New Brunswick, NJ -- David Saint and Todd Schmidt – Artistic and Managing Directors of New Brunswick’s George Street Playhouse – have appointed Jim Jack Director of Education and Outreach effective November 2. Mr. Jack will be responsible for supervising all artistic and administrative aspects of the Playhouse’s Education Department, working in tandem with Mr. Saint. Mr. Saint said, “Jim is a dedicated and able artist, educator and administrator and we are extremely fortunate to have him at George Street. I look forward to working with him as we collaborate to fulfill our mission of enriching people’s lives through world-class theatre.” In addition to his administrative duties, he will be directing several of the touring theatre productions, teaching theatre classes and overseeing audience talkbacks and symposia for the Playhouse’s adult audiences. George Street Playhouse’s Educational Touring theatre tours throughout the tri-state area and is experienced by more than 60,000 students during the school year.
Jim Jack has worked in theatre education for the past fifteen years, spending the last eight with the Roundabout Theatre Company as a master teaching artist, project coordinator, and as Interim Acting Director of Education.
Creating positive, lasting partnerships with schools, engaging teachers and students with the joy and rigor of theatre practice, and connecting communities to the artistic and social vision of theatre has been his passion and focus. From directing community-based theatre with children in foster care to co-founding Bronx Theatre High School, a New Century High School in partnership with Roundabout Theatre Company, the scope of his work has empowered the imagination, spirit, creative discipline, and intellectual curiosity of thousands of students and educators.
Jim began his career in education as an eighth grade English/ESL teacher at Chester Nimitz Middle School in East Los Angeles. After five years, he moved to New York City to pursue his love of acting and theatre education. While performing with New York and regional companies, Jim continued to work with teachers and students to promote theatre arts excellence and reform. He has worked in over 100 schools with several of the most respected arts organization in New York City, including the 92 Street Y, Metropolitan Opera Guild, and ArtsConnection, to name a few. These experiences, along with his professional work as an actor and director, have provided him with a unique understanding of the inner workings and curricular needs of schools and communities—
Mr. Jack said, “George Street Playhouse is an amazing theatre – filled with wonderful artists and an exceptional, deeply devoted staff. I am thrilled to bring to George Street my commitment to artistic excellence and passion for creating inspired theatre-arts education to the lives of students, educators, and the community.”
The centerpiece of George Street Playhouse’s educational programming is its touring theatre, which commissions and produces excellent productions with relevant themes for young audiences, such as tolerance, respect, peace, survival, leadership, power and justice. Provided in part by support from the NJ Bar Association, each play is followed by an in-depth discussion led by the actors themselves (for which they receive extensive training). These productions tour from September – June throughout the area, and are seen by more than 60,000 students. GSP’s Theatre Classes, which are offered throughout the year, focus on the process of creative self-expression – enhancing the student’s communication and creative problem-solving skills, while building self-esteem and a lifelong appreciation for the performing arts. For further information on any of the George Street Playhouse educational opportunities, call the Education Department Hotline at (732) 846-2895, extension 116.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director David Saint, George Street Playhouse has become a nationally recognized theater, presenting an acclaimed mainstage season while providing an artistic home for established and emerging theatre artists. Founded in 1974, the Playhouse has been well represented by numerous productions both on and off-Broadway – recent productions include the Outer Critics’ Circle Best Musical Award-winner The Toxic Avenger, currently playing off-Broadway, the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and Drama League nominated production of The Spitfire Grill and the recent Broadway hit and Tony® and Pulitzer Prize winning play Proof by David Auburn, which was developed at GSP during the 1999 Next Stage Series of new plays. George Street Playhouse programming is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, as well as its lead season sponsor Johnson & Johnson. Continental Airlines are the official airline of George Street Playhouse.
