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John Ackman

J.D. Ackman

Title

Professor Emeritus of Theatre/Director of Theatre

Office Building

The Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center

Office

189J

Mailing Address

Oscar Larson Performing Arts Center 189J
School of Performing Arts-Box 2830
University Station
Brookings, SD 57007

Biography

J.D. Ackman, is Professor and Director of Theatre at South Dakota State University. He has been on the faculty since 1993. J.D. holds an MFA in Acting from the University of Montana (1984). He currently oversees SDSU’s State University Theatre program and serves as Managing/Artistic Director for SDSU’s Prairie Repertory Theatre. J.D. has performed in or directed over 150 theatre productions. He has taught more than a dozen different courses during his tenure at State. While he enjoys his administrative duties, he most enjoys working with his students in rehearsals and in the classroom/studio and interacting with theatre patrons. J.D. lives in Brookings with his wife and son.

Education

Master of Fine Arts (Acting) - University of Montana (1984)
Bachelor of Science - South Dakota State University (1978)

Academic Interests

Acting and Directing

Academic Responsibilities

Courses taught:
MEPR 160 Introduction to Film
MEPR 360 Film Narrative
SPCM 101 Fundamentals of Speech
THEA 101 Introduction to Theatre
THEA 131 Acting
THEA 250 Play Analysis
THEA 351 Directing
THEA 355 Children’s Theatre
THEA 361 Literature and History of Theatre I
THEA 375 Theatre Arts Management
THEA 455 Advanced Acting
THEA 492 Dramatic Theory and Criticism
THEA 492 Intermediate Acting
THEA 410/510 Dramatic Literature
THEA 460/560 History of Theatre

Committee Activities

- Performing Arts Center Expansion Steering Committee (2012-present)
- Workshop presentation, USITT – Northern Boundary– Social Media and Theatre Marketing (2013)
- KCACTF Region V Selection Team (2000-2005)
- KCACTF Region V Respondent (1997-present)
- College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Foundation Relations Committee (2011)
- College of Arts and Sciences Dean Search Committee (2011)
- Arts and Sciences Faculty Development and Community Committee (2002)
- Screening Committee SDSU/Manchester Metropolitan Exchange Program (2002)
- SDSU Performing Arts Center planning committee (1998-2002)
- SDSU "Communication Able Students" committee (1999)
- Chair - Communication Studies and Theatre Search Committees (1997-98, 2001, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012)
- College of Arts and Sciences Liberal Studies Standing Core Curriculum Committee (1994-98)

Grants

Griffith Foundation Grant (1999) - Study in Edinburgh, Scotland
Griffith Foundation Grant (2001) - Study in Edinburgh, Scotland
Griffith Foundation Grant (2010) – Study in San Jose, CA
South Dakota Arts Council Challenge Grants (2007-17) in support of Prairie Repertory Theatre

Creative Activities

DIRECTING Father of the Bride Prairie Repertory Theatre (2019)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream State University Theatre (2019)
Woyzeck State University Theatre (2018)
Seussical State University Theatre (2018)
Unnecessary Farce State University Theatre (2017)
The Full Monty Prairie Repertory Theatre (2017)
Five Women…Same Dress State University Theatre (2017)
A Christmas Carol: the Musical State University Theatre (2016)
A Year with Frog and Toad State University Theatre (2016)
Boeing Boeing Prairie Repertory Theatre (2015)
Twelfth Night State University Theatre (2015)
Monty Python’s Spamalot State University Theatre (2014)
The 25th Annual…Bee Prairie Repertory Theatre (2014)
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof State University Theatre (2013)
Leading Ladies Prairie Repertory Theatre (2012)
Buried Child State University Theatre (2012)
The Rocky Horror Show State University Theatre (2011)
Arsenic and Old Lace Prairie Repertory Theatre (2011)
Church Basement Ladies Prairie Repertory Theatre (2011)
The Taming of the Shrew State University Theatre (2011)
Nuts State University Theatre (2011)
Jesus Christ Superstar Prairie Repertory Theatre (2010)
Proof State University Theatre (2010)
Inherit the Wind State University Theatre (2009)
Godspell Prairie Repertory Theatre (2009)
Lysistrata State University Theatre (2009)
Scrooge! State University Theatre (2008)
Move Over, Mrs. Markham Prairie Repertory Theatre (2008)
Aladdin, Jr. State University Theatre (2008)
All My Sons State University Theatre (2007)
Macbeth State University Theatre (2007)
Keely and Du State University Theatre (2007)
The Cherry Orchard State University Theatre (2006)
A Bedfull of Foreigners Prairie Repertory Theatre (2006)
Book of Days State University Theatre (2006)
Bat Boy the Musical State University Theatre (2005)
Perfect Wedding Prairie Repertory Theatre (2005)
The Underpants State University Theatre (2005)
Our Town State University Theatre (2004)
Sylvia Prairie Repertory Theatre (2004)
How I Learned to Drive State University Theatre (2004)
West Side Story State University Theatre (2003)
Damn Yankees Prairie Repertory Theatre (2003)
Tartuffe State University Theatre (2003)
South Pacific Prairie Repertory Theatre (2002)
Romeo and Juliet State University Theatre (2002)
Sweeney Todd State University Theatre (2001)
Don't Dress for Dinner Prairie Repertory Theatre (2001)
The Grapes of Wrath State University Theatre (2000)
A Midsummer Night's Dream Prairie Repertory Theatre (2000)
Much Ado About Nothing State University Theatre (2000)
The Importance of Being Earnest State University Theatre (1999)
The Mystery of Edwin Drood State University Theatre (1998)
Noises Off Prairie Repertory Theatre (1998)
A Chorus Line State University Theatre (1997)
Moon Over Buffalo Prairie Repertory Theatre (1997) The Merchant of Venice State University Theatre (1997)
I Hate Hamlet State University Theatre (1996)
Gypsy Prairie Repertory Theatre (1996)
Our Country's Good State University Theatre (1996)
It Runs in the Family Prairie Repertory Theatre (1995)
The Wind in the Willows State University Theatre (1995)
The Elephant Man State University Theatre (1994)
Out of Order Prairie Repertory Theatre (1994)
The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas State University Theatre (1993)
Fiddler on the Roof Lake Benton Opera House (1993)
The Boys in Autumn Lake Benton Opera House (1992)
Once Upon a Mattress St. Croix Valley Summer Theatre (1990)
Oklahoma! Prairie Repertory Theatre (1990)
The Odd Couple Prairie Repertory Theatre (1989)
The Apple Tree Brookings Community Cultural Center (1989)
See How They Run Prairie Repertory Theatre (1987)

Department(s)