A Bit About Me

Jacqueline Thompson is an actor, director, and educator based in St. Louis, Missouri. Her work centers on powerful storytelling that connects people, reflects lived experience, and creates space for meaningful dialogue. With more than two decades of experience in theatre, she is known for her emotional honesty, strong leadership, and commitment to socially engaged work.

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After completing graduate training, Jacqueline returned to her hometown of St. Louis, where she became an active and respected voice in the regional arts community. As a theatre maker, she has performed and directed in a wide range of productions with leading theatres and companies, bringing depth, clarity, and truth to complex roles. Her acting work includes performances with The Black Rep, Shakespeare Festival St. Louis, The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, New Jewish Theatre, Upstream Theatre, Metro Theater Company, Mustard Seed Theatre, and others.

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Some of her notable acting credits include Intimate Apparel, A Human Being Died That Night, Dot, Into the Breeches, A Midsummer Night's Dream, A Christmas Carol, Afflicted, A Kid Like Jake, Gee's Bend, and Insidious. Her performance as Esther in Intimate Apparel earned her the St. Louis Theater Circle Award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama, recognizing her ability to deliver nuanced, emotionally grounded performances.

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In addition to her work on stage, Jacqueline is a highly regarded director. Her directing career reflects a deep interest in collaboration, community engagement, and actor-centered storytelling. She has directed productions ranging from contemporary drama to classical and culturally rooted work, often guiding projects that balance artistic rigor with social relevance.

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Selected directing credits include District Merchants, Crumbs from the Table of Joy, Last Stop on Market Street, Of Mice and Men, Death of a Salesman, Good People, Nine Parts of Desire, The Laramie Project, In the Red and Brown Water, For Colored Girls, In the Blood, and The Brothers Size. Her directing style is known for managing complex material while creating a supportive and focused rehearsal environment where actors can do their best work.

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Jacqueline has also led and collaborated on community-centered theatre initiatives. She worked with Shakespeare Festival St. Louis on neighborhood-based storytelling projects that invite communities to create original plays inspired by Shakespeare. She also directed work with The Telling Project – St. Louis, a national organization that uses theatre to deepen understanding of military and veteran experiences.

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Beyond directing and acting, Jacqueline has contributed to arts leadership and producing efforts. She served as the lead St. Louis producer for Every 28 Hours, a national collaboration with Oregon Shakespeare Festival and The One Minute Play Festival. She has been selected for the Theatre Communications Group (TCG) Rising Leaders of Color program and has received multiple forms of recognition for her impact on the St. Louis arts scene.

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Jacqueline also has over 20 years of experience as an educator and mentor, supporting emerging performers and directors through university and community-based programs. Thompson is an Associate Professor at the University of Missouri–St. Louis in the Communication and Media Studies Department.

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Today, Jacqueline Thompson continues to focus on work that challenges and celebrates a myriad of stories that illuminate the complexities of society. Her commitment to producing work for the next generation led to her current role as Artistic Director at Metro Theater Company. Curating and championing work that celebrates, challenges, and supports the voices of young audiences is at the heart of her practice; prioritizing projects that push audiences to think critically, honor lived truths, and create space for connection, empathy, and reflection.