Staff
Jason Cannon
Producing Artistic Director
Jason Cannon is a proud member of SDC (Stage Director's and Choreographer's Society), AEA (Actor's Equity Association), and AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Actors). He holds an MFA in Directing from Lindenwood University, an MA in Drama from Washington University in St. Louis, and a BA in Theatre and English from Greenville College. He is also an alum of the Directors Lab Chicago.
Since 1998 Jason has worked primarily in St. Louis as a professional actor, director, playwright, producer, and educator. As an actor he has over 50 professional credits (playing everything from Hamlet to Orson Welles) and has appeared with the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, Stages St. Louis, Ozark Actors Theatre, Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Mustard Seed Theatre, Black Cat Theatre, Vanity Theatre, RiverCity Theatre, Historyonics, Hothouse Theatre, CityTheatre, Theatre Belle Bete, Metro Theatre Company, St. Louis Shakespeare Company, the New Jewish Theatre, NewLine Theatre, (Mostly) Harmless Theatre, and the Science Theatre Caravan (formerly Muny First Stage). Jason has also shot several industrial films and made his feature film debut opposite Aaron Eckhart in Meet Bill.
Jason has directed for the Imaginary Theatre Company at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, St. Louis Actors' Studio, RiverCity Theatre, Dramatic License Productions, HotCity Theatre, the GreenHouse, Spotlight Theatre, Vanity Theatre, Spotlight Productions, Kirkwood Theatre Guild, Hothouse Staged Reading Series, New Jewish Theatre's Salon Reading Series, Alpha Players, Hawthorne Players, Washington University in St. Louis, Fontbonne University, Lindenwood University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Jason was also co-director of Hothouse Theatre's Staged Reading Series for two seasons, and founded and produced the first three annual New Play Festivals for the GreenHouse.
As a playwright Jason had his first full-length script premiere in November, 2004, with Historyonics, who commissioned and produced his play The Eagle and Child: JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. This play has received two subsequent productions, at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, and at Jason's alma mater, Greenville College in Greenville, IL. Jason's second script, Aesop's Greatest Hits, toured throughout St. Louis area schools with the St. Louis Shakespeare Company. In 2008 Jason was commissioned by Shakespeare Festival St. Louis to create their educational touring company script based on Merry Wives of Windsor. Windsor Live!: The Search for the Next Great Prankster toured the spring semester of 2009 across the bi-state area.
As an educator Jason has taught undergraduate and graduate-level theatre classes at Fontbonne University, Saint Louis University, and for three years at University of Missouri-St. Louis as a Visiting Assistant Professor. He also taught five semesters of Writing at Washington University in St. Louis. Jason has also taught Shakespeare, acting, stagecraft, stage combat, audition technique, playwriting, and improvisation for various camps and arts organizations including COCA, the Boys and Girls Club, the West County YMCA, Marian Middle School, and the St. Louis Science Center. Jason is a co-founder of the Kevin Kline Awards, which annually celebrate excellence in professional St. Louis Theatre (kevinklineawards.org).
Reviews, awards, and other info can be seen at http://www.jasoncannon.biz
Jim Welch
Production Stage Manager
Jim is pleased to return for the 2010 Summer Season at Ozark Actors Theatre. Having been a proud member of Actors Equity Association for nearly 30 years, he is thrilled to have spent the last 23 summers with OAT. Jim's tenure at OAT has included over 60 productions as Production Stage Manager, Assistant Stage Manager, Technical Director, Production Associate, and Prop Master.
Jim holds a Bachelor's of Science from Southeast Missouri State University in Elementary Education and Master's work in Technical Theatre at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. While in Kansas City, Jim was a Technician, Stage Manager and Marionettist with the Kansas City Repertory Theatre, Theater League, Starlight Theatre, and Broadway Marionettes, respectively.
Jim is retired from the Crawford County R-2 Schools in Cuba, Missouri, and is living in Rolla. He will be pursuing other theater jobs, working with area arts organizations and travelling. He looks forward to seeing you at the theater, at various meetings, or on the road.
Until then, he hopes you have a wonderful time at Ozark Actors Theatre. Enjoy!
Bess Moynihan
Production Manager
Bess Moynihan, a St. Louis based artist, graduated with a BA in performing arts from Fontbonne University in 2008. Since then she has worked as Master Electrician and Production Manager for Mustard Seed and HotCity theatres, and is now an adjunct faculty member at Fontbonne University. Bess has also designed lights for numerous company's such as the Orange Girls, Dramatic Licence Productions, Mustard Seed Theatre, Ozark Actors Theatre and the Non Prophets. She is looking forward to another fun and challenging summer at Ozark Actors Theatre.
