JBT team before traveling to Atlanta for the Junior Theater Festival .
SETTING THE
STAGE
Gibsonia ’ s Jeter Backyard Theater provides life lessons and opportunities for kids both on and off the stage .
By Nicole Tafe
For Andrea Jaecks , theater is a way of life . As Artistic Director of Jeter Backyard Theater ( JBT ) in Gibsonia , 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 M . Ed . Art Education program at Edinboro University . Over the summer , Jaecks was one of eight outstanding educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country selected to work oneon-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 teachers , was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will forever be grateful for ,” says Jaecks .
By day , Jaecks is an elementary art teacher at Marshall Elementary School in the North Allegheny School District as well as an elementary art facilitator for the entire district . She also serves as coordinator for the district ’ s Traveling Art Gallery program .
Prior to the start of her master ’ s degree program , Jaecks was the choreographer for the North Allegheny High School spring musical and choreographed nine shows for the district from 2007 through 2015 . “ During ‘ Shrek the Musical ,’ my husband even solicited the cast ’ s help for his marriage proposal to me ,” smiles Jaecks .
Jeter Backyard Theater is a group that provides educational practice and performance opportunities in voice , dance , acting and stagecraft for kids in Pre-K through high school , as well as professional performance and leadership opportunities for JBT alumni and artists in residence .
JBT was founded by Christie Jeter — who still works as Director , Producer and Musical Director for the organization — when she determined there was a need for quality children ’ s
Andrea Jaecks
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