Cerne is an accomplished and visionary theatre artist, now in his 12th season as the Producing Artistic Director of Theatre Workshop of Nantucket (TWN), a Small Professional Theatre (SPT) located on the historic island of Nantucket. Under his leadership, TWN has flourished as a vibrant cultural institution, where he has directed, produced, curated, and collaborated on more than 100 theatrical productions. His directing highlights at TWN include bold and beloved titles such as Mamma Mia!, Boeing Boeing, Terms of Endearment, Meteor Shower, Into the Woods, and Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple (Female Version).
A multi-hyphenate artist, Cerne’s choreographic work can be seen in Damsels in Distress (Sony Pictures Classics), directed by Academy Award nominee Whit Stillman and starring Oscar nominee Greta Gerwig. In 2023, he premiered his stage adaptation of New York Times best-selling author Elin Hilderbrand’s Winter Street series on Nantucket, delivering a sold-out, critically acclaimed run.
Before his tenure at TWN, Cerne built an extensive national career directing and choreographing across the country. He has worked with some of the most respected names in the industry, including Meryl Streep, and Broadway luminaries such as Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, Liz Callaway, Heidi Blickenstaff, and Annaleigh Ashford.
As a playwright, Cerne’s original works include Truth or Consequences, March of the Isabelline Penguins, and Polar, in addition to his adaptation of Winter Street. He holds a BA from Marymount Manhattan College and an MFA in Dramatic Writing from the University of Idaho. A dedicated advocate for the performing arts, Justin is a proud member of the Actors' Equity Association (AEA), the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC), SAG-AFTRA, and the Dramatists Guild.
