Art Nemitz's Bio : The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre

Art Nemitz

17 Art Nemitz

Biography

Art is a well known, long time actor, director, and supporter of Kalamazoo area theatres, including the Civic, the Whole Art Theatre, and Farmers Alley Theatre. In 2018, he celebrated his 52nd year of association with the Civic. He says, "I started with the Civic in the fall of 1966 as a chorus boy in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and I've been here ever since." He notes that two of his favorite Civic roles have been Norman in On Golden Pond and Fagin in Oliver! Two of his most recent directorial achievements for the Civic were Grey Gardens, the Musical, the recent comedy Sylvia,and last season's opener, Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein. In his career he has acted and directed in community theatre, educational theatre, and summer stock venues and has done so for more than 200 productions. He was a past board member of WMU's Theatre Guild. He currently serves on the Civic's Executive Committee and its Board of Directors for which he acts as Secretary.

Art is a member of the Community Theatre Association of Michigan (CTAM) and has served on its Board of Directors and as a Past President (2007-10). He was the State Chairman for CTAM's Michigan 2013 AACT-Fest. Art is also an active member of the American Association of Community Theatres (AACT) for which he serves as a representative and has overseen AACT-Fests and adjudicated in Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Alabama. He is also active with the Ohio Community Theatre Association (OCTA), having recently completed his third adjudication for their annual state festival.

In 2004, Art received a Community Medal of Arts Award by the state of Michigan and the Kalamazoo Arts Council for his commitment and contributions to the arts. The Kalamazoo Civic recognized him in 1976 with its highest honor, the Larkin Noble Award. In 2003, he received an Outstanding Performance Award from AACT for his portrayal of the title character in Visiting Mr.Green. He has received the Dorothy Arnett Volunteer Service Award (2004) from CTAM along with their highest award, the Robert A. McKenna Theatre Achievement Award (2013).

Since his retirement from the Portage Public Schools, he has taken up playwriting as a hobby. He has won two First Place prizes in the yearly CTAM Playwriting Contest " The Zimmerman Annual Fourth of July Picnic (2015), Romance Guaranteed (2016), and Down on the Farm (2017).