A select group of Fountain Theatre donors gathered at the lovely Sherman Oaks home of Director of Development Barbara Goodhill last night to meet the director and cast of our upcoming production of Chaim Potok’s The Chosen. The stage version of the beloved classic of modern Jewish literature opens at the Fountain January 20th.
The party first noted the Friday evening with Shabbat blessings led by Rabbi Jim Kaufman, followed by a delicious dinner. After welcoming comments by Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs and director Simon Levy, the four-member cast read a selection of short scenes from the script. The actors are Jonathan Arkin, Alan Blumenfeld, Sam Mandel, and Dorian Tayler.
The invited group of VIP guests included Mrs. Sue and Rabbi James Kaufman, Jacqueline Schultz, Robert and Carol Haymer, Marianne Weil, Harold Shabo, Marsha and Mark Novak.
Interested in joining our family of Fountain donors? Contact Barbara Goodhill, Development Director at (323) 663-1525 ext. 307 or barbara@fountaintheatre.com.
Gathering at Westwood Home of Dorothy and Stanley Wolpert
A friendly group of Fountain Theatre supporters enjoyed a lovely evening of food, drinks and lively conversation Wednesday night at the beautiful Westwood home of Dorothy and Stanley Wolpert. The exclusive Fountain Insider Event also included the actress Jenny O’Hara and director Stephen Sachs of our current hit production of Broomstickandmembers of the Fountain staff. The evening was coordinated by Fountain Director of Development, Barbara Goodhill.
The social gathering was one of our ongoing Insider Events offered during the run of each of our productions. It provides the Fountain with the opportunity to give select Fountain Family members an exclusive ‘Inside Peek” at our current production and to express our gratitude and appreciation to those contributing at a determined level to the Fountain Fund.
In attendance at the Insider Event were hosts Dorothy and Stanley Wolpert, Fountain Co-Artistic Directors Deborah Lawlor and Stephen Sachs, Producing Director Simon Levy, Director of Development Barbara Goodhill; associate producer James Bennett, actress Jenny O’Hara; and Fountain Family members Jane Anderson, Adrienne Brandriss, Brenda Marsh,Ashley and Debbie Posner, Evelyn Duboff, Marianne Weil.
Fountain Co-Artistic Director (and Broomstick director) Stephen Sachs opened the evening by expressing thanks to the supporters gathered and shared exciting news about what’s currently happening at the Fountain and events coming soon. Actress Jenny O’Hara then shared her insights and answered questions on the creative process of Broomstick. And our invited patrons added their own personal comments. Overall, a warm and heartfelt discussion was enjoyed by all.
Our sincere thanks to Dorothy and Stanley Wolpert for hosting the event in their lovely home. We look forward to the next Insider Event for our next production of Reborning, in our upcoming season. Join us!
A happy group of Fountain Theatre supporters enjoyed a lovely evening of food, drinks and lively conversation last night at the beautiful Westwood home of Dorothy and Stanley Wolpert. The exclusive Fountain Insider Event also included the cast and director of our current hit production of My Name Is Asher Lev, members of the Fountain staff, and Rabbi Jim Kaufman. The evening was coordinated by Fountain Director of Development, Barbara Goodhill.
The social gathering provided the Fountain with the opportunity to give select Fountain Family members an exclusive ‘Inside Peek” at our current production and to express our gratitude and appreciation to those contributing at a determined level to the Fountain Fund.
In attendance at the Insider Event were hosts Dorothy and Stanley Wolpert, Fountain Co-Artistic Directors Deborah Lawlor and Stephen Sachs, Producing Director Simon Levy, Director of Development Barbara Goodhill; actors Jason Karasev, Anna Khaja and Joel Polis; Rabbi Jim Kaufman; and Fountain Family members Adrienne Brandriss, Ashley and Debbie Posner, Bette Billet, Carole Black, Dr. Fred and Phyllis Gottlieb, Drs. Carol and Bruce Marcus, Evelyn Duboff, Grace and David Millington, Marianne Weil, Patricia Oliansky and Peter Barna.
Fountain Co-Artistic Directors Deborah Lawlor and Stephen Sachs opened the evening by expressing their thanks to the supporters gathered and shared exciting news about what’s currently happening at the Fountain and events coming soon. Rabbi James Kaufman then led an invigorating and insightful discussion on the issues illuminated by our current production, My Name Is Asher Lev. The cast and director answered questions and shared their creative process. And our invited patrons offered their own fascinating personal comments. Overall, a lively discussion on religion, art, family, and the power of theatre.
