Jacqueline
Thompson
Creating powerful stories that move audiences, spark dialogue, and inspire social change.
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR · ACTOR · DIRECTOR
Welcome to the official website of Jacqueline Thompson, an award-winning St. Louis actor, director, and Artistic Director of Metro Theater Company, whose work bridges artistry, community, and impact.
Unleashing the power of authenticity and emotion, Jacqueline Thompson invites audiences into bold, human stories that challenge, connect, and transform.
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Jacqueline Thompson — Julia Augustine,
The Wedding Band
The Black Rep
Jacqueline Thompson’s interpretation of Julia Augustine is the emotional core of the production. Julia is a Black seamstress who maintains a secret relationship with a white baker, Herman, despite laws and social norms that criminalize their love. Thompson captures Julia’s complexity with remarkable nuance. Her performance moves fluidly between tenderness and strength, illustrating Julia’s hope for a better life while acknowledging the harsh reality of racial oppression. - Broadway World
Acting
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Intimate Apparel
New Jewish Theatre
When “Intimate Apparel” first opened Off-Broadway in 2004, Tony Award-winner Viola Davis played the role of Esther. Let’s face it; those are some pretty big acting chops to live up to. Wisely, Thompson makes Esther her own, imbuing this pragmatic, dignified woman with enough emotional grit that by the end of the 2½-hour play, it’s all we can do not to run on stage and hug her. - STL-Jewish Light
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Jacqueline Thompson — Regan, King Lear
St. Louis Shakespeare Festival
Jacqueline Thompson portrayed Regan in the St. Louis Shakespeare Festival’s Afrofuturist production of King Lear, a color-conscious reimagining featuring an all–people-of-color cast and creative team.
This production asked urgent questions about power, inheritance, and legacy through a contemporary Black lens—placing Thompson’s Regan within a reimagined global and historical context.
Directing
The Brother's Size
Thompson’s directing style emphasizes clarity and emotional
connection. St. Louis critics highlighted her ability to guide the production with “grace and deep understanding,” shaping the play’s poetic language into a theatrical experience that feels accessible and engaging for audiences. Pop Life STL
The St. Louis American noted that “under Thompson’s masterful direction, the cast maintains a rhythm and pace that keeps the audience locked in
Death of a Salesman
Reviews emphasized that Thompson successfully drew powerful performances from the cast, guiding them to reveal the complex mixture of love, disappointment, and frustration that defines the Loman household. In particular, critics noted that her direction helped shape deeply layered performances that allowed audiences to connect with the characters’ struggles and vulnerabilities.
Jacqueline Thompson serves as Artistic Director of Metro Theater Company, where her artistic direction is defined by a strong commitment to inclusivity, youth engagement, and socially resonant storytelling. Drawing on her background as an actor, director, and educator, Thompson centers work that reflects the lived experiences of young people while amplifying diverse voices and perspectives.
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Her vision emphasizes theater as a transformative and community-oriented practice—one that “inspires, challenges, and transforms” audiences while fostering creativity and individuality. Under her leadership, the company prioritizes new works, especially those that highlight underrepresented stories and artists, and seeks to build meaningful connections between professional theater, schools, and local communities.
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Thompson’s artistic direction also foregrounds equity and access, aiming to create spaces where all young audiences can see themselves authentically represented onstage. Her programming blends imagination with social relevance, positioning Metro Theater Company as a platform for both artistic innovation and cultural dialogue.