Jason Vande Brake serves as assistant professor of theatre arts at Dordt University, teaching courses such as Writing for Performance and Intro to the Arts: Theatre. His research interests span topics such as musical theatre, devised theatre, voice acting, and contact improvisation.
“My deep love for God's wonderful gift of live performance and its power to celebrate, reveal, heal, provoke thought, and inspire change motivates my work in the arts,” adds Vande Brake.
With an extensive career as a stage actor, having performed under the direction of Tony Award-winning artists such as Mary Zimmerman and Bill Rauch, Vande Brake brings a wealth of real-world experience to Dordt’s Theatre Arts program. His theatrical journey includes appearances at prestigious venues and festivals such as Berkeley Repertory Theatre, the McCarter Theatre in Princeton, the Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C., Hollywood Fringe, San Francisco Fringe, and FringeNYC. He is also a co-founder of Fugitive Kind Theatre, a Los Angeles-based performance group recognized with an Ovation Award, where he contributed to the creation and performance of innovative theatrical works.
Before joining the faculty at Dordt University, Vande Brake served as co-owner and Creative Director of Kindred Group, a marketing and design agency specializing in shaping the identities of organizations focused on student development and learning. This dual expertise in performance and marketing equips Jason with a unique ability to bridge artistry and communication, crafting compelling experiences that deeply resonate with audiences—whether on stage or in digital spaces.
As a voice actor, Vande Brake has brought his talent to hundreds of projects, including TV and radio commercials, video games, live events, audiobooks, podcasts, and animated series. His clients include globally recognized brands and organizations such as Coca-Cola, Honda, Bayer, Procter & Gamble, Nestlé Purina, John Deere, GEICO, NewYork-Presbyterian, Nintendo, Valve, Capcom, Netflix, NBCUniversal, DIRECTV, and MLB Network.
Outside of teaching, Vande Brake enjoys film, music, singing with the Sioux County Oratorio Chorus, and traveling with his wife.
Education:
- B.A. in Theatre Arts, Dordt University, 2000
- MFA in Drama, University of California, Irvine, 2007