Jonathan Jacobs

Pronouns: he/him
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Returning, Parent
Attended Camp: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Since 2021, Jonathan has had to privilege of being a visiting artist at Ballibay serving as both a director/deviser of theater and children's book writer. Devised pieces created with Ballibay campers include "Our Town Ballibay" (2021) and "The Curiosity Project" (2024). Jonathan also directed productions of "The Lesson" by Eugene Ionesco (2022) and "The Corpse Bride" (2023). This summer, he will devising a new theater piece based on the idea of "JOY." Jonathan is thrilled to be returning to the camp... and acquiring the coveted fifth year jacket!

Professional Bio:
Jonathan (E.) Jacobs is a deviser of theater, a writer of books, an elementary school teacher and an all-vinyl DJ, spinning records in and around NYC as his alter ego “The Vintage DJ.” An alumnus of Skidmore College and a former student of the graduate directing program at The University of California at San Diego, Jonathan is a founder of the multi-award-winning theater company, The National Theater of the United States of America (NTUSA). Jonathan has always loved creating for children and, as a writing teacher, regularly inspires kids of all ages to conjure and bring their own creativity to fruition. Jonathan is the author of THE SECRET RHINO SOCIETY (Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books, 2020) illustrated by Samantha Cotterill. Exploring different levels of fantasy in his writing, Jonathan is especially curious how imagining other worlds can be a means of navigating and repairing our own. Jonathan’s creative work regularly looks for ways that humans can make potent connections with others to forge unexpected communities that defy convention. He lives with his wife, son and an enormous imagination in Brooklyn, NY. Find our more about Jonathan here: http://www.jonathanejacobs.com/ And here: https://jonathanejacobs.substack.com/