Tag Archives: Peter Barna

Patricia Oliansky Joins Fountain Theatre Board of Directors

Pat Oliansky

Patricia Oliansky

The Fountain Theatre continues to broaden and expand its Board of Directors with the addition of longtime Fountain Family member Patricia Oliansky. Not only does Pat bring many years of Fountain love and support to the Board, she also offers a wide range of experience and professional expertise.    

Patricia Oliansky holds a B.A in History from Hofstra College and a M.A in Ancient Near Eastern History from UCLA.

Board affiliations: Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra (Founding President – 8 years); Friends of Sundays Live (Founding President – 6 years); Southern California Library for Social Studies and Research (member- 5 years); California Dance Institute (member – 2 years); and the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project or WRRAP (current member – 2 years). Tasks with these organizations include: Board formation, volunteer development, grant writing, budgets, design, event planning and fundraising.

Pat was a docent at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for 20+ years and is currently a docent for the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. She has archaeological field experience in Los Angeles (La Brea Tar Pits), England, Wales, Turkey, Georgia and Armenia. Having been co-editor for a professional journal on Mesopotamia, she is currently helping to edit two site reports for professional UCLA friends.

Pat was involved in a single foray into the theatre: she co-produced Dario Fo’s Orgasmo Adulto Escapes from the Zoo at the Fremont Centre Theatre. An evening of monologues starring Francesca Fanti, the show won uniformly rave reviews and two awards at the Valley Theatre League in 1998: one for Francesca and one for the production of an evening of one-acts.

On the home front, Pat’s partner for 32 years has been Peter Barna. They each have 2 grown children and have one grandchild.  Pat hails originally from New York and Peter from Budapest, Hungary.

Stephen Sachs and Pat Oliansky in London.

Stephen Sachs and Patricia Oliansky at ‘Bakersfield Mist’ in London.

“I am thrilled and delighted to have Pat join our Board,” exclaims Fountain Co-Artistic Director Stephen Sachs. “I was recently in London opening the West End premiere of Bakersfield Mist — a play created and produced at the Fountain in 2011. I was at our first preview performance in London. There I am at the Duchess Theatre, 5,400 miles away from the Fountain. And who is there in the audience that night? Cheering us on and bringing us good wishes? Pat Oliansky. That kind of loyalty, love and support is priceless and deeply, deeply appreciated.”

Welcome aboard the Board, Pat! See you at the Broadway opening? Fingers crossed. 

Fountain Supporters Enjoy Lively and Engaging Insider Event for ‘My Name Is Asher Lev’

A lively discussion on religion and art.

A lively discussion on religion, family and art.

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 BrandrissAshley 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