Jackie Nichols, Principal
It’s impossible to separate the recent history of professional theatre and performing arts excellence in Memphis from the story of Jackie Nichols.
His vision for the potential of Memphis performing arts and theatre started as a senior at Overton High School in Memphis when he teamed with a group of friends to perform shows at local churches and community centers. The group incorporated in 1969 and grew into the resident professional company we know today as Playhouse on the Square/Circuit Playhouse, Inc., a beacon for creative risk-taking and innovative theatre for nearly half a century.
By 2018, Playhouse included four theatres, a 20,000-sq-ft scenery storage warehouse, an education building and an apartment building housing 16 actors and technicians.
The flagship theatre, the 350-seat Playhouse on the Square, opened in 2012 after a $15 million capital campaign. Opening the new Playhouse was a bold and visionary move, and the first major investment in the Overton Square area in years. It led to more than $30 million of further commercial and nonprofit development in the neighborhood, which is now a thriving arts and entertainment district in Midtown Memphis.
But buildings and even a revitalized neighborhood tell only a small part of the story. Jackie’s vision was for a resident professional company of artists, actors and technicians who would work year-round, and that innovative model has now been sustained for four decades thanks to Jackie’s leadership and the support of funders and many others. The Playhouse resident company produces 18 shows a year, ranging from Shakespeare and other classics to new and controversial work.
The United Professional Theatre Auditions (UPTA) is an annual, four-day event that brings 1,000 aspiring artistic professionals together with dozens of companies looking to employ actors, technicians and administrative staff for summer work. UPTA began in 1995 and is now the largest event of its kind in the country.
Jackie Nichols
“One of the joys of my professional life is mentoring others as they develop ideas that become realities.“
Along with providing opportunities for actors and technicians, Jackie wants to make the arts accessible to everyone, and initiated a pay-what-you-can program for all of the Playhouse theatres along with an arts access program for those who might never see live theatre to attend free of charge.
Jackie is at his best when he is collaborating with others to solve problems, raise awareness or open opportunities to those who might not have them. LEaR Mentoring, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was founded to do just that – support both and small and large groups – nonprofit, foundations, and individuals.
Jackie is ready to hear how he might help your organization reach its potential.