JAMES McKERNAN

BEd (OISE/Toronto), BFA (York)
Assistant Professor: Theatre Production
Department of Theatre, York University

mckernan@yorku.ca

Professor McKernan teaches stage technology, exploring both leading-edge and traditional methodologies. His research is tied to sustainability, with a focus on seeking and implementing new, more ecologically responsible theatrical scenographic technologies.

Collaborating with industry partners and professional practitioners, McKernan's contributions in the field include the production of a series of symposia and professional development workshops on sustainable stage technology for stage designers, directors, producers and technicians. Topics of these presentations include the use of theatrical fog devices and lighting atmospheric effects, LED lighting as a sustainable alternative to conventional lighting fixtures, and the use of multimedia projection techniques and design in theatre.

McKernan's professional career in theatre and film production includes extensive experience as head carpenter and construction coordinator in the entertainment industry. His credits include Juno, Genie and Gemini Award shows and the award-winning Rhombus Media feature documentary Stormy Weather: The Music of Harold Arlen.

McKernan served as sound designer for Out of the Box Productions’ Toronto remount of Sound in Silence (2009) and as set designer for the company’s Toronto production of Opera Erotique (2010). The latter show was designed and produced with a view to minimizing its environmental impact, and was used as a case study investigating the methodology and feasibility of sustainable theatrical scenography.

Professor McKernan is an active member of the Canadian Institute of Theatre Technology. He shares his research on the Theatre Artisan Green Skills website.