Archives: Team Members

David Kersnar (he/him) is a founding Ensemble Member of Lookingglass and has performed, designed and directed with the company since 1988. David co-wrote and directed 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas and The Last Act of Lilka Kadison for Lookingglass as well as Sita Ram for Chicago Children’s Choir in collaboration with Natya Dance Theatre and Lookingglass.

David last directed The Lord of the Fries, The Phantom Tollbooth, Lip Sync Invasion and Waging Peace for Lookingglass Young Ensemble. He has also co-directed devised work for Lookingglass Lab. Other directing and writing credits include productions at Next Theatre, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lively Arts and Chicago Children’s Theatre. Lookingglass acting credits include: Still Alice, Our Town, The Secret in the Wings, and Summertime. David has also appeared with the Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Remains Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Actors’ Gang in LA, and Touchstone Theatre of Pennsylvania.

He has twice served as the Lookingglass Artistic Director and founded and directed Lookingglass Education & Community Programs and has served as Master Teacher. David currently serves as a Professor of Practice at Penn State University, directing productions of Urinetown and Everybody.
He co-founded and directed over 40 films and plays nationally and internationally with Shaking the Tree Interactive Productions, which uses theatrical problem-solving techniques in business environments. Film and television credits include: U.S. Marshals, Since You’ve Been Gone, Early Edition, and Turks. David holds a B.S. in Theatre and Performance Studies and a MFA in Directing from Northwestern University.