A Conversation with Director Jonathan Fahn, "Jest A Second!", Theatre Palisades at Westchester Playhouse, by James Scarborough
June 11, 2025
Theatre Palisades' production of "Jest A Second!" carries weight far beyond its farcical premise. Five months after losing their venue to the Palisades wildfire, the company has found refuge at Kentwood Players' Westchester Playhouse, transforming what could have been a simple sequel into something more urgent and necessary. James Sherman's follow-up to his hit "Beau Jest" revisits the Goldman family with Joel's coming-out story at its center, but the real drama lies in the circumstances surrounding this production.
Director Jonathan Fahn faces the challenge of maintaining comedic timing while shepherding a displaced company through an emotionally fraught period. The play's themes of family acceptance and finding home resonate differently when performed by artists who have literally lost theirs. Sherman's script depends on mistaken identity and drag comedy—elements that succeed with genuine warmth or fail as tired stereotypes.
The collaboration between Theatre Palisades and Kentwood Players represents the interconnected nature of Los Angeles' community theatre ecosystem, where volunteer organizations have sustained themselves for decades by drawing from the city's vast talent pool. Sherman's script relies on familiar farce mechanics, but Fahn must navigate the delicate balance between broad comedy and genuine emotional stakes to make Joel's story resonate beyond its setup.
Below follows an email conversation with Jonathan Fahn.
JS: How has directing a displaced company changed your approach to this production? What specific challenges have you encountered in relocating the show to Westchester Playhouse?
JF: I don’t think my approach as a director has really changed much. Of course we had to adjust to not having a permanent home to rehearse on a regular basis. But thankfully Kentwood, and also the Morgan-Wixson and the Blue Door theaters really stepped up for us. Now that we’re actually on the stage here at the Westchester Playhouse it’s going incredibly well. This is an absolutely beautiful space.
JS: James Sherman's sequel deals with coming-out anxiety through farce and drag comedy. How are you ensuring these elements feel authentic rather than exploitative, particularly given the play's light-hearted tone?
JF: James Sherman based this play on actual events that he was close to. The script is incredibly funny as is the circumstances they all find themselves in. My aim was to have the actors play it for real and in doing so the comedy shines through. If they affect each other on stage, then the audiences will be affected too. I’m not sure I would classify this as “farce” or even a “drag comedy”. Yes the character Bob dresses in drag to help his gay brother-in-law, convince his parents that he has a girlfriend. But Sherman stresses in his notes that it is definitely not to be played as a drag show. And I love drag shows!
JS: The original "Beau Jest" was a hit for Theatre Palisades. What specific expectations does this sequel carry? How does it build upon or depart from the dynamics that made the first play successful?
JF: I think after the fires and losing our theater home, we only have high expectations of bringing joy to the people who see it. All the proceeds will go to rebuilding the theater in the Palisades. It is a joy and a gift for us to be even doing it! It would be too much pressure and unfair to think that this production and this cast could do anything to correct those events that affected so many people. But, if we can bring some comedy into everyone’s lives, then we truly have done something. In terms of dynamics from the previous show, I am incredibly fortunate to have a cast that has been through a lot together, so the family dynamics you will be seeing on stage ate real dynamics that have carried over from our previous rehearsal time last year for this show as well as from Beau Jest.
JS: Your cast includes Jasmine Haver, Jeff Coppage, Lou Saliba, Laura Goldstein, JP burkhart, Levente Tarr, as well as understudies Claire Goldhush and Jennie Fahn. How did the displacement affect casting decisions? What has the rehearsal process revealed about this ensemble's chemistry?
JF: we were fortunate to only lose one actor in the displacement from Theatre Palisades to Kentwood because of scheduling conflicts now 5 months later. And he was replaced by the actor who originated the role in Beau Jest. The ensembles chemistry is truly remarkable. I like to say that theater people are the best people. Every once in a while, though, your cast becomes a family. We’ve all been working together since Thanksgiving and we were just about to open before the fires. Being able to come back months later and rehearse and now do the show is truly a blessing for all of us.
JS: Community theatre on the Westside has a 75-year history, with Theatre Palisades operating for over 60 years before the fire. How does this production honor that legacy while addressing the company's uncertain future?
JF: I think we honor the long history of Theatre Palisades by putting on a high quality production that is heartfelt and truly has love at its core. Losing that theater was a big blow to everyone who’s ever been involved with it. Many of the board members and subscribers lost their homes and businesses as well.This proves that the show should truly go on and eventually will again in Pacific Palisades.
JS: The play centers on family acceptance and finding truth within deception. How do these themes speak to your company's current situation? What do you hope audiences take from this particular telling?
JF: I hope that audiences take from this a sense that they can empathize with what the characters on stage are going through. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the 1990s or the 2020s, it’s still very hard to be honest with yourself and your family sometimes. Of course, we hope to achieve this through a lot of laughter and a lot of love too.
JS: What role has the set designer (Sherman Wayne) and other collaborators played in adapting this production to its new venue? How has the creative team responded to working in an unfamiliar space?
JF: Fortunately for us, we were able to use the existing set from the show that just closed before us, Urinetown. Sherman Wayne was able to see his vision that was so beautifully crafted for the Theatre Palisades stage re-created here at Kentwood. It was absolutely incredible! Less than 12 hours after Urinetown closed, the Westchester stage had been completely transformed into Jest a Second! Sherman and all of us could not have realized this without the incredible and talented staff and volunteers at Kentwood, who made this transformation possible.
Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday at 2:00 pm, June 12-21. Tickets are available through Theatre Palisades. The Westchester Playhouse is located at 8301 Hindry Avenue, Los Angeles. For more information, click here.
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Fahn