Arts Education Programs
The Jaxx Theatre
Conservatory
Where Entertainment & Education Unite
Mission
Our mission is to develop creativity, promote self-esteem, and inspire self-expression through fully inclusive arts education programs, youth outreach, and live performances.
EDIA STATEMENT
All Jaxx students, staff, performers, designers and crewmembers are welcomed and encouraged to join our team regardless of ability, talent or skill level; race, ethnicity or cultural background; sexual orientation or identity. Story-telling is at its best when EVERYONE has a seat in our circle, on our stages and behind the scenes.
Jaxx prides itself on full inclusion and has since day one. The first Jaxx Educational Theatre School registrant, Elizabeth Langworthy is an incredible actor with Down syndrome. Her initial participation and commitment paved the way for a full-fledged 'students who are differently-abled’ program for many years. When she moved to Maine, we commemorated her tenure with a scholarship in her name. Dozens of students have benefited from The Elizabeth Langworthy Scholarship. Cole Massie is one such recipient currently enjoying a career as a Hollywood actor.
"I refuse to hate someone because they're Mexican or because they are Black or white, or LGBTQ. I refuse to hate someone because they're a police officer. I refuse to hate someone because they are Asian. I would hope that we would refuse hate…Anyone who wants to meet me in the middle, to refuse hate, to refuse blanket judgment…this is for you. God bless you." ~Tyler Perry
EXECUTIVE TEAM
JEREMY LUCAS (Artistic Director)
A Cultural Arts Envoy to the USA representing American Musical Theatre, he directed and choreographed Broadway in Tunisia in Sousse with the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia, Africa. Other Cultural Arts Envoy work includes: Broadway in Fiji with the US Embassy in Suva, Fiji starring the vocal group from Disney’s Moana film and Broadway in Baku with the US Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan. At the Jaxx Theatre in Hollywood, Jeremy produced, directed and choreographed the critically-acclaimed, Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party, served as Co-Producer/Associate Director for the World Premiere play, Halfway to Gethsemane as part of the Hollywood Fringe Festival and Produced/Directed/Co-Choreographed a sold-out 99-seat premiere professional run of Matilda. Other producing credits include the LA premieres of: The Life (Jojo U/S-Stella Adler Theatre) and Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party featuring Mink Stole (Director/Choreographer-DOMA @ the former Met, now Jaxx Theatre); A Chorus Line (Mike-MACHA), Annie (Rooster-Theatre Asylum/Zoom); and Chicago starring Tony Award Winner, Katrina Lenk (Director/Choreographer-Hudson). Lenk & Lucas were both nominated for LA Stage Ovation Awards for their work in the production. Mr. Lucas has also been nominated for the Artistic Director Achievement Award. Other on-stage credits include: West Side Story (Action-50th Anniversary Cast @ 5th Avenue Theatre/FCLO/Central City Opera & Arab-Drury Lane), Cats (Mungojerrie-CA Theatre), A Chorus Line (Mike-Sturgess Center), Hairspray (Sketch/Dance Captain-Musical Theatre West), Room 105: The Highs & Lows of Janis Joplin (Original Cast-National Tour), Hello! My Baby (Original Cast/Dance/Fight Captain-Rubicon So-Cal Tour), Chicago (Aaron/Amos U/S-International Tour), Cabaret (Emcee-DOMA), Balm in Gilead (Tig-Gardner Stages) and Chekhov’s Three Sisters (Rode-HapaLis Prods). Favorite Screen credits include: Foodfight! (Lions Gate), Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (Netflix), Long-Term Relationship (here!), 30 Seconds to Fame (FOX) & Todrick Hall’s CinderFella. Voiceover work includes On Sacred Ground (Starz) and starring roles in the online series Henry’s Base Camp & Zap’s Family Camp. Jeremy majored in theatre education and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Chicago College of Performing Arts @ Roosevelt University with a BFA in Performance. Jeremy is a member of AEA, SAG/AFTRA, & SDC. IMDB him here for more.
JESUS DAVID (JD) TORRES MORABITO (Managing Director)
Born in Mexico, JD is an Obama “Dreamer” who became a Cultural Arts Envoy to the USA representing American Musical Theatre. He served as Associate Director for Broadway in Tunisia at Theatre Municipal de Sousse with the U.S. Embassy in Tunisia and Broadway in Fiji at the Japan Theatre at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji, starring the vocal group from Disney’s Moana film. JD has worn just about every hat there is with Jaxx for the past thirteen years. Professional on-stage production credits with Jaxx include: critical acclaim in Andrew Lippa’s Wild Party (Jackie/Dance Captain/Producer), Halfway to Gethsemane (Lazy Russ/Co-Producer), Matilda (Rudolpho/Co-Producer), A Chorus Line (Mark/Co-Producer-MACHA Theatre), Annie (Lily St. Regis—Zoom & Ensemble—Theatre Asylum). Other theatre credits include: A Chorus Line (Butch—Sturgess Center) and Cats (Macavity—California Theatre). JD has done a slew of other productions with Jaxx as a professional guest artist including West Side Story, Heathers and Chess. JD appears as a Trumpet Player/Dancer in the musical short film, Smile–A Musical and most recently lent his voice to the film, On Sacred Ground starring David Arquette, Frances Fisher, Mariel Hemingway, Amy Smart & Tom Cruise’s cousin, William Mapother. JD has participated in or produced all three of the star-studded Jaxx Anniversary Galas: Jaxx5: You Can’t Stop the Beat starring Tony Award Winner, Katrina Lenk & Tony Award Nominee, Shoshana Bean; Jaxx10: An Anniversary Gala starring Golden Globe Nominee, Joely Fisher & Tony Award Nominee, Sam Harris & Jaxx15: A Celebration of Life in the Theatre… starring Ryan McCartan, Elle McLemore & Emmy Award Winner, Jai Rodriguez.
LAURILEE TRACY (Company Manager)
Co-founder of The Firefly Creative with her husband, Colin, Laurilee has been a central part of making both films and stage plays for the last decade. Assistant Director credits: Urinetown (The Firefly Creative), Into the Wardrobe (Evangel Theatre) and Shadowlands (The Firefly Creative). She is excited to be stepping into this new role and helping make theatre happen with Jaxx.
GRANT GORRELL (Technical Director)
Grant Gorrell earned his BFA in Theatre Performance from Denison University in Granville, Ohio. He has worked in Theatrical Education as a Technical Director, Designer, and Instructor for over twenty years. During that time, Grant has served as Resident Scenic Designer for the Los Angeles High School for the Arts, Performing Arts Technical Director at Harvard-Westlake School, Associate/Interim Technical Director for the Sharon Disney Lund School of Dance at the California Institute of the Arts, and since 2011 has served as the Resident Lighting Designer for the Dance Company at Beverly Hills High School. Currently, Grant is the Technical Director for the Performing Arts at Chadwick School, where he teaches Stagecraft and manages all technical aspects of production. He has also worked professionally with the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse in New York, Glendale Center Theatre, Pasadena Playhouse, Wallis Annenberg Performing Arts Center, Alex Theatre, Made Scenery, Design Setters, Theatrical Education Group, The New Comedy and Shakespearience.
