James F. Cermak

Biography 

"Jim" Cermak, Assistant Professor in the CSTA Department and Managing Director of Theatre, celebrated his 29^th year at Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, by directing Sweet Charity (his 25^th musical).  Jim has held various titles at Concordia beginning with Designer and Technical Director.  For the last nine years, Jim has also served as Managing and Artistic Director for the Gooseberry Park Players, Inc., helping to bring this youth company to another level of success, with annual involvement exceeding 60 young people and their parents, a staff of seven and over 1800 tickets sold to the 2001 production, The Magic Flute. 

 After 11 years of dance training, Jim began theatre work in a 1958 high school production and now lists an average of 6.5 shows per year since then.  Jim has been an Equity Stage Manager, co-founded two summer theatres, was Director of the International Peace Gardens Drama Camp, and over a ten year period was Technical Director and Director of Educational Programming for Trollwood Performing Arts School.    Jim has worked as Technical Director for three professional repertory companies, was Company Manager and performer for two USO touring groups, studied mime, stage combat, mask making and period movement.  He has escorted ten European Theatre seminars, was a regional judge in forensics and theatre one-acts, and has served as President of the Minnesota Theatre Federation and Board of Directors of the Red River Dance and Performing Company.  He is a Viet Nam era veteran.  

 Jim's doctoral studies at Southern Illinois University explored Arts Management, Theatre for Youth and Organizational Communications.   Jim has always used the term "life skills" to describe his approach to theatre art and currently the liberal arts theatre program at Concordia annually involves over 250 students in all the arts of theatre.   Jim spent 22 years as the lighting designer and technical director for Concordia's annual Christmas Concerts, and as founder of ARS (Arts Referral Service), he advises high schools, community theatre programs and churches throughout the quad-state region.

 Jim considers himself to be very fortunate to be working in theatre with his spouse and colleague Helen, a director, dramaturge and assistant professor of theatre and women’s studies.  They have been married since 1969.  Their son Jamie, who lives and works in St. Paul is a practicing vegetarian and would like to study in London some day.  Their daughter A.J. has just completed her M.F.A. in Directing at the Actor's Studio in New York City.  In 2000, he was the Creative Director for the ELCA's International Youth Gathering in the TWA Dome in St. Louis and notes that this was a crossroads event in his life and he'd be happy to talk about the largest "theatrical event" he's ever produced, designed and directed.   Jim is a spokesperson for sleep disorders and in August of 2000, Jim had both of his knees reconstructed.

 Jim's former students are working in all facets of theatre and the “theatrical event,” Minneapolis to New York to Hollywood to Seattle.  Concordia “theatre folk” have careers as arts managers, designers, choreographers, performers, pastors, teachers, and counselors.   Jim teaches Theatre Management, Scenography, Lighting, Production Organization and Procedures, seminars in European Theatre, musical theatre, movement, stage combat, and design.   He has presented performance and production workshops at state and national Thespian Festivals for fifteen years. 

 Jim is an outspoken advocate for the belief that theatre provides a series of experiential "life skills" that cannot be replicated anywhere else in an academic education.   Jim's innovative development of "creative problem-solving," "complex social activities," metaphorical strategy analysis," and alternative arts management systems and structures," offer constant challenges as a theatre manager, producer, director, educator, and active participant in global community issues.

“Working with the Gooseberry Park Players has given me a chance to return to these kids some of the opportunities that I've been given.   My son and daughter taught me that each kid is different and bright kids need multiple levels of challenges in their lives.  Sports activities need to be balanced with art and music and dance and theatre activities.  In our lives, we will always have work, a job, and responsibilities but we also need to have a way to release those physical and emotional tensions that build up.  The kids in the Gooseberry Park Players are the next level of young artists who need nurturing.  Not many kids in today's society will have a life in the theatre, but everyone can have theatre in their life."   In a recent interview Jim said: "What a model for our society!  Parents and kids working together, sharing and appreciating the positive experiences in life.  Theatre may not get the same press coverage as sports and horrific news stories, but throughout this country, tens of thousands of young people are involved in wonderful arts activities, which help develop creative, thinking and caring adults for the future."

        Most recently, Jim designed a summer home in the north woods of Wisconsin where he once worked summers on his uncle's dairy farm.  Helen and Jim's retreat will include a large greenhouse for Helen and a large woodworking shop and an office where they can use e-mail to communicate with former students throughout the world.  He plans to spend his eventual retirement producing and presenting workshops for small high school theatre groups that can't afford a full time program or theatre teacher.

For information on Theatre programming at Concordia College or the Gooseberry Park Players of Moorhead, MN, please contact Jim Cermak at 218/299-3728.  jcermak@gloria.cord.edu

rev.  02-08-02