
Jacob Ruscoe
Dr. Jacob Ruscoe has been involved with local theatre in Sarasota for the last several decades. Jacob has spent time serving on the Board of Directors for Virtuoso Inc and Rise Above Performing Arts. As an Artistic Director, he has had the privilege of producing such shows as The Addams Family, Grease, Into the Woods, All My Sons, 13 the Musical, The Love Note and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Jacob is an educator for a local school system and has helped several schools in their development of a performing arts program. He also oversees multiple award-winning show choirs including one that was award Grand National Champions in 2018. In 2004, Jacob had his play, Outside the Box professionally produced before a national youth camp. He has written several scripts and monologues that have been performed nationwide. His love of writing began at an early age and has been awarded such honors as Best Overall Playwright and Best Political Commercial Script at statewide festivals. Jacob obtained his Doctoral degree in Administration and has a deep passion to see the growth and development of the performing arts throughout our community.
Most Popular Articles


Review: FROZEN at Manatee Performing Arts Center
December 16, 2025

Review: ANNIE at Sarasota Players
January 13, 2026

Brewing Something New: The Common Ground and the Next Generation of Theatre Makers
June 15, 2026
New works are the lifeblood of the theatre.

Review: THE CRUCIBLE at Sarasota Players
March 30, 2026
Arthur Miller’s The Crucible is already one of the most emotionally charged dramas in the American theatre canon, but the current production at The Sarasota Players elevates the experience into something deeply immersive, intimate, and unforgettable.

Review: OKLAHOMA at Dingbat Theatre Project
March 17, 2026
The Dingbat Theatre Project’s production of Oklahoma! is not your grandmother’s Oklahoma.

Review: RIVERDANCE 30 - THE NEW GENERATION at Van Wezel
January 28, 2026
Marking the 30th anniversary of the phenomenon’s genesis, this production feels especially timely, and its subtitle is entirely apt: the original show began before most—if not all—of the extraordinarily talented cast now carrying the torch were even born.

Review: ANNIE at Sarasota Players
January 13, 2026
The Sarasota Players’ production of Annie is a bright, big-hearted reminder of why this musical has endured for nearly half a century.

Review: FROZEN at Manatee Performing Arts Center
December 16, 2025
Manatee Performing Arts Center’s production of Frozen under the direction of Rick Kerby, is a theatrical delight that captures the heart, spectacle, and magic that have made this story a modern classic.

Review: THE BOOK OF MORMON at Van Wezel
December 10, 2025
I first saw The Book of Mormon in 2011, the year it opened on Broadway.

Review: THE AMISH PROJECT at Venice Theatre
November 28, 2025
The Amish Project at Venice Theatre is a profoundly moving piece of theatrical storytelling—one that asks its audience not merely to witness but to listen.

Review: MONSTERS OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA at Urbanite
November 6, 2025
Under the sure-handed direction of Summer Wallace, the production becomes a stirring meditation on parenthood, identity, and the monsters—both real and imagined—that shape us.

Review: IM GONNA MARRY YOU TOBY MAGUIRE at Dingbat
September 11, 2025
Dingbat Theatre has once again demonstrated its prowess for producing unique and original works with its latest offering, 'I'm Gonna Marry You, Toby Maguire.

Review: BEETLEJUICE at Van Wezel
April 25, 2025
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Center has come alive with enchantment and mischief as it hosts the touring performance of the Broadway musical Beetlejuice.

Review: GOOD NIGHT OSCAR at Asolo Repertory Theatre
April 14, 2025
I am on a journey of not only seeing shows that I have never seen before, but also ones that I have never heard of before.

Review: LES MISERABLES at Van Wezel
April 12, 2025
From the opening moments on the Van Wezel's stage for 'Les Misérables,' the audience is transported into the heart of 19th-century France, a tumultuous time fraught with poverty, revolution, and the ceaseless quest for redemption.

Review: FUN HOME at Sarasota Players
March 13, 2025
Sarasota Players has provided audiences with a thought-provoking musical with their recent production of 'Fun Home,' the Tony Award-winning musical that brings Alison Bechdel's poignant graphic memoir to life.

Review: COME FROM AWAY at Van Wezel
February 19, 2025
Do you ever go see a show and know you will be on your feet for a standing ovation the minute the last chord sounds? I have now seen Come From Away 7 times including last year at the Van Wezel and it simply never gets old.

Review: THE ADDAMS FAMILY at Van Wezel
February 4, 2025
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall recently hosted a vibrant rendition of 'The Addams Family,' a musical that has captivated audiences since its Broadway premiere in 2010.

Review: FUNNY GIRL at Van Wezel
January 17, 2025
The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall recently hosted a captivating and vibrant production of “Funny Girl,” a classic musical that has endured the test of time and continues to resonate with audiences around the world.

Review: THE WIZARD OF OZ at Manatee Performing Arts Center
December 12, 2024
The Manatee Performing Arts Center has once again delighted audiences with its enchanting production of 'The Wizard of Oz,' a timeless musical that brings to life L.

Review: ALL IS CALM - THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914 at Asolo Rep
December 10, 2024
The Asolo Repertory Theatre’s rendition of All is Calm - The Christmas Truce of 1914 offers a poignant breath of fresh air.

Review: LITTLE WOMEN at The Sarasota Players
December 9, 2024
Sometimes it is great to review a show you are really familiar with as it provides the varied perspectives by which one views a musical.
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