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Jon Bernthal wants to bring Broadway-caliber theater to Ojai: It’s ‘always been a dream of mine’

BBG News

Jon Bernthal finds himself in his comfort zone: on a stage. At the renowned Rogue Machine Theatre in Los Angeles, he engages in lively banter with actor Marin Ireland during rehearsals for the upcoming play “Ironbound”, a longstanding personal project. Despite his impending commitment to the L.A. premiere of “The Accountant 2” in a few hours, his enthusiasm for this creative journey and the script is evident. Bernthal expressed, “Theater has always felt like the closest thing I’ve ever encountered to spirituality, religion, or church. It’s as if I have a connection to something much larger than myself. This is about collaborating with artists who share my passion, and like me, found solace in this.

Approximately two weeks from now, Bernthal will return to his cherished sanctuary, his adopted hometown. Together with his fellow artistic directors, he will kick off the Ojai Theatre Festival with their debut production, “Ironbound.” This event will unfold at Ojai’s Chaparral Auditorium across two weekends in May. This project is a heartfelt endeavor for everyone involved, many of whom are generously contributing their time and skills. Bernthal is not just producing and acting, but he’s also financing the entire venture. A significant aspect of this undertaking involves refurbishing a closed-down school building to serve as our performance venue. After the festival, this renovated building will be given to the local school’s arts department, specifically the Nordhoff theater department and the Hojs, who are the drama and dance teachers at Nordhoff High School. They are esteemed artists who have nurtured countless young talents, and now they will have a theater for their performances.

Alongside Bernthal, longtime companions Josh Bitton and Isidora Goreshter embark on this journey with him. Their shared goal: bringing top-notch Broadway performances and arts education to their local area. As Goreshter put it, “We’re just three actors trying to figure out how to put together a theater festival in Ojai.” The idea originated from Bernthal, who has always dreamed of bringing theater to the town. Due to his busy acting schedule over the past year and a half, Bernthal delegated major decisions and the search for a suitable venue to Bitton and Goreshter. Upon finding the Chaparral, both felt a strong connection: “I walked in [to the Chaparral] and had chills,” Goreshter explained. “And then Josh walked in and he said, ‘This is it.’ The building holds significant importance for the community and stands right in the heart of Ojai.

For the past decade, Bernthal has resided in a tranquil, previously laid-back valley town with his spouse, Erin, and their three offspring. He expressed, “Of all the locations I’ve inhabited, this one makes me feel the most at home.” He has formed friendships with many members of the school board, engaging in basketball games with them and coaching their children. Observing how gentrification and escalating housing prices have begun to impact the primarily blue-collar town adversely, Bernthal decided to contribute positively. “I’ve witnessed significant transformations, and I believe that the public school system has been most affected,” he stated. “My aim is to demonstrate to the children here what a life in the arts entails.

Born and raised in Ojai, this actor takes pride in safeguarding the authenticity of the tight-knit community while nurturing its creative evolution.

For a long time now, my dream has been to establish a theater and organize a festival. This dream, you could say, is particularly dear to me,” said Bernthal. “I don’t want to sound boastful or pretentious, but as I witness this town evolving in such an exciting manner, I feel compelled to contribute something exceptional here, and more importantly, I wish to do it the right way, for all the right reasons.

The actor openly confessed that his dream is not as cheap as he initially anticipated, yet he’s unwilling to compromise on its execution. He pointed out that expenses like purchasing equipment, constructing sets, hiring talent, and accommodating travel costs are essential.

Bernthal, Bitton, and Goreshter aspire that by debuting the festival with an exceptional production such as “Ironbound,” both residents and tourists will be inspired to engage and aid their long-term endeavors. The play, a captivating depiction of a Polish immigrant striving to thrive in America, is described as “provocative, sharp, comical, ominous, and highly relevant” by the actor. Ireland, whom Bernthal labels as “a gangster” and “forceful,” reprises her original off-Broadway role and 2018 performance at the Geffen Playhouse in this production. Directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos, the play also features Shiloh Fernandez. This performance serves as a chance for the local students to witness an elite stage show. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok, who graciously allowed them to use her writing, will take part in the festival too.

