Jacob Trussell is a recent graduate of St. Edward's University, where he majored in Theatre with an Acting Emphasis. He has performed in ten productions on the MMNT stage, including Parade, Kneeling Down at Noon (with Physical Plant Theatre), Ring Round the Moon, Cloud 9, On The Town, Pajama Game, Cyrano de Bergerac (with fight master David J. Brimmer), City of Angels, and Peer Gynt (2010 Austin Critics' Table Nomination, and B. Iden Payne Winner for Outstanding Actor in a Drama).   

Jacob hails from just outside of Waco; he made the most of this conundrum by spending two years in high school studying music and ballet through McLennan Community College's renowned fine arts program before moving to Austin. Outside of St. Ed's, Jacob has worked regionally with both Austin Playhouse (A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, The Fantasticks) and Summerstock Austin (Assassins, Bat Boy: The Musical, and Sweeney Todd; he is a two-time B. Iden Payne Nominee for Best Actor in a Musical for his title roles in the latter two productions), as well as Tex-Arts, Scriptworks (with DA!'s Robin Grace Thompson!), Shrewd Productions (with DA! intern Wallis Currie-Wood!), Ariel Dance Theatre, Paper Chairs, and most, recently Breaking String Theatre.

Jacob's greatest dream has always been to join the circus. By working with DA!, he's come closer than ever to achieving that life-long ambition! After rigorous physical training throughout the spring and summer of 2009, Jacob DA!-buted in Direct Object in a highly acrobatic etude entitled THE SCARF. You may have seen him with his colorful scene partner on posters throughout town! Channeling equal parts Dick York and Larry Hagman, he then stepped handsomely into the role of Commander for the premiere of DA!'s original full-length comedy, Leave it to Beverly. After his hard work on both shows, DA! was excited to officially make Jacob a Collective member (on stage, and through a magic spell!).

In addition to his work with DA!, Mr. Trussell has been a part of several other new works projects locally, including Sad Sad Sad Parts 1 + 2 written by Nigel O'Hearn (for Frontera Fest) and Out There written by Jacob himself (with a staged reading as part of Transit Theatre's New Works Festival, which featured Collective member Michelle Brandt).

Jacob has also found the time to co-write and direct Blood Oil, a short horror film about a car that runs on blood, and which went on to become a finalist in the Alamo Drafthouse's Bloodshots 48-hour filmmaking challenge, which you can locate on YouTube! When not on stage or behind a camera, he now spends most of his time with "Work Force Jude" at the Townlake YMCA! Everything about his job is a pure blessing and a gift which has made him grow and mature in ways he never imagined-- so Jacob wants to send a big personal thank you to Jude, the staff, and all the members of the Y!