“Lion King, Jr.”
setting the
STAGE
Andrea Jaecks provides life lessons and opportunities for kids both on
and off the stage as the artistic director for Jeter Backyard Theater.
BY NICOLE TAFE
F
or Andrea Jaecks, theater is a way of life.
As Artistic Director of Jeter Backyard
Theater ( JBT), she has the opportunity
to share her passion with the masses.
Originally from Clarkston, Michigan,
Jaecks moved to Pittsburgh in 2000 to attend
Point Park University and fell in love with the
city. She now lives in Cranberry Township
with her husband, Aaron Jaecks, and their
eight-pound, blind Shih Tzu, Lilly.
Jaecks holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance
Pedagogy from Point Park University, a
Teaching Certificate in Art from Carlow
University and is currently enrolled in the
20 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Cranberry
M.Ed. Art Education program at Edinboro
University. This summer, Jaecks was one of
eight outstanding educators from schools and
performing arts centers around the country
selected to work one-on-one with Broadway
greats at the Seventh Annual Freddie G
Fellowship in New York City. During the
four-day fellowship, she worked with Randy
Skinner, choreographer for Broadway’s
“42nd Street,” and Pine-Richland alum Jeff
Calhoun, who choreographed “Grease” and
was nominated for a Tony as director of
“Newsies.” “Learning from these two in such
an intimate setting, with only seven other
Andrea Jaecks