48-year-old Bernthal’s recent work demonstrates why he is a highly sought-after actor, renowned for delivering impactful performances even with limited screen time. Over the past six weeks, Bernthal has promoted his action thriller “The Accountant 2” in three cities, traveled to and from Greece for Christopher Nolan’s epic “The Odyssey,” worked on Marvel’s standalone “Punisher” special in New York that he writes and stars in for Disney+, returned to the Chicago set of “The Bear,” which won him his first Emmy last year, and recorded episodes for the new season of his popular podcast, “Real Ones.” Despite his gratitude for his success and busy work schedule, Bernthal longs for more time on stage. As he put it, “There’s no going back. There’s no second take. There’s nothing that scares me quite like that, and there’s nothing I’m quite as addicted to as that.

According to Bernthal, it was his mother, Joan, who saw his talent for performing at a young age. Growing up in a well-off neighborhood near Washington D.C., his childhood was marked by mischief, including fights on the street, anger issues, and behavior that led to several arrests. However, his mother, who worked as a social worker, enrolled him in his first acting class as a form of discipline. This initial experience felt exhilarating to him, like “touching a live wire.

Entertainment & Arts

As a devoted movie buff, I couldn’t help but share my excitement about Alden Ehrenreich’s remarkable venture! This ‘Star Wars’ actor has breathed new life into a historic trolley station in Cypress Park, transforming it into a vibrant hub for artistic expression and creativity. His ambition? To turn Los Angeles into a thriving ‘theater city.’ Can’t wait to see the magic unfold!

Due to being an athlete bound for Skidmore College in New York on a baseball scholarship, Bernthal initially dismissed the idea of delving into acting. However, during his college years, he serendipitously enrolled in a theater course, which was taught by his future mentor Alma Becker. He discovered that channeling the same energy that often led him into trouble, seeking danger and taking risks, was instead earning him affection, respect, and support. Acting, it turned out, was the solution once he overcame his own obstacles. As Bernthal put it, “I was determined to prove everyone I was a true screw-up.” Unfortunately, he was expelled from college, but Becker continued to stand by him and managed to secure his place in the esteemed Moscow Art Theatre program in 1999. “She truly rescued me,” Bernthal said of Becker, whose name he has permanently inked on his arm, along with the emblem for the Moscow Art Theatre – a seagull in flight.

It’s not surprising that his two-year stay in Russia left a profound impact on him, as he admitted, “For a boy who thought of himself as a tough, street-smart kid from D.C., I got a harsh reality check.” He described it as the most demanding and disciplined training he had ever experienced. Upon returning from Moscow, Bernthal encountered his future wife, a trauma nurse, and in 2002, he earned his master of fine arts from Harvard. In his own words, “Without Alma and my decision to go there, I wouldn’t be able to support my family.

Kick-starting the festival offers Bernthal not only a chance to hone his preferred craft, but also to pass on the favor. As Bernthal expressed, “We aim to create theater that everyone can appreciate.” The goal is to stage plays that are typically exclusive to cities like New York, London, or Los Angeles, but make them accessible for public school students. All rehearsals of “Ironbound” will be open to the public, and local students are actively participating in the production. In addition, Bernthal mentioned, “They’re assisting with lighting, they’re contributing to the design. They’ll even work at the theater.” Furthermore, during the entire run, there will be classes for children.

He expressed his eagerness to reveal the authentic charm of Ojai to everyone present, stating, “This event won’t resemble L.A., with its valet parking and fashionable dining establishments. Instead, it’s a true Ojai gathering organized by and involving local residents. It belongs to this town and will always represent its spirit.

All funds raised will be channeled directly towards the school district, ensuring that all related programs and classes are accessible for free for local students. Their aim is to transform this initial play into an annual festival, featuring numerous productions in the near future, with the ultimate goal of establishing Ojai as a renowned theatrical hub.

The money collected will be used exclusively for the school district, ensuring that all related activities and lessons are offered free of charge to local students. They plan to develop this single play into an annual festival with various performances in the coming years, aiming to make Ojai a well-known theatrical spot.

Essentially, Bernthal explained, “In the end, everything I’m doing is for my children.” He and his spouse have three youngsters – a 13-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy, and a 9-year-old girl. “I aspire for my kids to be surrounded by and part of a vibrant theater community as they grow up,” he said. In a somewhat sentimental way, he shared his excitement about the prospect of having some 10-year-olds from Ojai as ushers in the future. When people see how well-mannered, attentive, and present these children are, he hopes that they will experience the same magic when watching this complex play, and it will leave them thinking, ‘Wow, what’s going on here?’ or ‘This is amazing!’ or ‘I never thought this was possible.’

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2025-04-23 13:34

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