PRODUCER
Performing Arts serve as the outlet for my deep passion for telling stories, tales that reflect who we are and who we can be.I have staged performances in a variety of settings, including historic opera houses, city streets, open-air venues, churches, educational institutions, correctional facilities, museums, and grand Victorian residences. My mission is to unite performers and audiences in meaningful explorations of the human experience.
TEACHER
In my teaching, I am deeply guided by the belief in the transformative potential of theatre, which shapes every element of my educational approach. By imparting the skills of acting, I equip students with enduring tools that will benefit them both in their artistic endeavors and throughout their lives. The study of communication fosters empathy, while voice training cultivates courage and composure. Furthermore, the discipline required in the arts instills values of mutual respect and patience. This relatively modest endeavor of collaboratively creating live performances paves the way for achieving shared positive objectives. In essence, the role of teaching performing arts is vital to the advancement of humanity. Theatre not only instructs us on how to live but also on how to thrive together.
DIRECTOR
As a Director and theatre professor, my highest calling is to foster an environment where others have the opportunity to excel, while investing myself completely in the power of performing arts.
PERFORMER
Like so many theatrical professionals, Lisa began her journey in theatre as an actor. She is a third generation student of Sanford Meisner and believes, as he did, that “Acting is behaving truthfully in imaginary circumstances.” She has appeared in countless productions and her experience informs her teaching, directing, and production.
Lisa believes that acting is a form of service: to the truth, to one’s fellow actors, and to the audience. She’s also a pretty good singer but refers to her dancing as “enthusiastic, probably entertaining, but not in a good way.”
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS AND CERTIFICATES
ABOUT LISA
Lisa Cesnik Ferguson is a theatre professional with decades of experience producing, directing, teaching and acting. She has produced theatre regionally all over the United States, but most frequently in Barnesville, GA, Indianapolis, IN, Minneapolis, MN, Chicago, IL, Columbus, GA, Athens, GA, and Richmond, VA. She earned her baccalaureate degree in Theatre from Ball State University and her MFA in Theatre from University of Georgia.
She is a tenured Associate Professor at Gordon State College where she additionally serves as Director of Theatre and has instructed and directed at University of Georgia, Columbus State University, Randolph Macon College and Piedmont University. She has founded and run theaters in Athens, Georgia and Indianapolis, Indiana.
She is working toward her Certification at Georgia Film Academy (GFA) and toward her certification in Fundraising Management from the Eli Lilly School of Philanthropy at IUPUI.
AUTHENTIC LIFE - COLLABORATOR
What is the actual role of an actor/director/producer/teacher in, say, a small town where there’s never been a professional theatre community? How does one build an audience? How do you ignite in people a love of live theatre? It’s my belief that there’s tremendous opportunity and work to be done offstage as much as on.
CONTACT LISA
