Whether collaborating with high school, undergraduate, or graduate students, Jason brings compassion, rigor, and a strong understanding of theatrical craft to help students succeed. His teaching philosophy is founded on creating an atmosphere of trust and respect and the belief that theatrical collaboration is best served by a space where all the participants can express their voices. Jason sets out to establish a safe space in every classroom, rehearsal room, or theatre where he works.
As a teaching artist with Roundabout Theatre Company's Education program, Jason works with New York City public school students to build theatrical skills and to discover connections between theatre other curriculum areas – such as English and social studies. Since 2010 he has been the Project Coordinator for Roundabout's programs at Bronx Theatre High School. He has worked with a team of teaching artists and educators to create a script analysis curriculum that has proven to strengthen literacy and theatrical skills with high school students.
Jason co-founded The Theatre Askew Youth Performance Experience (TAYPE), which empowers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth and their allies to develop their unique theatrical voices. He worked with the youth community at the Hetrick-Martin Institute and the Ali Forney Center, and directed two original productions for TAYPE: Home/Away and The F On My Chest. He has participated in two conferences with leading queer youth theatre (QYT) companies from around the nation and continues to be involved a growing a nationwide coalition of QYT companies.
As a guest director at Long Island University (CW Post Campus) Jason directed BFA students in BatBoy: The Musical and As You Like It. At NYU/Tisch School the Arts' Department of Dramatic Writing, Jason has worked with graduate playwrights, in weekly lab sessions and directing students' plays. He served two seasons on the workshop staff at Williamstown Theatre Festival Workshop, where he taught classes to approximately 70 apprentices. At Columbia University's Summer High School Program, he collaborated with the teaching team for "Theatrical Collaboration" and guided students to write, direct, and perform their original plays. He was a mentor for the Victory Project, a New York-wide response to the events of 9/11, conducting workshops with students at Beacon High School and then directing a short play based on these sessions. At Bay Shore High School, Jason was an artist-in-residence, working with English department faculty and creating two original pieces written and performed by students.
Jason strives to foster discipline and appreciation of past traditions, inspire students to articulate their own voice and vision, and endow them with the confidence and courage to take creative risks.
Download Jason's teaching resume
Learn about Jason's directing work