معرفی
T.J. Gerckens is an Associate Professor of Lighting Design in the Department of Theatre & Dance at Otterbein University, where he designs lighting for productions such as Fiddler on the Roof and Into the Woods. As a USA829 Union Lighting Designer, he collaborates with Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman, with whom he has worked for 23 years, including on Wonderful Town at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre and the Metropolitan Opera’s DVD releases of Lucia di Lammermoor and La Sonnambula. He previously served at the University of Toledo and spent 17 years in production/executive management at CATCO.
- Education
- MFA in Theatre Lighting Design, Boston University (1992)
- BFA in Theatre Design/Technology, Otterbein University (1988)
His research focuses on theatrical and opera lighting design, emphasizing collaborative artistry. Awards include New York’s Drama Desk Award and Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award, reflecting acclaim for productions like Metamorphoses and Candide. He has designed for Broadway, off-Broadway, and international venues including LaScala Opera House in Milan.
- Selected Awards
- Drama Desk Award (2003)
- Lucille Lortel Award (2002)
- Joseph Jefferson Award (2013)
- IRNE Award (2012)
As a practitioner, he bridges academic instruction with professional industry work, with upcoming projects including Dvorak’s Rusalka at the Metropolitan Opera and The Odyssey at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
