Czerton Lim

Czerton Lim Design (czlimdesign.com)

Czerton Lim (he/him) teaches design and other related topics as Associate Professor of Scenic Design for the Department of Theatre and Dance and holds the position of Managing Producer for the Walter Gloor Mainstage Series. He received his Bachelor of Arts as a double major (cum laude) in Theatre and Biology at the College of William and Mary and his Masters of Fine Arts in Scenic Design at University of Washington's School of Drama. Prior to his move to Fredonia, he was a freelance designer working mostly in New York City with Abron Arts Center, Ma-Yi Theatre Company, Theatre Mitu, National Asian-American Theatre Company, Storm Theatre, Columbia University, Theatre for the New City, and New York Musical Theatre Festival, but has also had his work seen regionally in Central New York at Syracuse Stage, The Rev Theatre Company, Hangar Theatre Company, around the country in Indianapolis, IN, Flint, MI, Seattle, WA, Atlanta, GA, Cleveland, OH, Washington, DC to name a few, and internationally as far as Melbourne, Australia and Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. He previously taught as an adjunct instructor while serving as a guest designer at Montclair State University. In between all of that, with nothing more than two backpacks, he joined his wife, Jessica Lustig, the recipient of the Bonderman Travel Fellowship, on an eight-month trip around the world.

Mr. Lim is the recipient of the 2019 Syracuse Area Live Theater (SALT) Award for Best Set Design of a Musical (Elf the Musical, Syracuse Stage), Emerging Artist of Color Fellowship (now the 2050 Fellowship) from New York Theatre Workshop, The Marvin Simms Design Fellowship (with Ming Cho Lee and Constance Hoffmann) from the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Summer Intensive Program, and the Gene Chesley Design Assistant Award from the Utah Shakespeare Festival.

Excerpts of an interview about the design process for Syracuse Stage's production of Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express can be seen here, here and here.

An interview about the design process for Indiana Repertory Theatre and Syracuse Stage's co-production of Clue can be heard here.

An art profile of his design work in Central New York Magazine's May/June 2021 issue can be read here.

An interview about the design process for Theater Emory's virtual production of Les Blancs can be watched here.

An interview about the design process for Syracuse Stage's 2020 streaming production of Talley's Folly can be seen here.

An interview about the Theatrical Production and Design Program he gave to Fredonia Live Interview with Brandon Williamson can be viewed here.

His continuing design work can be seen here. https://www.czlimdesign.com

A proud member of USA local 829, he is originally from the Philippines.

Office Hours

• Tuesday: 12:30 to 3 pm
• Thursday: 12:30 to 3 pm
• Whenever the door is open...

Teaching Interests

Theatre & Dance Majors Seminar, Scene Design I, II & III, Script Analysis (The Dramatic Imagination), Rendering Techniques I, Scene Painting I, II & III, History of Architecture Art & Decor, Properties for the Stage, Design/Technical Production Mentorship

Research Interests

Professional Freelance Set Designer - Cleveland Play House, Indiana Repertory Theatre, The Fulton Theatre, Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, Syracuse Stage, Hangar Theatre Company, The Cherry Arts, The Rev Theatre Company (formerly The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival), Theater Emory, Flint Repertory Theatre, Spooky Action Theater, Storm Theatre, Ma-Yi Theatre Company, National Asian-American Theatre Company, Theater Mitu, NYU-Abu Dhabi, Montclair State University, The New Lions, The Sage Theatre, Theater for the New City, New York Musical Theatre Festival, Blue Heron Theatre, Columbia University, Stone Soup Theater Arts, Abron Arts Center, Penumbra Theatre Company, Ethnic Cultural Theatre, Essential Theatre, Theatre IV/Theatre Gym, William & Mary Theatre, Flat Rock Playhouse

Awards and Honors

• "Making a Scene," Art Profile: Scenic Designer Czerton Lim, Central New York Magazine (2021).
• 2019 Syracuse Area Live Theatre (SALT) Award for Best Set Design of a Musical (ELF THE MUSICAL, Syracuse Stage), Family Times/Syracuse New Times (2019).
• Nominated twice for the 2019 Syracuse Area Live Theatre (SALT) Award for Best Set Design of a Musical (ELF THE MUSICAL, Syracuse Stage & MURDER FOR TWO, Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival), Family Times/Syracuse New Times (2019).
• Nominated twice for the 2017 Syracuse Area Live Theatre (SALT) Awards for Best Set Design of a Musical (PARADE and GHOST THE MUSICAL, Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival), Syracuse New Times (2017).
• Nominated for Exemplary Faculty Service in International Studies - Global Initiative Award 2017, Office of International Education (2017).
• Nominated for the 2016 Syracuse Area Live Theatre (SALT) Awards for Best Set Design of a Musical (CRAZY FOR YOU, Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival), Syracuse New Times (2016).
• Nominated for the 2015 Wilde Awards for Best Design - Sets (DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, Flint Youth Theatre), Encore Michigan (2015).

