Jon Bernthal Brings Broadway-Caliber Theater to Ojai

Actor Jon Bernthal is taking center stage in a new way—by bringing professional theater to the heart of Ojai, California. Known for his acclaimed roles in The Punisher and The Bear, Bernthal is launching the Ojai Theater Festival, a project that blends his passion for performance with his love for community.

The festival’s inaugural production is Ironbound, a powerful play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Martyna Majok. Performances are scheduled to take place at the Chaparral Auditorium across two weekends in May. The cast features Marin Ireland, reprising her role from the original off-Broadway production, joined by Bernthal himself and actor Shiloh Fernandez. The production will be directed by Guillermo Cienfuegos.

Jon Bernthal. Photo credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock

Set against the backdrop of working-class America, Ironbound tells the story of a Polish immigrant woman navigating hardship, survival, and identity. It’s a fitting debut for a festival designed to make raw, human stories accessible to a wide audience.

Bernthal, a longtime Ojai resident, is developing the festival in partnership with fellow actors Josh Bitton and Isidora Goreshter. Together, they’re working to ensure the initiative isn’t just about performance—it’s about participation. The festival will feature open rehearsals, behind-the-scenes access, and active involvement from local students in various aspects of production, from tech to set design.

All profits from the performances will go to benefit the Nordhoff High School theater arts department, helping to fund the next generation of creatives.

This festival isn’t just a passion project—it’s a cultural investment in the Ojai community. With plans to grow the program into a recurring artistic fixture, the Ojai Theater Festival is set to become a new cornerstone for live performance on the West Coast.