By Valerie Milano
Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/29/26 – There are moments in journalism that remind us why thoughtful criticism matters, why the written word can elevate an art form, spark meaningful conversations, and preserve the cultural record. This weekend, one of those moments belonged to The Hollywood Times’ own John Lavitt, who was honored with the prestigious Best Theatre Critic in the Country – All Media award at the 68th Annual Southern California Journalism Awards, presented by the Los Angeles Press Club.
The honor recognizes not just a single review, but an extraordinary body of work that has consistently demonstrated excellence in theater criticism.
For those of us at The Hollywood Times, this recognition comes as no surprise.
John’s reviews are never simply critiques. They are intelligent, deeply researched, compassionate explorations of the theatrical experience. Whether covering intimate black-box productions or major stage premieres, he approaches every performance with curiosity, respect for the artists, and a profound understanding of storytelling.
His writing invites readers into the conversation, encouraging them to think more deeply about the performances they see and the world those performances reflect.
John’s remarkable journey as a writer began after graduating with honors from Brown University. He later lived on the Greek island of Patmos, where he studied with acclaimed American poet Robert Lax, an experience that helped shape his thoughtful literary voice.
His career has been equally distinguished beyond the arts. Between 2015 and 2022, John published more than 550 articles for The Fix, covering addiction and recovery with empathy, insight, and journalistic integrity.
His excellence has also been recognized repeatedly by the Los Angeles Press Club. Prior to this year’s top honor, John earned National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards for:
- Third Place, Theatre/Performing Arts Feature – Online (2024)
- Second Place, Music Critic – Any Platform (2023)
- Third Place, Theatre/Performing Arts Feature – Online (2021)
Now, with the title of Best Theatre Critic in the Country – All Media, John has reached an extraordinary milestone in an already distinguished career.
As Publisher of The Hollywood Times, I could not be prouder.
John brings intelligence, integrity, heart, and an unwavering commitment to excellence to every article he writes. His work elevates our publication and serves our readers with honesty, insight, and genuine love for the performing arts.
Awards are wonderful, but what makes this honor especially meaningful is that it recognizes years of dedication to the craft of journalism and to the artists whose stories deserve to be told.
Congratulations, John. Everyone at The Hollywood Times celebrates this incredible achievement with you. We are honored to have you as part of our family and cannot wait to see what you write next.
Bravo, and here’s to many more standing ovations.
