JBT team
before
traveling
to Atlanta
for the
Junior
Theater
Festival.
“Lion
King, Jr.”
SETTING
THE
STAGE
Gibsonia’s
Jeter Backyard
Theater provides
life lessons and
opportunities for
kids both on and
off the stage.
By Nicole Tafe
40 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | Pine-Richland
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 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 teachers, was a once-in-alifetime 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.
She is currently the Artistic Director
for Gibsonia’s JBT—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
Andrea Jaecks