Jesse Baxter

Jesse Baxter is an Artistic Director interested in experiences that nurture a meaningful human bond with distant places, peoples, and important global issues through the arts. In 2006, Jesse founded Dramatic Adventure Theatre (DAT) to create opportunities for artists around the world to immerse themselves in remote communities and tell compelling stories that amplify often unheard voices. Under his leadership, DAT has facilitated over 350 artists' journeys to 9 countries on 4 continents. They have conducted theatre intensives, engaging with over 2500 children, and initiated 47 service projects in 28 communities and villages. This work has resulted in the creation of 33 original plays and ongoing cultural exchange programs in Ecuador, Slovakia, and Tanzania.

As a Theatre-Maker (actor/director/deviser/creative producer), Jesse is dedicated to crafting original plays that connect audiences with the spirit and truth of a place, delving into its complexities, beauty, and challenges. He draws inspiration from new landscapes and tells stories of places where myths, memories, histories, traditions, and dreams converge upon local social concerns with global implications. Collaborative storytelling and cross-cultural exchange are at the heart of his artistic practice.

A lifelong student, Jesse has honed his skills through education at Temple University in Philadelphia, the University of Gloucestershire in England, the Gaiety School of Acting in Ireland, and with Anne Bogart & SITI company in NYC. He holds a BA in Theatre (acting & directing) from Messiah University and an MFA in Theatre Arts (devising new works) from Towson University.

Jesse's current research interests include representing living subjects in cross-cultural ensemble devising processes, creating transportive theatrical worlds with live organic soundscapes, and simplifying theatrical aesthetics to focus on the essential and most human storytelling elements.

As a Teaching Artist, Jesse is committed to helping young artists find their voices and equip them to make a positive impact in the world. In addition to his work with DAT, he instructs theatre at both Towson University and Stevenson University. With an engaging and playful approach, he emphasizes collaboration, imagination, and creative problem-solving, teaching from a global, interdisciplinary, and socially-conscious perspective. Jesse recognizes the profound impact of human-to-human connections and the transformative potential of theater when students have the courage to stand up, act boldly, and share their truths.

A dedicated World Traveler, Jesse sees each adventure as an opportunity for genuine connection and exchange through shared experiences. He believes that the internal journey is just as important as the external one and prefers to revisit countries repeatedly for more extended periods to foster real connections and personal expansion. To date, he has explored various regions in Africa, the Americas, and Europe, forging meaningful connections and expanding his horizons.

• Africa: Kenya, Tanzania (& Zanzibar), Zimbabwe

• Americas: Barbados, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador (& Galapagos), Navajo Nation, Wampanoag Nation, United States (44/50)

• Europe: Austria, Croatia, Czechia, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden

Jesse Baxter is also a proud Family Man. In 2009, he married Mary K Baxter, the co-founder and Executive Director of Dramatic Adventure Theatre. They now reside in Baltimore and are delighted parents of their adventurous children, Lucille Grace and Seamus Keen. Their family is deeply intertwined with DAT, and they are supported by a global village comprising DAT Alumni, Community Partners, and friends around the world. DAT has played a significant role in creating lasting relationships, leading to several marriages, the birth of children, the emergence of spin-off theatre companies, the formation of collectives and drama clubs, and the cultivation of numerous lifelong friendships — a source of immense pride.