Jacob is an arts leader & theatre director.

Jacob is a theatre director, producer, and new play developer committed to building arts institutions that function as both artistic incubators and civic gathering spaces. He is dedicated to advancing the role of regional theatre as a force for cultural vitality—investing in new stories, new artists, and new audiences to build a more inclusive and resonant American stage.

In 2021, Jacob was appointed Artistic Director of Third Avenue PlayWorks (TAP) in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Under his leadership, TAP has achieved record-breaking seasons marked by sustained audience growth, expanded contributed revenue, and increased public access. He launched the company’s first formal New Play Development Program, establishing a clear pathway for playwrights to develop and premiere original work in rural Wisconsin. Guided by a commitment to community-centered practice, he also created a Community Arts Access Program in partnership with the Door County Library System, reducing financial and social barriers to participation and strengthening TAP’s role as a cultural anchor in the region.

In 2023, he directed the world premiere of Jennifer Blackmer’s I Carry Your Heart With Me, later recognized by the American Theatre Critics Association as one of the three best new plays produced outside New York City that year. The production exemplified Jacob’s commitment to pairing rigorous artistic standards with meaningful audience engagement.

Prior to TAP, Jacob served as Artistic Producer at The COOP, a New York–based theatre and film collective founded with Andrus Nichols and Kate Hamill. During the pandemic, he launched a new works initiative, The ClusterFK that has supported the development of more than sixteen playwrights and their work, which continues to this day.

As a director and producer, Jacob has collaborated with major regional and national theatres including The Old Globe, The Goodman Theatre, Writers Theatre, Baltimore Center Stage, Studio Theatre, Signature Theatre, Folger Theatre, and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, among others. His work spans classical reinterpretation and contemporary premieres, reflecting a sustained investment in both the theatrical canon and the creation of new American plays.

A native of Wisconsin, Jacob holds an MFA in Directing from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Arts Leadership Philosophy

Community First

Every arts organization is, at its core, a community service organization. Our audiences are the reason we exist. We must remain open and responsive to needs of our neighbors and create work that invites them into deeper relationship with one another. Art is not separate from civic life, it is one of its most vital tools. Every creative act should be an act of connection: empowering people, emboldening dialogue, and strengthening the communities we serve.

Artist Centered

Artists are the lifeblood of any theatre organization, and they are an essential part of our community. When artists are trusted, supported, and challenged, they create work that is bold, urgent, and vibrant. A healthy theatre must foster a culture of generosity, rigor, and collaboration where creativity can thrive without fear. We must invest in local artists and the ecosystems that sustain them. When we lead with trust and support creative people, we build institutions capable of imagination, excellence, and lasting impact.

New Work Driven

I believe that without new work, the vital force of the theatre withers. We must make space for artists to take risks, experiment, and imagine what comes next. I believe in true regional theatres that generate work reflecting the many cultures and lives that make up this nation. We must invest in new work at every scale and in every place. In doing so, we affirm that culture belongs to everyone, regardless of geography, ethnicity, or economic status.