Jacob Kerzner

Biography

Jacob Kerzner is an assistant professor of musical theater in the Department of Drama where he teaches song performance, history and cabaret.

Kerzner has previously worked at the University of Michigan, University of Memphis and East Carolina University. He serves as the associate editor for “The George and Ira Gershwin Critical Edition,” building scholarly reconstructions of musicals including the Pulitzer-Prize-winning “Of Thee I Sing” (1931), “Song of the Flame” (1925) and “La, La, Lucille” (1919). Independently, Kerzner’s research focuses on musical satire in response to American politics through the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression, including the musicals of the Federal Theatre Project. Kerzner has presented for the Major Orchestra Librarians’ Association (MOLA) and the University Institute for Modern Languages (IULM) in Milan, Italy.

Kerzner began his professional career as a music assistant on productions including “Oklahoma!” (2019 Broadway revival, St. Ann’s Warehouse), “Hadestown” (The Citadel Theatre) and “Jerome Robbins Broadway” (The Muny). Recent music directing credits include “Bernarda Alba” (Syracuse University), Rodgers & Hammerstein’s “Pipe Dream” (Berkshire Theatre Group), “Gershwin Centennial Concert” (Marquee Arts), “The Legend of the Waitress and the Robber” (Concrete Temple Theatre), and the Encore Theatre’s Tribute Concert Series.

Education

• M.A., Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
• B.M., Ithaca College
• A.A., Bard College at Simon’s Rock