Jonathan David Martin

Jonathan David Martin is a performer, director, producer, and educator working at the intersection of immersive technology and live performance. Stage credits include the original Broadway cast of War Horse, North American premiere of Life of Pi (ART), The Heiress and Junk at Arena Stage, Describe the Night at Woolly Mammoth, Silent Sky at Ford’s Theatre, Trouble in Mind at Two River Theater, The Chosen at Portland Center Stage, The Occupant at Theater J, and numerous productions with Washington Ensemble Theatre where he was a founding Co-Artistic Director. He is a pioneer in performance technique for VR, having starred in “Finding Pandora X” (Best Interactive Experience Venice International Film Festival VR, Audience Award at SXSW, XR Must's Best Interactive Experience). He also starred in the VR experiences “Severance Theory: Welcome To Respite” (Venice Film Fest, Kauhsiung Film Fest, Best Narrative Experience at Raindance Film Fest), "Gumball Dreams" (Audience Award at SXSW, Best Experience of 2022 - XR Must), and “Loveseat” (Venice Film Fest). He is the Producing Co-Artistic Director of Smoke & Mirrors Collaborative where he has directed the documentary web-series, "Tangible Hope Project" (Best Documentary Series-BNMWFest), and the original plays, Point of Departure and The Alien Nation. He produced and performed in the international tour and Off-Broadway hit Olityelwe (Ndebele Funeral), #HashtagProject, and created Head in the Sand. Jonathan is a 2021 Oculus Launch Pad member where he served as the Creative Producer and Narrative Designer for the forthcoming narrative VR experience, "City of Sand." University of Maryland faculty member at the Immersive Media Design program, leading research into the narrative and user experience design possibilities of AR/VR. Guest lecturer at the California State University Northridge and featured speaker at SXSW, AR/VR Policy Conference, (Re)Connect Festival, and universities around the country.