Our sincere thanks to Dorothy and Stanley Wolpert for hosting last night’s event in their lovely home. We look forward to the next Insider Event for our next production of The Brothers Size, at the private home of a Fountain member to be announced. Join us!
Enjoy These Snapshots From Our Insider Event
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The Fountain Fund is an ongoing program offering Fountain patrons the opportunity to support the Fountain Theatre on a year-round basis. We can not do what we do without you. To find our more and how to join, please contact Barbara Goodhill at (818) 907-7159 or email barbara@goodhillcommunications.com
My Name Is Asher Lev Now to April 19 (323) 663-1525 MORE
TheFountain Theatre andDeaf West Theatrebrought their lyrical and romantic deaf/hearing updated-version of Cyrano to New York last Monday, April 29, for a special staged reading at the acclaimedNew York Theatre Workshop. The staged reading was performed for a full house of NY theater producers and invited VIP’s for the purpose of solidifying interest in a possible New York production.
Four original cast members were flown in from Los Angeles: Troy Kotsur, Paul Raci, Victor Warren and Al Bernstein. The rest of the ensemble was cast with local New York actors Matt Biagini, Robert De Mayo, Samira Wiley, John McGinty, Puy Navarro, James W. Guido, Alexandria Wailes, Richard Dent, and original cast member Maleni Chaitoo who happens to now live in NY.
The company rehearsed with director Simon Levy for only three days. Our thanks to our friends atPrimary Stagesfor providing their rehearsal studios to the Cyrano company. Also in attendance at rehearsals were playwright Stephen Sachs, Deaf West Artistic Director David Kurs, Fountain Producing Artistic Director Deborah Lawlor, DWT Founder Ed Waterstreet and his wife, actress Linda Bove.
The highly regarded New York Theatre Workshop is the Tony-winning company dedicated to developing new plays and musicals. Over their 30-year history, they have launched many acclaimed productions and have transferred several to Broadway, including Rent, Dirty Blonde, Homebody/Kabul, Peter and the Starcatcher, Once, and more. The Cyrano staged reading was held Monday in the NYTW upstairs rehearsal hall. An invited list of producers and VIP guests attended, including representatives from New York Theatre Workshop, The Public Theater, Manhattan Theatre Club, Primary Stages, 59E59 Theatres, Broadway director Jeff Calhoun, and more. The actors performed Cyrano entirely memorized and off-book and cleverly incorporated the use of captioning and video design on a large TV flat screen monitor.
Our sincere and heartfelt thanks to our Cyrano donors who contributed to our fundraising campaign and made this very important New York opportunity possible: Phillip Baron, Cal Bartlett, JB Blanc, Eve Brenner, Carlease Burke, Johnny Clark, Kyle Colerider-Krugh, Cathy Colloff, Debra Conklin, James Conley, Kimberly Cyzner Family, Lorraine Danza, Timothy Davis-Reed, Fred Dean, Donna Duarte, Susan Duncan, Michael Edwin, Mark Freund, Amy Frost, Heidi Girardoni, Jane Gordon, Gaby Gross, William Dennis Hurley, Trice Koopman, Ken LaZebnik, Robert Leventer, Dennis Levitt, Ruth Linnick, Betsy Malloy, Caitlin Marcus, Donne McRae, Susan Merson, Mills, Michelle Montooth, Joel Moreno, Russell Nore, Jenny O’Hara, Susan Oka, Z. Oppenheim, Patricia Parker, Cynthia Paskos, Patty Paul, Terry Paule, Sharon Perlmutter, Ralph Pezoldt, Allison Pickering, Lawrence Poindexter, Priscilla Pointer, Bill Pugin and The Sign Language Company, Terri Roberts, Mark Routhier, Rita Schneir, Sandy Schuckett, Susanne Spira Survivors Trust, Suanne Spoke, Marjorie Throne, Eileen T’Kaye, Zoltan & Dorcas Tokes, Andrede Toledo, Tate Tullier, Jessica Turner, Nick Ullett, Heidi Girardoni, Carol Watson, Marianne Weil, William Wilk. We could not have done it without you!
What happens now? We’ll see what the future holds for our unique, thrilling and moving ASL/spoken English version of Cyrano. In the meantime, enjoy these snapshots of the rehearsal process and the staged reading!
