Education Director
James Blackmon
After his successful tenure as MadLab's Artistic Director, James Blackmon begins his new role as Education Director at MadLab. Under his leadership, MadLab will expand its educational programming for both youth and adults, offering classes, workshops, and mentorship that reflect our mission of fostering bold, original voices. Visit the Education page on our website to explore our latest offerings and find out how you can get involved.
JAMES' BACKGROUND: James began his theatre career as an 11-year-old kid playing a "General In The Ozian Army" in a local Children's Theatre production of The Wizard Of Oz, in Tuscaloosa, AL. Since then, James has played many roles in numerous productions, including, chorus parts in Showboat, Hello Dolly, Oliver, Peter Pan, Sweet Charity and Hairspray, "Cal" in The Little Foxes, "Vladimir" in Waiting For Godot, "Jim" in Huck Finn, "Crooks" in Of Mice And Men, "Asagai" in A Raisin In The Sun, "Neal Tilden," and "Johnny Cantone" in The 1940's Radio Hour, "Judy" and "Marlene" in Drag Queens In Outer Space, and "Daddy Warbucks" in Annie. James has also directed both musicals and plays, including, Dreamgirls, The 1940's Radio Hour, Annie, Drag Queens In Outer Space, Steel Magnolias, Doubt: A Parable, The LisbonTraviata, 12 Angry Women, and Cats, and music directed several musicals, including, Dreamgirls, The 1940's Radio Hour, Annie, Cats, Flashdance, Drag Queens In Outer Space, Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play and Seussical.
Also, an accomplished professional musician (piano & vocals) James has been a working musician practically his entire life, having booked his first gig at 8 years old as the pianist of his church's youth choir. Since then, James has played all across the country and the world both as the front man of several vocal groups in Alabama, New Orleans, Ohio and Hamburg, Germany, and as a solo artist from 2009-2013 as a Piano Bar Entertainer for Holland America Cruise Line. From 2007-2009 James was the co-owner and featured weekend performer at his Columbus, OH piano bar, James Club 88. In addition, James has recorded three CDs, and gigs regularly in piano bars and jazz clubs in Columbus.
Currently, James is the Music Ministry Coordinator and Office Administrator for First English Lutheran Church and owns his own award-winning Community Theatre, JB3Entertainment. James is also a Immediate Past President of the Central Ohio Theatre Roundtable.
JAMES' BACKGROUND: James began his theatre career as an 11-year-old kid playing a "General In The Ozian Army" in a local Children's Theatre production of The Wizard Of Oz, in Tuscaloosa, AL. Since then, James has played many roles in numerous productions, including, chorus parts in Showboat, Hello Dolly, Oliver, Peter Pan, Sweet Charity and Hairspray, "Cal" in The Little Foxes, "Vladimir" in Waiting For Godot, "Jim" in Huck Finn, "Crooks" in Of Mice And Men, "Asagai" in A Raisin In The Sun, "Neal Tilden," and "Johnny Cantone" in The 1940's Radio Hour, "Judy" and "Marlene" in Drag Queens In Outer Space, and "Daddy Warbucks" in Annie. James has also directed both musicals and plays, including, Dreamgirls, The 1940's Radio Hour, Annie, Drag Queens In Outer Space, Steel Magnolias, Doubt: A Parable, The LisbonTraviata, 12 Angry Women, and Cats, and music directed several musicals, including, Dreamgirls, The 1940's Radio Hour, Annie, Cats, Flashdance, Drag Queens In Outer Space, Mr. Burns: A Post Electric Play and Seussical.
Also, an accomplished professional musician (piano & vocals) James has been a working musician practically his entire life, having booked his first gig at 8 years old as the pianist of his church's youth choir. Since then, James has played all across the country and the world both as the front man of several vocal groups in Alabama, New Orleans, Ohio and Hamburg, Germany, and as a solo artist from 2009-2013 as a Piano Bar Entertainer for Holland America Cruise Line. From 2007-2009 James was the co-owner and featured weekend performer at his Columbus, OH piano bar, James Club 88. In addition, James has recorded three CDs, and gigs regularly in piano bars and jazz clubs in Columbus.
Currently, James is the Music Ministry Coordinator and Office Administrator for First English Lutheran Church and owns his own award-winning Community Theatre, JB3Entertainment. James is also a Immediate Past President of the Central Ohio Theatre Roundtable.
