Hello!
Thanks for stopping by.
Born and raised in the foothills of Southern California, my career has spanned from the sunshine and palm trees of Los Angeles to the snow plowed streets of Boston. I started my entertainment career as an actor, working throughout Southern California and eventually making my way to New York City. After years of working under the bright lights, I realized my true passion was working behind the table. I would later combine my directing talents with my love for teaching.
Something You May Not Know
While balancing my directing career, I also worked within the competitive dance industry, on and off, for thirteen years. After 224,678 miles in the air, I bid farewell to competitive dance in 2020 as a Regional Director.
A Little About My Career
As a director Jason has been acclaimed for his creative staging and unique conceptual interpretations. Some of his directorial credits include: Jekyll and Hyde: The Thriller Musical, A Man of No Importance (Stage Scene LA Award), Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Sylvia, The Best of Everything, A Christmas Carol (ITL Award), Stephen Sondheim’s Company, and Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
Jason is the former Producing Artistic Director of The Sturges Center for Fine Arts, where he was the first person to produce a fully mounted production under the Sturges Center’s name in 88 years. He worked closely with the City of San Bernardino, producing and directing entertainment events such as: The League of Cities Annual Fundraiser and San Bernardino’s Bicentennial Celebration and Gala. Jason also worked at the historic California Theatre, where he was on the producing team for numerous productions including the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Festival, which was filed and recorded for Comedy Central.
Before joining the faculty at Anderson University, Jason was a musical theatre lecturer at Loyola Marymount University, the Artistic Director and Founder of The Actor’s Establishment, a Los Angeles based creative acting studio, and the President of coARTS Group, a non profit organization advocating for equitable theatre arts practices in Los Angeles.
Jason is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Musical Theatre and Theatre at Anderson University. Jason holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from AMDA, College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts and an MFA in Performance Pedagogy from Loyola Marymount University.
Interviews & Publications
The Stigma of Taking Class
College Audition Tips
Steph Newman: Podcast
director.
Highlights
Theatre
INTO THE WOODS, Anderson University
MR. BURNS (Asst. Director), LMU Theatre Arts MainStage [virtual online production]
VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE, Black Box Productions
COMPANY, Inland Valley Repertory Theater
SYLVIA, Black Box Productions
JEKYLL & HYDE: THE THRILLER MUSICAL, Candlelight Pavilion
A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Riverside Players
THE BEST OF EVERYTHING, Black Box Productions
A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, Performance Riverside (Staged Reading Series)
JEKYLL & HYDE: THE THRILLER MUSICAL, Sturges Center for the Fine Arts
LEGEND OF THE ARROWHEAD, California Theater
EVENTS
RANCHO CUCAMONGA COMMUNITY ARTS FESTIVAL, Rancho Cucamonga Community & Arts Foundation
AN EVENING OF STEPHEN SONDHEIM, Inland Valley Repertory Theater
LAUGH OUT LOUD COMEDY FESTIVAL, City of San Bernardino, California Theatre (Filmed for Comedy Central & Showtime)
ST. PATRICK’S DAY FESTIVAL w/ MICHAEL LONDRA, City of San Bernardino, California Theatre
CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR FLASH MOB, City of San Bernardino, Inland Center Mall
SAN BERNARDINO BI-CENTENNIAL, City of San Bernardino, National Orange Show
BROADWAY REVIEW, California League of Cities Fundraiser, National Orange Show
CVHS CHOIR CONCERT, Citrus Valley HS, Redlands Unified School District
AWARDS
Association of Theatre Movement Educators Innovation Fellowship Grant
Honorable Mention, Best Direction of a Musical, JEKYLL & HYDE, Stage Scene LA
Best Director of a Play, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Inland Theatre League
Memorable Direction of a Staged Reading, A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, Stage Scene LA
Best Ensemble Cast Performance, A CHORUS LINE, Stage Scene LA
Stage Scene LA
“Under Jason James’ accomplished direction, this first in a series of Performance Riverside readings gave its audience more than just a taste of what New Yorkers first saw at Lincoln Center back in 2002. Despite barest bones costumes, lighting, and scenic design, when you’ve got a cast as talented as the fourteen artists onstage last night, all that’s necessary from the audience is a bit of imagination to come close to replicating the feeling of viewing a fully staged production…With scarcely more than a dozen straight-backed chairs and a table or two, James and company managed to give the impression of a far more fully staged production, letting the audience’s imaginations fill in the blanks and create in minds’ eyes a bus, a meeting hall, a church, a Dublin home, and the musical’s various other locales.”
educator.
Jason currently serves as Assistant Professor and the Director of Musical Theatre and Theatre at Anderson University.
Other courses taught: Intro to Performance, Script Analysis, Musical Theatre Techniques, Acting Techniques, Scene Study, Directing, and Audition Techniques.
COACHING & MASTERCLASSES
Jason continues to offer coaching and masterclasses to artists from all walks of life and in today’s world, making connections and inspiring students across the globe has become easier than ever. As a professional director and creative for over fifteen years, Jason continues to collaborate with educators in helping to advance their student’s education and professional career goals. Jason has taught, been a guest speaker, or given a masterclass at:
The Actor’s Establishment (Los Angeles)
Elite Academy of Dance (Shrewsbury, MA)
Sturges Center for the Fine Arts (Los Angeles Area)
Academy of Music and Movement (Los Angeles Area)
Stand Out Talent (Sacramento)
Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles)
Colorado Mesa University
Northern Kentucky University
The Centre Stage Studio (Orange County)
Empire Performance Studio (Los Angeles Area)
Inland Valley Repertory Theatre (Los Angeles Area)
Theatre In the Woods (Staten Island)
TESTIMONIALS
“At the end of the class, I genuinely felt so proud of my work.”
“Jason James has found a way to strip down the craft to its purest form, free from any recent tricks or commercialization, to clear the actor of any self-imposed obstacles, and to bring back the true joy of creating, of making art, of storytelling."
“This class also helped my own self-esteem, personal reflection process, and attitude towards my own growth.”
"Jason has the ability to make you fall in love with the craft all over again. If you are looking for an environment where you are able to really delve into the character and collaborate Jason is your guy. As an artist you want to find the tools to do the work and then let it all go when you hit that stage. It is always a pleasure to work with such a consummate and respectful colleague and teacher."
"Jason James thoroughly addresses the processes of script analysis with great ease and approachable professionalism. He clearly cares about the actor, the development of the characters, and the life of the story. His commitment to growing a deeper, personal connection to the author’s text and the actor’s art is inspiring and I can't wait to work with him again. This should be a required class in high schools and colleges for anyone with a desire to be on stage, on camera, or to grow in their awareness and empathy toward the human condition. Very worthwhile."
“Jason is a keen instructor who brings a generous wealth of resources from his rich experience in approach, from both sides of the production table. He establishes a safe environment where every voice is valued, and gives actors room to grow through thoughtfully challenging questions. His insight and passion for the craft make him an effective instructor who inspires and excites the same in his participants. I personally felt so honored, supported and refreshed in the gifts I already bring to the table, as well as exposed to other great artistic approaches and fresh revelations. I was able to immediately apply the things I learned in our sessions and saw stronger results in my work to cultivate an authentic and effective process. Actors will leave the sessions empowered to thrive in their individual craft and take on new material with a strong sense of self."
“There's something so special about the way he brings out the confidence in you and shows you how much you are capable of.”
#Create
#Create
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