Meet The Board of Directors
Keith Swann
President & Facilities
Keith Swann, a resident of Plainfield since 1994, recently retired from Vermont PBS where he served as producer and director since 2006. He received his BA in Anthropology from the California University system and an MFA from UCLA’s Film/Television program.
His career began at NBC in Los Angeles and then onto television production in Boston. He has designed and taught video production courses, but his first loves were theater and music, therefore his commitment to the mission of the Plainfield Town Hall Opera House.
Karl Bissex
History and items of interest
Resident since 1980
Married to Mary Trerice for 43 years
Raised two sons Daniel and Owen
Daniel is a musician (bass) and Owen is an Artist (sculptor)
School board member in the 1990’s
Selectboard member 2001 to 2007 – 3 years chair
revolving fund committee-active
town hall committee- 1985 restoration
basketball and soccer coach 1989-1993
founded and operated business from 1985 to 1995-DMS Inc-engineering and fabrication
Started KAB Enterprises, Inc from 1995 to 2020
On board of Summit School of Music in Montpelier-5 yearsand feel my buiness
co-host of Occasional Concerts-house concert series started in 2005 and put on hold in 2020
I have a strong interest in the arts and feel my business and concert experience can add to the activities of the Plainfield Arts board
Donny Osman
Donny Osman has a long history in theater. He founded and directed The Two Penny Circus which toured New England and beyond for ten years. Donny toured his own solo shows and taught theater worldwide for more than twenty years. He played a leadership role in founding Circus Smirkus. Donny was the Director of the Vermont Governor’s Institute on the Arts for over two decades. He served three terms as a State Representative in the Vermont Legislature. Donny says that for the last few years between riding his bike in the summer, and skiing in the winter and watching Netflix year round there are not enough hours in the day.
Lori Stratton
Lori’s varied jobs have primarily involved environmental protection, health, education or theater. As an environmental toxicologist, she provides environmental health assessments through her consulting business, “Safer World Environmental”. She is an avid long distance bicycle rider, loves to hike in the woods, identify plants, and swim in the ocean. She is often seen behind the scenes stage managing, lighting and organizing at different community theater activities in the area. Among her various interests, skills and occupations, her love of theater and good music makes being a board member of the FPTHOH, an attractive pursuit. As a technical person, she enjoys being on the tech committee to help maintain and improve lighting and other practical aspects of the beautiful historic building of Plainfield Town Hall Opera House.
Dan Fingas
Dan Fingas has a nearly 2 decade career in social justice work in Vermont, New York, and Michigan. Dan has been focused in creating community and making positive change in the communities he has served and currently serves as the Vermont Organizing Director for Rights and Democracy. Dan brings a wealth of fundraising, volunteer management, and event planning experience. Dan is a 2004 graduate of Albion College and has been married to wife Mo Lynch since 2015. They live in Plainfield.
Leah Wilhjelm
Treasurer
Leah’s professional life has been a mix of arts and financial administration in a variety of non-profit organizations, including more than a decade as the Executive Director for the Green Mountain Youth Symphony. She currently works on the loan servicing team at Vermont Economic Development Authority. Leah has also spent many happy years in theaters. She’s lost count of the hours spent in band and chorus, in orchestra pits for musicals, and recently playing in gamelan orchestra, let alone time on stage in musical theater as a youngster and as an enthusiastic drama program supporter while her daughters were in school. The plethora of historic opera houses in New England was a delightful surprise when Leah moved to Vermont over 20 years ago. Plainfield Opera House is a local gem and Leah’s looking forward to ensuring that this space has an active future so many others can fall in love with theaters. Leah also enjoys knitting, reading, doing puzzles, and getting out in a kayak during the warmer months.