Commercial talent
With a Bachelor of Science in Education and an MFA in Theatre & Media from York University, Toronto, Canada, James D. Rosenberger began his professional career in the arts as a member of the Canadian Theatre Ensemble's P.E.A.K./Savage God ensemble appearing at Poland’s Fifth International Festival of the Open Theatre with subsequent original productions in Canada and Europe. After working as a featured vocalist for composer John Cage for his CBC Radio production “Lecture on the Weather,” he went on to appear as the lead in the feature film “One Two Three STOP!” for the National Film Board of Canada before returning to the USA.
His first company, Performance Resources (PR) was based in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was also founding artist of SPACES, Ohio’s oldest alternative forum for artists who explore and experiment. He then moved to Cincinnati where he earned stage credits at Cincinnati’s Playhouse in the Park and worked at The Contemporary Arts Center. This latter role found him working with theatre and music giants such as Robert Wilson, Glenn Branca, Vito Acconci and others, often creating their first video tape programs.
He left the arts in 1982 and officially integrated PR into maxxmedia+events, serving both the corporate and non-profit markets by creating and producing digital communications and live events. In 2004 he created Audible Therapies and began serving the elder communities with therapeutic storytelling and in 2012 became a Clinically Certified Therapeutic Musician specifically trained to work with patients in hospice and nursing home communities.
A special DVD is also available featuring this video along with a bonus featuring Vito Acconci titled “Wilson Branca Acconci: Images Sounds Objects”
Adapted from the Mason Williams short story "How to Derive the Maximum Enjoyment from Eating Crackers", Mr. Rosenberger's first "videotheatre" effort, uses pre-recorded video, multiple slide projectors and live performance intro to a video installation and playback. Said video portion was shot and assemble edited LIVE on 9 locations with a portable Betamax recorder and is presented intact. The work premiered at the SPACES gallery opening in 1978, and has reappeared subsequently at SPACES 10th and 20th Anniversary events.
Written by Paul Wick, produced, performed and directed by Mr. Rosenberger, this forty-two second horizontal and vertical "simultaneous audiopoem" was selected to be presented on National Public Radio's Hi-Tech Etude program series in 1982. Mr. Rosenberger also premiered the work live at VideoCabaret in Toronto and had it also featured at PS 122's Performance Series "Shorts" in NYC in 1984.
