Jason may be making his Elmwood directorial debut with Young Frankenstein for Elmwood’s season premiere, but he has been fortunate enough to have had theater as his profession his entire adult life. For the past 18 years he has been the co-owner and Artistic Director of the Westchester Sandbox Theatre, an educational performing arts organization dedicated to working with youth. Performing at community theaters in his early years led to becoming an Off-Broadway freelance director and choreographer, and then onto gaining national tour and regional credits.
His involvement with Elmwood began with choreographing She Loves Me in 2018. Since his job usually keeps him at the director’s table with children, his acting performances at Elmwood in Next Fall, Night and Day, Clybourne Park, and most recently, The Play That Goes Wrong, have been particularly special. “In Elmwood,” he says, “I have found a place that reminds me of the warmth and happiness of my youthful community theater days. Everyone here is generous, kind, and such a joy to be around. I have been in rehearsal for something almost all year at Elmwood. I guess that’s a testament to the fact that I really love it here!”
Now in the final days of rehearsal for Young Frankenstein, he has been having a blast. “The combination of iconic Mel Brooks jokes and over-the-top musical numbers is a match made in heaven. We are hysterical at every rehearsal.” Audiences can look forward to that same joyous experience beginning September 6, when Young Frankenstein opens.
