On Saturday, April 5, 2014, Dr. John Ficca, former head of the Theater Arts school at Illinois Wesleyan, traveled to Glenview, Illinois, to join the staff and supporters of Light Opera Works in honoring actor, Jim Harms, ’67, for his long career in theater, including his many roles in Light Opera Works’ performances over the years.

Trudene Rippe Westerman, ’68, a member of the board of Light Opera Works, introduced Dr. Ficca who spoke to the fact that Jim Harms did not distinguish himself as an actor of note at Wesleyan.  He went on to say that many of his students in the theater department have now distinguished themselves as lawyers, business people, teachers…but that Jim Harms has indeed distinguished himself as a major actor in the world of theater.

Jim Harms has made many contributions to musical theater with his portrayals of Don Quixote in Man of LaMancha, Fagin in Oliver!, the Major General in The Pirates of Penzance, and he has toured nationally and internationally in Evita, The Fantasticks and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Jim has performed in many theaters throughout the Chicago area.  At the Goodman Theatre, he was in the cast ofThe Visit with Chita Rivera, and last season he played Jimmy Tomorrow in The Iceman Cometh with Nathan Lane and Brian Dennehy.

Jim Harms is the recipient of an amazing 8 Joseph Jefferson Awards, and he has managed to craft together this long and remarkable career and still remain a wonderful and classy guy.