James Blackmon

Artistic Director (Interim)
2022 - MadLab AD
James Blackmon 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, the Sr. Drama Director
for Whitehall-Yearling High School, owns his own award-winning Community Theatre, JB3Entertainment, and is the Interim Artistic for the
award-winning Mad Lab Theatre in downtown Columbus.

James is also a past president of the Central Ohio Theatre Roundtable.