Jason Brantman: Co-Artistic Director

Jason Brantman is a Director of Theatre & Live Events, currently living in New York. He recently directed Summer with the Stars - a week of events and concerts in Cancun, Mexico - featuring 13 stars from American Idol (including Ruben Studdard), plus Corbin Bleu, Cody Linley, and host Joey Fatone ('N Sync).

For the past 12 years, Jason has been on the directing team for the US OPEN Tennis ceremonies, getting to work with incredible musical legends ranging from Art Garfunkel, James Taylor, Harry Connick Jr., Tony Bennett, Carole King, and Liza Minnelli to film/tv stars Liev Shrieber and Phylicia Rashad to theatre icons Ben Vereen, Idina Menzel, and Twyla Tharp, to fabulous divas Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, and Patti Labelle.  This event is broadcast live on CBS to millions of homes around the world, and includes Jason's favorite part - directing 40 Marines unfurling the largest American flag in the northeast. 

Other live events include: productions for Walt Disney Entertainment, ABC's "The View," associate director for the IBM e-server Spectacular event at Radio City Music Hall (featuring the band Smash Mouth), and production stage manager for The Water Coolers - both off-Broadway and as a show for corporations such as Microsoft, Toyota, JP Morgan, Lego, Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas, and the launch of Microsoft's Xbox 360.

NYC and regional theatre directing credits include: The Crucible, All in the Timing, Urinetown, Les Miserables, Chicago, Tommy, The Secret Garden, Once on this Island, Sweeney Todd, Into The Woods, The Fantasticks, Assassins, The Drowsy Chaperone, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the world premiere of Lady Chardonney at Theatre Row on 42nd Street, and the NYC premiere of Are We There Yet? at Queens Theatre in the Park. 

In addition to directing plays, musicals, and live events, Jason has been the director of several improvisation troupes across the northeast.  He received his improvisation training at SAK Comedy Lab (training ground for Wayne Brady). 

On the filmmaking front, Jason has had the privilege of working with Emmy Award Winning Documentary filmmaker Slawomir Grunberg.

Jason has a passion for animals, and loves collaborating with them whenever possible.  He had the honor of being part of the opening team of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, performing in a breathtaking free-flight bird show called Flights of Wonder (developed and run by one of the foremost animal trainers in the world – Steve Martin). During his time at Disney World Orlando, Jason got to perform at each of the 4 Disney Theme Parks.

Jason is a member of SDC - the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, and also a member of AEA - Actors' Equity Association.

Jason is a proud graduate of Cornell University, and very much enjoys bringing his love of theatre to the next generation.  At the college level, he has been an adjunct professor at NYU and a director & guest lecturer at Cornell University.  At the pre-college level, Jason is show director for the CASA program at Queens Theatre in the Park, has been a senior director at Long Lake Camp for the Arts, has directed at French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts, and has worked with the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center - Youth Theatre Program.  Jason is currently the co-artistic director of Broadway Training Center with his inspirational partner Fiona Santos and their mercurial child Mouser.