Today we’d like to introduce you to Oliver Klein.
Hi Oliver, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is Oliver Klein and I’m a Los Angeles/New York-based artist currently residing in Chinatown, just north of Downtown LA. I was born not far from here, in the Bay Area of Northern California, where I grew up with my parents and older brother.
At a very young age, I began performing in local theater productions. I enjoyed it immensely, and my parents encouraged me to attend the American Conservatory Theater’s Young Company in San Francisco to further explore my passion. I spent as much time as I could in classes and performing at the theater. Early on, it became clear that this was the right community for me to grow in.
I continued my acting education at ACT until my junior year of high school, when I moved across the country to attend the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy, an arts boarding school, where I continued my theater training. I went on to study in New York at Fordham University and later transferred to the University of Michigan, where I graduated with my BFA.
Since graduating, I’ve spent the past few years developing my skills as a producer, director, and writer. In 2024, I founded my production company, Intuitive Artists, with the mission to produce dynamic theater, film, and music while supporting young and up-and-coming artists.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
“Smooth road” is not the phrase I would use to describe my artistic journey. I suppose earlier in my life, when creating art was only a passion and not yet a profession, things were at least simpler. Once I began taking my career in the entertainment industry seriously—starting in high school and even more so in college—things became more complicated.
For many years, I think I lost touch with why art was my passion in the first place—or maybe I didn’t truly understand it until recently. I was never in search of fame and glory, though I had always hoped to support myself working solely in a creative field and to earn recognition for my hard work.
After a lot of reflection, I’ve come to realize that I was drawn to making art early on because it was something I felt naturally good at, something I genuinely enjoyed, and because it gave me the chance to build a community of friends and mentors while working in a deeply creative and fulfilling way.
Adjusting to the business side of the entertainment industry was also a challenge. I had been studying and refining my craft as an artist, but I hadn’t been focusing as much on how to actually build a sustainable career. Moving to a massive city with few friends or family made it even harder. It had been less difficult to relocate in the past because I had the built-in support system of fellow students and teachers—but after graduation, I simply decided one day I would move to Los Angeles, and then I did.
Despite these challenges, I’m incredibly proud of the progress I’ve made in such a short time. I now feel a real sense of momentum, both in how frequently I’m working and in the direction my career is heading.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
It’s hard to describe what I do in a single, specific way—because in many ways, I do a lot of things, often all at the same time. One of my biggest strengths is my creative vision. That might sound a bit heady at first, but what I really mean is that I often have a very clear and specific sense of how something should be executed, shaped, or improved. That could translate to how a project should be produced, how a script should be written, or which talented actors are right for a particular production.
I’ve found that I thrive in environments where I have broad creative and quality control over a project. When it comes to the nitty-gritty details, I’ve learned that delegating those tasks to other qualified individuals often yields the best results.
If you’re looking for a specific example, however, I’d offer the production of “It’s Just a Wedding” which I just completed at The Santa Monica Playhouse. I contributed in many ways—as a director, producer, casting director, and designer—and helped guide the project from near-conception all the way through to completion. You will often find me in these types of overarching positions—not a cog in the machine per se, but rather the mechanic operating it.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are so many people to thank, but I will always and forever start with my family. They have been nothing but supportive of my passions and dreams from day one. I wouldn’t be where I am today, or have had the opportunity to do the work I’ve done, without them.
I also want to give a heartfelt shoutout to my mentors, Craig Slaight and Gulshirin Dubash, who taught me so much more than just what it means to be an artist. Thank you to my friends as well—and especially to Alexandra Lee for recommending me for this article. You all continue to inspire me every single day.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliver__klein?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliverklein
Image Credits
Liana Glennon
Unicorn Productions LA
