Testimonials
Press
Theatre Work
Always Greener Receives MAP Fund 2019
Melancholy Play: “Jacob Watson’s scenic design emphasizes otherworldly beauty: the portal behind the onstage musicians is covered in white curtains, and dim chandeliers dangle over the actors.” - Chicago Critic
Tell Me What You Remember: "Finely acted and evocatively staged by Erasing the Distance, this one-hour play asks some of the hard questions we encounter in the course of growing up and growing old." - Chicago Reader
Education
Scholastic Media: Lyric Opera Empowers Youth During COVID-19 - Newcity Stage, April 2020
After The Stage Goes Dark, Teen Performers In Chicago Find Their Way Online - WBEZ, May 2020
Jacob Watson and the Heroes of Piccolo Elementary - Urban Gateways, March 2014
Community Engagement
Can harm reduction, the philosophy that stems HIV transmission and heroin overdoses, help curb a Thanksgiving COVID-19 meltdown? - Chicago Tribune, November 2020
Program helps people tell their stories through musical theater - ABC News, September 2017
“We appreciate that what you give us is not only interesting in the moment, but has traction to help us continue to move thoughtfully through challenges.”
— Dr. Lyndall G. Miller, Director, Jewish Early Childhood Education Leadership Initiative
Testimonials
From program participants
“I am so grateful for your presentations. I've learned so much—things that helped me immediately with my [project], and beyond! I especially enjoyed the dancing and improv-style collaborations. I admire your openness and curiosity, and I hope I will get a chance to learn from you again soon.”
“Jacob took the stress out of thinking about implementing change. I looked forward to his sessions and was able to push myself to think beyond a status quo.”
“Jacob was fantastic! I always looked forward to his workshops knowing that I would learn so much and have take-aways to use immediately.”
“If all graduate students teaching for the first time were required to take Jacob and Anneke's workshop, we would literally change the university (and not just our university, very many universities), for decades in the future.”
“Jacob is outstanding, empathetic, wise, and flexible. I really treasured his time and advice in the moments I sought them, especially in our small groups”
“Jacob's work has been consistently incisive, often opening up novel and innovative pathways for thinking. His lively intellect and personable way of being has made him a strong model and mentor for new researchers on our team.”
— Flossie S. G. Chua, Principal Investigator at Project Zero, Harvard University Graduate School of Education