Former Sewickley Academy director of theatre arts takes on 'Bandstand'

Many Sewickley Academy alums may spot a familiar name in the playbill at Front Porch Theatricals’ production of “Bandstand,” running Aug. 16-25 at the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side.

Joe Jackson, who served as dance teacher and theatre arts director at the academy, returned to the region from his new position at the University of Mississippi for the opportunity to direct and choreograph the show.

“Last summer, they reached out and said, hey, we might be able to get the rights for ‘Bandstand.’ Are you interested? And I said, ‘Absolutely,’ ” Jackson said.

He began his education career at Sewickley Academy as a dance teacher in 2011 after spending more than 15 years as a professional actor and member of the Actors’ Equity Association union.

“Moving into education was a bit of a risk and a bit of a stretch, but Sewickley was awesome and took a chance on me, and it ended up being a wonderful fit. I fell in love with education,” he said.

As a result, he decided to go back to school to earn his master’s degree in directing. In 2019, he became director of theatre arts at Sewickley Academy, an exciting transition at a not-so-ideal time.

“I was very well-suited for it and I was happy to move into that position. … It was a challenging time because it was during covid-19 when I was transitioning into that role, and it definitely called for a lot of adjustments,” he said.

For his first eight years at Sewickley Academy, he was also directing and choreographing the fifth grade musical and middle school musical. As theatre arts director, he brought the high school productions into the mix as well. Sewickley Academy successfully performed its production of “Fiddler on the Roof,” directed and choreographed by Jackson, just weeks before the pandemic hit.

Making adjustments around covid-19 restrictions forced Jackson to consider interesting creative choices. For example, in the fall of 2020, the school put on an outdoor, radio play-style production of “War of the Worlds,” with the actors in plexiglass booths to keep them isolated from one another.

“We had to think outside the box,” he said.

In his final year, the high school mounted productions of “12 Angry Jurors” and “Urinetown.”

Jackson is currently the musical theater and dance instructor at the University of Mississippi, his alma mater.

“It’s kind of a whirlwind, circle-back-home thing,” he said.

During his time in the Pittsburgh area, he was also involved in theater outside of the school year. Front Porch Theatricals has been close to his heart since he and his wife moved to Pittsburgh the year before beginning his work at Sewickley Academy. In 2019, he joined them as the choreographer for its production of the musical “Fun Home.”

“Part of the reason they sought me out for that was my work at Sewickley Academy,” he said. “As the dance teacher, I was teaching first through 12th grade, so knowing that ‘Fun Home’ has the three kids in the show, they wanted someone who was used to working with kids and coming up with choreography that worked for them.”

Ever since, he and Front Porch Theatricals have been looking for a show that he could direct, but nothing quite worked out — until this year.

“Bandstand” premiered on Broadway in 2017. It’s the story of a group of veterans returning home after World War II and forming a swing band while dealing with the difficult aspects of adapting to post-war life.

Jackson was excited at the prospect, but knew that staging this show wouldn’t be easy.

“You’ve got an onstage band, and they’re supposed to play actual instruments. So we knew that we wanted to be able to cast actual musicians who could play their respective instruments, but who could also sing and act and do a little bit of dance,” he said.

“Bandstand” has been a year in the making, between casting, choreographing and music. Jackson and musical director Deana Muro have been working hard for months to bring the show to the stage.

Front Porch Theatricals, a local theater company, began in 2009. It works “to provide our region with professional, high-­quality musical theater productions featuring Pittsburgh’s diverse actor, artistic and technical talent base,” according to its mission statement. Two musicals are produced each year.

To learn more and get tickets for “Bandstand,” visit frontporchpgh.com.