OLIVER JAKOB

Oliver Jakob [FKA Chris Jakob] [they/them] is a queer, non-binary, interdisciplinary performance artist born and raised in Detroit, MI and based in Chicago. Holding a BA in Theatre from University of Detroit Mercy, they are an actor, singer, mover, poet, playwright, and teaching artist focused on the creation of fresh, thought-provoking, experimental work. They have performed at Detroit Repertory Theatre, Ringwald Theatre, Jewish Ensemble Theatre, Planet Ant, Shakespeare in Detroit [SiD], and Matrix Theatre to a name a few. Oliver is a 2020 Kresge Artist Fellow and recent work includes the world premiere of Dot’s Home with AHOP in Detroit 2023, including touring performaces in Chicago and Nashville 2024, The Tempest as Trinculo with SiD summer 2023, the world premiere of Cleopatra Boy with AHOP in Detroit 2019, including touring performances in Philly and Texas A&M 2021; previews of LOGOS, their new solo-performance-choreopoem, at Sidewalk Festival 2019; and the tour of their play, I, Too, Sing America, produced by the Detroit Opera Theatre. They have also been a part of artist residencies at Cleveland Public Theatre, Fury Factory Festival in San Francisco, and North American Culture Lab in the Catskills of New York. Art is long, life is short. IG: @_oliverjakob

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Chris Jakob 2020 Kresge Fellowship Short Film

written, performed, and styled by Chris Jakob

directed by Desmond Love

sound design by Jnn Aprl

filmed in 2021

The Call

poetry and performance by Chris Jakob and Salakastar

created and directed by Chris Jakob, Salakastar, and Costa Kazaleh-Sirdenis

director of photography: Richie Trimble

original music by Topher Horn, Michael Malis, Christian Ryan. Alex White, and Costa Kazaleh-Sirdenis

created for and premiered by Detroit Narrative Agency, 2020

from Detroit, with love

written, directed, and performed by Chris Jakob

filmed by Kenikki Jones-Jones

interviews with Salakastar, Evan Markarian, and Costa Kazaleh-Sirdenis

interviews conducted and edited by Chris Jakob

sound design by Jnn Aprl

created for and produced by Matrix Theatre in 2020

WeThePeople

written, directed, and performed by Chris Jakob

filmed by Andre Sigure

created in 2016

bloom where you’re planted

directed, filmed, edited, and poetry by Chris Jakob

featuring interviews with Carol Valenzula, Felicia Garland, George Talley, Gwendolyn Lewis, Leonard Walker, Millie Johnson, Patricia Barnes, Sheila Bonney, and Theresa Harrell

interviews conducted and edited by Chris Jakob

music by Costa Kazaleh-Sirdenis

created in partnership with Timeslips Tele-Stories Project in 2021

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