Harper College will be closed Monday, September 1, in observance of Labor Day.
Jeremy Lucas
Co-Founder & Artistic Director
Jaxx Theatricals
Jeremy Lucas parlayed his education at Harper College into becoming a successful actor, artistic director and leader in arts education in Los Angeles. He is the founder and artistic director of Jaxx Theatricals, a theatre company and performing arts education nonprofit.
“What motivated me was when my team and I wanted to make the big decisions involving all the facets of production,” Lucas said. “The arts education component quickly followed when my cofounder Justine Baldwin, a kindergarten teacher, asked if I would consider running a youth program at her school.”
While at Harper, Lucas pursued a concentration in theatre, taking classes from Professor Mary Jo Willis. He was a member of the dance team and competed on the speech team. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance from Roosevelt University.
After Lucas moved to Los Angeles, he helped found Jaxx Theatricals in 2006. As Lucas and his team debated names for their new organization, they settled on the name of Lucas’ dog.
Today, with a $1.1 million operating budget, Jaxx Theatricals employs 30 staff members dedicated to the performing arts and arts education, enhancing arts programs at more than 50 schools in four school districts.
Lucas has received numerous accolades for his work, including the Stage Raw Theater Award for direction. He was nominated for the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for choreography in 2024. He continues to work as a professional director and is a member of SAG-AFTRA, Stage Directors and Choreographers Society and Actors Equity Association.
While performing in Seattle, he met a U.S. diplomat who championed his talents. Lucas became a Cultural Arts Envoy for the U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Exchange Programs. He’s completed assignments in Baku, Azerbaijan; Suva, Fiji; and Sousse, Tunisia.
Among his many contributions to the field of performing arts, Lucas has established scholarships for students with different abilities, paving the way for a culture of inclusion for all students at Jaxx.
“To succeed in L.A. for 18 years is due largely to leading with fairness and integrity,” Lucas said. “We hold ourselves and others accountable and constantly pursue excellence in all we do.”