Jacob Sidney was a cast member of the Boston Court's revival of Stephen Sondheim's PASSION in early 2020, directed by Michael Michetti. Scheduled to open in mid-March, the much-anticipated production was already in previews when California's statewide shelter-at-home order took effect, ultimately cancelling the production.
Prior to that Sidney played Holmes 1 in the West Coast Premiere of Jeffrey Hatcher's HOLMES & WATSON at North Coast Rep. Earlier in 2018 he joined a school tour with Laguna Playhouse, playing the titular mouse in STUART LITTLE and Capt. Swain in BY THE GREAT HORN SPOON for eager 3rd- and 4th-graders across Orange County. Prior to that he played George in John Steinbeck’s American classic OF MICE AND MEN at North Coast Rep (“magnificently portrayed” - La Jolla Light). Early in 2017 he played the non-biological human Julian in the West Coast Premiere of UNCANNY VALLEY at ICT in Long Beach; of the performance the LA Times noted, "Sidney turns in a tour de force, carefully charting every detail of Julian’s progression from the robotic to the convincingly human."
Previously he played McGeorge Bundy in Daniel Henning’s THE TRAGEDY OF JFK at
the Skylight Theatre, before directing the West Coast Premiere of ROSE AND THE
RIME at Sacred Fools, both in Los Angeles. In 2014 he was in the cast of the
smash-hit THE BEHAVIOR OF BROADUS at Sacred Fools (“a groundbreaking new
musical” - LA Times). Also in 2014 Jacob Sidney produced, directed, and starred
in HAMLET MAX in the Hollywood Fringe: Wm. Shakespeare's Hamlet told by 8
actors in 90 minutes, with animated, manga-style backgrounds in a
post-apocalyptic setting; as well as reprising his role as Capt. Zuelke in CAMP
LOGAN at Theatre/Theater.
In 2013 Sidney appeared in the award-winning ABSOLUTELY FILTHY (an unauthorized
Peanuts parody) as the former child piano prodigy known as the Pop Star (Best
Comedy Ensemble, LA Weekly), as well as playing Another White Man in WE ARE
PROUD TO PRESENT… at the Matrix Theatre in Los Angeles (Production of the Year,
LA Weekly). Additionally he guest starred in the comedy web series HUNGRY
produced by Russell Simmons, and wrapped shooting as Uncle Bruce in the feature
COCKROACHES.
In 2012 Sidney played the mad Russian Kolenkhov in the Antaeus Company’s
production of YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (dir. Gigi Bermingham), appeared as
the eponymous “Doctor” in THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR (Furious/Boston Court), and
also played Dr. Khobotov in Theatre Movement Bazaar’s THE TREATMENT, an
original adaptation of Chekhov’s Ward 6 co-produced with the Theatre @ Boston
Court. Previously he played Jekyll/Hyde in TMB’s MODEL BEHAVIOR, and also
appeared in their filmed ensemble for MONSTER OF HAPPINESS.
In 2011 Sidney played Ty Cobb in HONUS & ME for director Abigail Deser at
the MainStreet Theatre Company in Rancho Cucamonga, as well as appearing in
Padraic Duffy’s PUZZLER at Sacred Fools. In musical pursuits he sang and
performed onstage with legendary band Sparks in their one-night performance of
THE SEDUCTION OF INGMAR BERGMAN at the Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles, as
well as launching holiday vocal group THE SLEIGH BELLES with Crystal Keith,
Richard Levinson, and Vanessa Stewart.
Earlier Sidney played Nicholas in THE RECKONING for the Robey, and Caliban in
THE TEMPEST for Action! He also played Horatio in HAMLET at Theatre 150 in Ojai
CA for director Jessica Kubzansky, and Guildenstern in Michael Michetti’s
HAMLET at A Noise Within. He spent 2006-7 playing Patrick (“a soulful skinhead
with a gorgeous singing voice” – nytheatre.com) in the contemporary Gilbert & Sullivan-style
operetta THE BEASTLY BOMBING (over 70 performances in LA and NY, and LA
Weekly’s Musical of the Year 2006). Additional LA theatre includes A SWEET
DEAL, his own full-length solo show; as well as BEATRICE, the title role of
PEER GYNT, DUBYA 2004, DUBYA 2000, CRAZYFACE, and Padraic Duffy’s TELL THE BEES
and BEAVERQUEST!
Onstage in Seattle (his home town) he appeared in THE DUCHESS OF MALFI (as
Ferdinand); SAINT JOAN and RELATIVE VALUES with Greek Active; A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT'S DREAM (Lysander) with Wooden O; and several of the original works of
director Derek Horton (CAT-LIKE TREAD, PIMPIN). Sidney's additional plays
include BENT (Horst) and THE NORMAL HEART (Felix) in Portland, Oregon; and A
CHORUS LINE (Paul), THE GRAPES OF WRATH (Tom Joad), WEST SIDE STORY (Riff), and
LA BOHÈME (singing Schaunard) in Bellingham, Washington.
A classically trained baritone, Sidney served for many years as Bass Section Leader and Soloist for the San Gabriel Valley Choral Company. He is also fluent in Big Band and Rockabilly, writes (prose and dialogue, fiction and non-), composes music, arranges choral parts, and directs theatre and choral groups. He was a regular performer in the Wig Out! cabaret; and also occasionally analyzes and helps to develop/produce new theatre scripts, the result of a two-year stint as Literary Director for Circle X Theatre Co. of Hollywood. In addition to HAMLET MAX, Sidney directed the West Coast premieres of WAITING FOR WAITING FOR GODOT and ROSE AND THE RIME (Ovation Nominated for Video/Projection Design - Hillary Bauman, Corwin Evans & Chris Hutchings) for Sacred Fools.
