WHO IN THE WORLD IS MIQUON JACKSON?
My name is Miquon Jackson, and I was born and raised in the snowy big orange city of Syracuse, New York. I have always been giddy with fascination over the art of storytelling. I'm talking "jumping-up-and-down-for-bedtime-stories" giddy. Without shame, I can admit: there is simply nothing like the big, sloppy, heavily-toothy smile that a good story easily pops onto my face.
Books, songs, television series, plays, anecdotes, history books, musicals – you name it, I loved it. There was just something simply extraordinary about empathizing and learning of the poignant hardships and breath-taking triumphs of others that left me truly insatiable. Once theatre (finally!) crossed my path, my horizons and passions for creativity began to expand — and I have truly loved every minute of it since then.
Books, songs, television series, plays, anecdotes, history books, musicals – you name it, I loved it. There was just something simply extraordinary about empathizing and learning of the poignant hardships and breath-taking triumphs of others that left me truly insatiable. Once theatre (finally!) crossed my path, my horizons and passions for creativity began to expand — and I have truly loved every minute of it since then.
HIGH SCHOOL THEATRE (2009-2012)
Throughout high school, I participated in tennis, volunteer work, choral ensembles, and – of course: theatre. I was extremely fortunate to have met Greg J. Hipius, Noelle Files, and Megan Root during high school. Greg Hipius was particularly a great help in guiding me through my first experiences in theatre arts.
The Corcoran Association of Theatre (C.A.S.T.), run by Hipius, gave me the great opportunity to participate in a wonderful creative environment that shaped me to be both the artist and the person that I am today. In C.A.S.T. and in city-school-wide summer productions, I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to play Burns in Don't Drink The Water, Sidney Bernstein in Curtains, The Grinch and Yertle The Turtle in Seussical, Lenny Ganz in Rumors, and The Wiz in The Wiz. I was also very happy to serve as an assistant director to Hipius in both Once On This Island and City of Angels.
These inspirational experiences associated with C.A.S.T. will always be held very close to my heart each and every time I step onto the stage. I thank Greg Hipius -- with every fiber in my being -- for the fearless, heartfelt, and generous mentoring, care, and friendship that continues to warm my heart and capture my soul in and out of the theatre to this day.
The Corcoran Association of Theatre (C.A.S.T.), run by Hipius, gave me the great opportunity to participate in a wonderful creative environment that shaped me to be both the artist and the person that I am today. In C.A.S.T. and in city-school-wide summer productions, I was extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to play Burns in Don't Drink The Water, Sidney Bernstein in Curtains, The Grinch and Yertle The Turtle in Seussical, Lenny Ganz in Rumors, and The Wiz in The Wiz. I was also very happy to serve as an assistant director to Hipius in both Once On This Island and City of Angels.
These inspirational experiences associated with C.A.S.T. will always be held very close to my heart each and every time I step onto the stage. I thank Greg Hipius -- with every fiber in my being -- for the fearless, heartfelt, and generous mentoring, care, and friendship that continues to warm my heart and capture my soul in and out of the theatre to this day.
COLLEGIATE THEATRE (2014-2021)
The beginning of my undergraduate career in theatre began at SUNY Fredonia, as I pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, along with secondary majors in English and Philosophy. My experiences at SUNY Fredonia were very eye-opening and extremely helpful to my growth as a person, artist and thespian. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all of my professors at the institution, but most notably Thomas J. Loughlin, Stephen Kershnar, Kimmarie Cole, David Kaplin, Natalie Gerber, and Neil Feit. I have come to learn so much about the world, anthropology, art, literature, the human condition, and all that still manages to pump intellectual and creative juices through my veins to this day.
My stage credits at the institution's Walter Gloor Mainstage Series include Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hud in HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, and (cast, but couldn't perform) Ensemble/Moises Kaufman in The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. I also had the wonderful opportunity of executively directing a production of Really Really with the institution's student-run Performing Arts Company.
I soon transferred from SUNY Fredonia and made my way into the College of Arts & Sciences at Syracuse University with a degree in Philosophy. I was able to direct in the Black Box Players' 24-hour Play Festival and take many elective classes in Theater History and Acting. I also had the fortunate opportunity to work with the kind Matt Chiorini and the Boots and Buskins Theatre Club on their production of The Taming of the Shrew at LeMoyne College as Baptista Minola.
Finally, I won a prestigious, award-winning grant to run an internet workshop of a play in the public domain, Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen, as the Producing Artistic Director of Richmond's at SU's Office of Research with the Spinoza Award. I wrote this play, directed it, stage managed it, and more. At Syracuse University, I met very talented professors like Cathryn Newton, Samuel Gorovitz, Michael Rieppel, Kenneth Baynes, Kyle Bass, and Janice Dowell. They've enlightened me about humanities, culture, social science, and life.
My stage credits at the institution's Walter Gloor Mainstage Series include Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Hud in HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical, and (cast, but couldn't perform) Ensemble/Moises Kaufman in The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. I also had the wonderful opportunity of executively directing a production of Really Really with the institution's student-run Performing Arts Company.
I soon transferred from SUNY Fredonia and made my way into the College of Arts & Sciences at Syracuse University with a degree in Philosophy. I was able to direct in the Black Box Players' 24-hour Play Festival and take many elective classes in Theater History and Acting. I also had the fortunate opportunity to work with the kind Matt Chiorini and the Boots and Buskins Theatre Club on their production of The Taming of the Shrew at LeMoyne College as Baptista Minola.
Finally, I won a prestigious, award-winning grant to run an internet workshop of a play in the public domain, Rosmersholm by Henrik Ibsen, as the Producing Artistic Director of Richmond's at SU's Office of Research with the Spinoza Award. I wrote this play, directed it, stage managed it, and more. At Syracuse University, I met very talented professors like Cathryn Newton, Samuel Gorovitz, Michael Rieppel, Kenneth Baynes, Kyle Bass, and Janice Dowell. They've enlightened me about humanities, culture, social science, and life.
GENERAL PUBLIC THEATRE (2012-)
After my wondrous journey through theatre in school settings, I eagerly jumped into public theatre and haven't looked back since. I have loved every minute of sharing the stage with the talented members of the CNY Playhouse, the Syracuse Shakespeare Festival, the Auburn Players, the Redhouse Arts Center, and the Princeton Summer Theater. I was able to meet and exchange wonderful creative ideas and insights with many talented actors at each of these philanthropic organizations and I very much hope to share the stage with them again.
Some of my credits in public theatre include, (at the CNY Playhouse:) Banjo in The Man Who Came To Dinner, Delivery Boy in Streetcar Named Desire, Trouper/Ensemble in Hamlet Cha, Cha, Cha!, (at the Syracuse Shakespeare Festival:) Chiron in Titus Andronicus, Lavatch the Clown in Alls Well That Ends Well, Coriolanus in Coriolanus, and (with the Auburn Players:) Hud in HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. I was also very lucky to have served as a Co-Director in a production of Catch Me If You Can.
Some of my credits in public theatre include, (at the CNY Playhouse:) Banjo in The Man Who Came To Dinner, Delivery Boy in Streetcar Named Desire, Trouper/Ensemble in Hamlet Cha, Cha, Cha!, (at the Syracuse Shakespeare Festival:) Chiron in Titus Andronicus, Lavatch the Clown in Alls Well That Ends Well, Coriolanus in Coriolanus, and (with the Auburn Players:) Hud in HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. I was also very lucky to have served as a Co-Director in a production of Catch Me If You Can.