Staff
Jason Paul Smith
Founder, Artistic Director
Jason Paul Smith started his career as actor, director, producer in 1980 having created the stage version of The Muppet Movie. Running 37 performances, it was witness by 39 stuffed animals, two adults, and one angry pre-teen. This memorable performance spawned an early career in the theater that included performances in every local theater, that means one, in Valley City, North Dakota. This eventually led him to earn a degree in Theater from the University of Minnesota.
His theater career has included a wide array of opportunities including, Barnaby Tucker in The Matchmaker, Frank ‘n Furter in The Rocky Horror Show, and Flan Kitridge in Six Degrees of Separation. He also wrote, directed and starred in Consulting Mavis or How I Got My Ass Out of North Dakota and Remained Sane. Directing credits include Hello Dolly for the Lakeshore Players and Sunday in the Park with George for Crisis Point Theater.
Smith decided to land a job in corporate America. Working in the Marketing departments of three major corporations in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he learned important marketing strategies and skills, from packaging and branding to marketing campaign strategy and event planning.
Trivial facts:
Jason played Abe Lincoln in the third grade play.
He starred in his first film at the age ten, playing Captain Jason in Bill Hunt’s infamous production of the Attack of the Zevons.
He was discovered by KOVC Radio – the same station that discovered Shadow Stevens and Peggy Lee.
His brother is the editor of The Digital Bits.
His favorite food is peanut butter.
To get in touch with Jason Paul Smith, email him at jsmith@threecatproductions.com. For more information, please visit his website at jasonpaulsmith.com.
Rob Dorn
Co-Founder, Artistic Associate, Director of Cabaret Concert
Born shortly after curtain time and prone to dramatics from an early age, Rob acted out and WORE out all of his Magic Mirror Disney records and his prized original soundtrack to The Wizard of Oz. Growing up in a five acre wood, he learned to survive by staying inside and watching tv.
It is no surprise that he received an associates degree in art and design and a bachelors of fine arts in musical theatre. Both degrees proved useful as he has teeter tottered back and forth between his work onstage and in the art world.
His performance career has taken him throughout the United States in regional theatre, national tours and as a member of the vocal group, Three Hits and a Miss of which he was the founder and artistic director. He considers Judy Garland, Mickey Rooney, Patti Duke, Chet Baker, Leslie Ann Warren and Barbra Streisand among his influences.
Rob’s art career includes work as a graphic designer, web designer, illustrator and cartoonist. He has contributed to books, greeting cards, theatrical posters, logos, t-shirts and mugs. He considers W.W. Denslow, Charles Schultz, Edward Gorey and Creepy Magazine as influences.
Rob is an advocate for helping people like himself, deal with Adult Attention Deficit Disorder… if he could only remember to do so.
Trivial facts:
Rob’s first singing gig was with Hey Wires Singing Telegrams.
His first illustration was for the book The Stooge Chronicles by Jeffrey Forrester.
He and his partner live in Chicago with four cats: Sam, Isabelle, George and Parker.
He was a member of the Minneapolis company of Forever Plaid.
He almost knocked Doctor Ruth down a flight of stairs… by accident of course.
He has a blog entitled, “Am I Self Absorbed… or is it just me?”
To get in touch with Rob Dorn, email him at robdorn@threecatproductions.com. For more information about Rob, please visit his website at robdorn.com.
Jacque Lueken
Artistic Associate, Executive Director of Education
Jacque is ecstatic to be working with Skokie Theatre and Three Cat Media to return to the Northern Suburbs in the world of theatre education! She worked with Apple Tree Theatre in their youth programming as a Director with TYA at Apple Tree Theatre (‘The Giver’ – 2008; ‘Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry’ – 2009), Camp Director for Summer on Stage (2008 & 2009), Director with EBPAW (‘Bridge to Terabithia’, ‘Jungle Tales’) and was an EBPAW Teaching Artist. She received her BFA in Acting from Syracuse University and, upon graduation moved to Chicago to work with Steppenwolf Theatre Co as the Asst Coordinator for their summer acting intensive The School at Steppenwolf. Since being in the city, Jacque has served as the Education Assistant for Victory Gardens Theatre and Education Coordiator at Emerald City Theatre Co. She has worked as a teaching artist with numerous companies in the Chicagoland Area including Emerald City Theatre Co, the American Mosaic Project with American Theatre Company and After School Matters. She has also served as a Mentor with Redmoon Theatre Co’s Dramagirls Program and a Director (‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play’) and Teaching Artist with Noble Fool Theatricals Performing Arts Academy.
To get in touch with Jacque Lueken, email her at jlueken@threecatproductions.com.
Annalee Johnson
Marketing/Production Associate
A recent graduate of University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign’s Theatre Department, Annalee is thrilled to be given the opportunity to work with the brilliant minds of Three Cat. In doing so, she is proud to say she is validating her degree. Some of her recent theater credits include Stage Manager/Production Associate (The Stops) and Scenic/Prop Design (Savage in Limbo, Mud).
To contact Annalee Johnson, please email her at ajohnson@threecatproductions.com.