License/Certification

• American Heart Association - Heartsaver First Aid
• American Heart Association - Heartsaver CPR AED

Professional Membership

• United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT)
• United Scenic Artist Local USA 829 IATSE

Media Contributions

• "Lim teams up with alumnus for ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ production at Syracuse Stage" (2024).
• "Lim interviewed for new book that explores technology success stories in performing arts" (2024).
• "Lim’s scenic design for ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ in Cleveland also a teaching tool and alumni opportunity" (2024).
• "Syracuse (On)Stage - Clue Podcast" (2023).
• "Notes from the Aisle Seat Episode 2.7 - Radium Girls Interview" (2022).
• "Fredonia Campus Report - Westfield library hosts theatre exhibition by Fredonia students and faculty" (2022).
• "Central New York Magazine - Making a Scene - Art Profile: Scenic Designer Czerton Lim" (2021).
• "SU Newhouse School of Public Communications - Goldring students cover the local arts scene for Central New York Magazine" (2021).
• "Engage with Stage - Video Interview with Syracuse Stage's Production of Talley's Folly" (2020).
• "The Wall Street Journal - Talley's Folly Review: A Touching Two-Actor Triumph" (2020).
• "Family Times/Syracuse New Times - SALT Award Winners Named" (2019).
• "Syracuse New Times - Nominees for 2019 SALT Awards Revealed" (2019).
• "Daily Orange - Christmas Comedy Elf the Musical is playing at Syracuse Stage" (2018).
• "Post Journal - Area College Unsure How Refugee Ban Will Impact Enrollment" (2017).
• "Syracuse New Times - SALT Honors Up For Grabs" (2016).

Performances/Exhibits

• "King James," Indiana Repertory Theatre AND Syracuse Stage (2025).
• "The Play That Goes Wrong," La Mirada Theatre (2025).
• "The Book Women," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance, Bartlett Theatre (2024).
• "Little Shop of Horrors," Indiana Repertory Theatre, (2024).
• "Murder On the Orient Express," Syracuse Stage, (2024).
• "The Play That Goes Wrong," Cleveland Play House, (2024).
• "A Chorus Line," The Rev Theatre Company, (2023).
• "Into the Woods," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance, Marvel Theatre (2022).
• "The Play That Goes Wrong," Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, (2023).
• "Clue: On Stage," Indiana Repertory Theatre AND Syracuse Stage, (2023).
• "The Play That Goes Wrong," Fulton Theatre, (2023).
• "Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance, Marvel Theatre (2023).
• "The Play That Goes Wrong," Syracuse Stage, (2022).
• "Setting the Stage: Design for Theater," Czerton Lim, Patterson Library , Octagon Gallery (2022).
• "Radium Girls," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance, Bartlett Theatre (2022).
• "Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812," Hangar Theatre Company, (2022).
• "School Girls, or the African Mean Girls Play," Hangar Theatre Company, (2022).
• "Matilda the Musical," Syracuse Stage, (2021).
• "The Normal Heart," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance, Bartlett Theatre (2021).
• "The Wild Party," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance, Marvel Theatre (2021).
• "An Odyssey," Hangar Theatre Company, (2021).
• "Les Blancs," Theater Emory, (2020).
• "Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley - COVID-19 Cancellation*," Syracuse Stage, (2020).
• "Talley's Folly," Syracuse Stage, (2020).
• "Rocky the Musical - COVID-19 Cancellation*," The Rev Theatre Company, (2020).
• "Sweeney Todd - COVID-19 Cancellation*," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance, Marvel Theatre (2020).
• "Daisy Pulls it Off," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance (2018).
• "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," Syracuse Stage, (2019).
• "The Grapes of Wrath," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance (2019).
• "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance (2018).
• "Elf the Musical," Syracuse Stage, (2018).
• "Murder for Two," Fingerlakes Musical Theatre Festival, (2018).
• "Spring Awakening," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance (2018).
• ""Nonsense," Fredonia Dance Ensemble Piece 2018," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance (2018).
• "Ghost the Musical," Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, (2017).
• "Parade," Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, (2017).
• "The Man Who Came to Dinner," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Speech (2016).
• "Treasure Island," Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, (2016).
• "Crazy For You," Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, (2016).
• "Huck Finn," Flint Youth Theatre, (2016).
• "Tenderly," Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, (2016).
• "The Wizard of Oz," Flint Youth Theatre, (2015).
• "Cabaret," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance, Marvel Theatre (2015).
• "Sweeney Todd," Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, (2015).
• "West Side Story," Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, (2015).
• "The Diary of Anne Frank," Flint Youth Theatre, (2015).
• "HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical," Walter Gloor Mainstage Series, Department of Theatre and Dance (2015).

Presentations

• "OK Boomer, Teach Me Theatre," Frank Willard Job Fair & Upstate NY USITT Meetup (2020).
• "Cornell Box Project - Teaching Innovations for Script Analysis," Creative Teaching on the Web (2019).
• "Portrait Gallery Project - Teaching Innovations for Script Analysis," Compendium: Projects for Teaching Scene Design (2016).