Experience
Coordinator of Instructional Development: TV, 1982-Present
Senior Producer and Director for Video
Digital Learning and Media Design
Governors State University
University Park, IL
GSU is one of the nation's leading universities in educational video. The Coordinator/Producer is responsible for all phases of production including the management of a staff of 20 and many student interns. The breadth of productions range from documentary to live videoconferences, from talk show to magazine format, from scripted drama to spontaneous interaction. Artistic Director on the groundbreaking PRIDE Digital Curriculum for foster parents. Developed and directed over 50 series shown on PBS, The Learning Channel and Mind Extension University and leased nationally. This involved scripting and budgeting through casting and shooting to editing and post- production finishing. Extensive field production both national and international. Produced, wrote and directed award-winning videoconferences such as Corporate America and the Environment with Bill Kurtis and Racism on Campus with Donna Shalala. Produced and directed the longest running telecourse in Chicago educational broadcasting.
Supervising Producer for Children's TV. 1989 - 1996
WBBM-TV, Chicago
WGN-TV, National
Produced The Magic Door Television Theatre, Chicago television's oldest children's program. A coproduction of WBBM and the Jewish Television Commission, in 1990, it was completely revamped into an anthology based series with a theatrical stylization drawing on the Chicago acting community. In each of the first two full years of it's new look, it took the EMMY for best children's program in a series. In 1994, it won the GABRIEL from the National Association of Catholic Broadcasters and in 1995, the Service to Children's TV award from the National Association of Broadcasters. Based on the success of The Magic Door, WGN- TV commissioned two pilots for a family holiday series. These have been airing seasonally. The program "Knock, Knock" won the 1995 EMMY for best single children's program.
Artistic Director/Designer
President (1986-1989 & 2002-2004)
The Drama Group
Chicago Heights, IL
Produced, directed, managed budgets and fundraising for one of the nation's oldest community theatres. Also designed sets and lights for six performances a year in two unique spaces--a 200 seat intimate "studio" and a 1,300 seat proscenium stage.
Directed (Sample, not comprehensive)
Threepenny Opera, Brecht
Dracula, Hamilton and Deane
Beyond Therapy, Durang
The Foreigner, Shue
Baby with the Bathwater, Durang (won the Regional Theatre Award for Best Comedy)
Sleeping Beauty and the Beast, Wood and Collins (U.S. Premiere of a British Panto)
Jack and the Beanstalk meets Mother Goose Who Laid the Golden Egg (U.S. Premiere)
Picnic, Inge
Designed (Sample, not comprehensive)
I Never Sang for My Father (Lighting)
Phantom (Lighting)
Spoon River Anthology (Set and Lighting)
Christmas Carol (Lighting)
Babes in Toyland (Set)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf? (Set)
Company (Lighting)
Sunday in the Park with George (Sound Design)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Sound Design)
Director 1991-92
Fake Shrubbery Theatre
Park Forest, IL
Helped set up and directed two productions for a new, non-equity theatre. Both were quite unique and well-reviewed. An "environmental" performance of Rostand's, Cyrano de Bergerac, moving the audience with the performers through an outdoor shopping mall. And the first authorized theatrical adaptation of three Serling Twilight Zone episodes complete with improvised commercials for local merchants.
Producer/Director 1980-81
Advanced Systems, Inc.
Elk Grove Village, IL
A.S.I. was a leading producer of video courses and on-site training for large corporations. Distribution included 90% of the FORTUNE 1000. Responsible for design, writing, casting and directing actors and business professionals, through production and post.
Production Supervisor1979
Image Makers
Crete, IL
Partner in an independent video production service. Clients included Commonwealth Edison, the American Hospital Association, and the American Naprapathic Association.
Director/Production1971-1973
WILL-TV
Urbana, IL
WILL-TV is an active Public Television affiliate serving most of central Illinois. Responsible for directing newspots, promos and interviews. Assembled "air" programming including a live, phone-in talk show and a Kabuki theatre piece. Also "Big Ten" sports and the Nightly News.
