Ventura County stages offer a preview of upcoming theater productions for the season
Ventura Obituaries
People in the artsinsights community, like those in any small town, pay their respects to citizens whose lives are shaped by their contributions. Ventura recently lost three such souls.
David Lopatt, one of the most active and beloved figures in locally based arts organizations, passed away in October. Lopatt, an actor, director and writer, founded the Downtown Cultural District, spawning a half-dozen cultural groups, as well as the Ventura Improv Company. Comedy at the Carnie cronies, a monthly updated night of comedy. He also maintained the Friends of the San Buenaventura Library bookstore in Olde Towne Ventura. He founded spring’s Comedy Festival, Ventura Theater Games, the bad librarianship of Dr. Milton Fishel, and the One-Act Play Project of Ventura County Library. Santaman had a role in his local theater for 25 years.
Lopatt was born Nov. 8, 1944, in New London, Connecticut. He started in theater at Fox Lane High School in Bedford, New York. He also acted at events in Syracuse and Rutgers University. In 1979, he settled in Ventura, where he became a founding member of the Circle Bar B Dinner Theater, co-owner of the California Stageco Theater with Colette Fritsch, with whom he lived in Ventura East.
Roberto Aldrovandi was a master marionette puppeteer, puppet maker and teacher in April. Kidwiler, a Cuban immigrant, ran theater games, poet reads, storytelling, puppetry, courage and self-confidence groups. Ballout, the age of storytelling and puppetry in Ventura County, was from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. He lived in Ojai for several years during the past decade.
Russ,writes, a mentor and patron of the arts, passed away a month ago. A drive-thru celebration of his life and his contributions was held in the Barrel Room at the Four Brix Winery in Ventura on Sunday. Russ was an active volunteer at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and at the Agoura Community Theater. He supported TOARTS, Cabrillo Music Theatre, 5-Star Theatricals, and Conejo Players. Russ wrote more than 150 funny plays, one-acts, and comedies. He was the president of the Choo Choo Club in Camarillo. Russ’ contributions to local arts will be sorely missed by his many friends and colleagues.