Jacob Sidney is a 2008/2009 Ovation Nominee in the Acting Ensemble category for his performance in MODEL BEHAVIOR, I.E., THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE at 24th Street Theatre.

If you’d like to add a congratulatory message for Jacob (or any other Nominee or Nominated Company), to the Ovation Awards commemorative poster (distributed to all nominees and all attendees at the Ceremony), click here!

As an Ovation Award Nominee, LA Stage asked Jacob the following questions:

What was the moment that first inspired you to pursue working in the theatre?

I played a Carnival Barker in Peter Pan when I was 5 or 6.  Although we all had tape marks on the stage where we were supposed to stand, according to the story I marched right down to Front/Center every time I had a line.  I’ve always been on stage; there was never a moment when I “decided” to do it, or when I considered doing anything else.

What do you feel made the production you were nominated for particularly successful, either overall or for you specifically?

Tina Kronis.  Her experience as a performer and compassion as a teacher is such a gift to anyone fortunate enough to work for her.  She achieves a precision and dedication from her performers often associated with abusive and manipulative directors, but without ever raising her voice, reprimanding anyone publicly, or engaging in any of the silly chicanery too often found in ambitious theatre.  She and Richard Alger create a theatrical language that is both thoroughly unexpected and absolutely unmatched in my experience.  The respect and gratitude they accord their performers is humbling, and makes each of us willing to do anything we can for the good of the show.  Everyone involved would run through a wall if Tina thought that’s what the show needed.

What project or projects are you currently working on?

Scott Leggett’s OBSCURO! in Serial Killers at Sacred Fools, as Rev. Nietzsche…

What do you love most about theatre in Los Angeles?

Continually surprising those who believe there is no quality theatre in Los Angeles, and being part of the community of artists that does so…

What’s your dream project?

Prince Hal / Henry in HENRY IV 1 & 2 / HENRY V (as a three-consecutive-production event)

Biography: Jacob Sidney played Horatio in HAMLET for Jessica Kubzansky in Summer 2009. In Fall 2008 he played Guildenstern in Michael Michetti’s HAMLET.  2006-7:  Patrick (“a soulful skinhead with a gorgeous singing voice” – nytheatre.com) in THE BEASTLY BOMBING (LA Weekly‘s Musical of the Year 2006).  With Circle X Theatre Co:  A SWEET DEAL, his own full-length solo show.  With the Sacred Fools Theater:  PEER GYNT (Peer); as well as DUBYA 2004 and DUBYA 2000 (Earl), and CRAZYFACE (all three “Pick of the Week” from the LA Weekly); and Padraic Duffy’s TELL THE BEES and BEAVERQUEST!  Feature films:  BARSTOW 2008, KILLER BUD, THE VELOCITY OF GARY; short THE WAGER.  In Seattle:  THE DUCHESS OF MALFI (Ferdinand); SAINT JOAN; RELATIVE VALUES; A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Lysander); several with Derek Horton (CAT-LIKE TREAD, PIMPIN).  Additional plays:  BENT (Horst) and THE NORMAL HEART (Felix), A CHORUS LINE (Paul), THE GRAPES OF WRATH (Tom Joad), WEST SIDE STORY (Riff), and LA BOHÈME (Schaunard).  In addition to acting, Sidney sings (classically trained baritone), writes (prose and dialogue, fiction and non-), composes music, directs (often for SERIAL KILLERS at Sacred Fools, where he is a company member), and plays piano/organ for THE HONEYSUCKLE JONES REVIVAL.

For a full list of Ovation nominees, or for information about the Ovation Awards Ceremony on January 11th, click here!