Co-founders Jim Augustine and Oren Michels have announced the establishment of the all-new League of Live Stream Theater (LOLST), a nonprofit service intended to bring Broadway and regional theater productions to homes around the world. The organization will debut with the two-week simulcast of Second Stage’s “Between Riverside and Crazy,” from Jan. 31 through Feb. 12.
Augustine and Michels first collaborated on Second Stage’s livestream of Lynn Nottage’s “Clyde’s” in January 2022 through Assemble Stream, where Augustine worked at the time. The success of that experience sparked more discussion, and when Augustine left Assemble Stream he and Michels started to envision a livestreaming service specifically for nonprofit theater.
Second Stage’s former board chair and current board member Stephen C. Sherrill provided initial funding to establish the League, which officially incorporated in October 2022 and just earned its nonprofit status. Bloomberg Philanthropies provided additional funding, then the League approached Second Stage — of which Michels is also a board member — about featuring “Between Riverside and Crazy” as the company’s debut stream.
