cooking.

The Fountain has established the Ben Bradley Memorial Fund. To make a charitable donation or get more info, visit www.fountaintheatre.com or call Diana at (323) 663-1098.