Jason Kruger Named Upper School Theatre Director
Our very own Jason Kruger has been named the new Director of Theatre at the Upper School.
At the Wimberley Playhouse, Jason has previously directed Nunsense, Next to Normal, Moon Over Buffalo!, Cabaret, Little Shop of Horrors, and the radio plays It's A Wonderful Life and The 39 Steps. Jason won the Broadway World Austin Awards for Best Direction of a Musical in 2018 for Little Shop of Horrors and Best Direction of a Play (Comedy) in 2019 for Moon Over Buffalo!. He recently directed The Last Five Years for Texas Light Opera in San Antonio, where he won the Broadway World San Antonio Award for Best Musical in 2018. He has directed many professional productions in the D/FW area including Lend Me a Tenor, The Merchant of Venice, As You Like It, and How to Succeed in Business! In addition to directing, Jason has also worked as set designer for the Austin Actors Studio. Jason has been a theatre educator for over 25 years and has directed over 85 productions. Some favorites include Newsies, Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music, Bring it On!, True West, Guys and Dolls, and Anything Goes!
Jason received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 1996 and has had 26 years of teaching experience in both high school and middle school theatre.
At Poteet High School from 1996-2001, Kruger served as Theatre Director, taking a program that had one theatre teacher and never advanced in UIL One Act Play to having several full-time theatre teachers and a UIL One Play State Alternate.
From 2001-2005, Kruger was Theatre Director at Martin High School, overseeing one of the largest high school theatre programs in the state with over 300 students involved in the theatre department. Under his leadership, the school produced multiple UIL One Play State finalists. Kruger was also the Martin HS Teacher of the Month winner.
Kruger has been at St Andrew's since 2005, and has served as Middle School Theatre Director, Upper School Tech Theatre Director, Middle School Head Football Coach and Varsity Assistant. Kruger took over the Middle School theatre program and took productions from Crusader Hall to the Upper School. He served as the First Upper School Tech Theatre Director from 2005-2012. He served as head coach of Middle School football from 2010-2017 as well as 2020-2021, taking over a program with 6 players and turning it to a team that currently has over 50 players. He also served as US Varsity Assistant Football Coach from 2010-2017. In 2015, Jason was the winner of the Lucy Collins Nazro Faculty Service Award for his contributions to the school.
To this position, Jason brings unparalleled experience at St. Andrew's, established relationships with our student performers and performing arts staff, and a deep knowledge of the Dell Performing Arts Center. We are so grateful for his expertise and service to the school over the years! Jason will also be coaching Varsity football.
Jason's wife Stephanie is a first grade teacher at St. Andrew's and they have three children, Mackenzie (SAS class of '20), Lily (SAS class of '21), and Jacob (SAS class of '22).
To this position, Jason brings unparalleled experience at St. Andrew's, established relationships with our student performers and performing arts staff, and a deep knowledge of the Dell Performing Arts Center. We are so grateful for his expertise and service to the school over the years! Jason will also be coaching Varsity football.
Jason's wife Stephanie is a first grade teacher at St. Andrew's and they have three children, Mackenzie (SAS class of '20), Lily (SAS class of '21), and Jacob (SAS class of '22).
