Leslie Jacobson

Leslie Bravman Jacobson is a George Washington University professor emeritus of theatre, playwright, director, and the founding artistic director of the longest-running women's theatre in the United States, Horizons: Theatre from a Woman's Perspective in Washington, D.C. She was also a founder and vice president of the 501(c)(3) not-for-profit Bokamoso Youth Foundation, president of the League of Washington Theatres, and recipient of a Fulbright Senior Research Fellowship.

Early life Jacobson's paternal great-grandfather was a rabbi. He raised his family in a small town in Lithuania. whose love of music was passed down to Jacobson and her brother; Jacobson sang in her high school choir and continued in choir when attending Northwestern University.

Education Jacobson graduated cum laude from Northwestern University with a degree in theatre. She earned her Master of Fine Art in Directing from Boston University’s School for the Arts. In 2001, Jacobson graduated from a program at Leadership America.

In 1977, Jacobson helped establish Pro Femina Theatre, later called Horizons: Theatre from a Woman's Perspective, in Washington, D.C. At various points, the theatre was the recipient of federal funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. Jacobson produced plays by and about women for 30 years. Throughout the three decades, Jacobson fully produced 60 new plays and playwrights and an additional 50 through staged readings. Mother, May I?; Nancy Drew, Girl Detective; Miss Lulu Bett; Top Girls; Lee Blessing's Eleemosynary; and My Name Is Alice. The theatre company occupied a variety of spaces throughout its tenure, including a historic parish hall space in Georgetown.

From 1985–1986, Jacobson served as the president of the League of Washington Theatres. In 1986, she was nominated for the Helen Hayes Award in the category of Outstanding Director. In 1988, she was the recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Resident Musical for A...My Name Is Alice. Around the same time, she was listed in Who's Who of American Theatre. and the Women's Leadership Program in International Arts and Culture.

In 2003, Jacobson began collaborating with Roy Barber to create eight music and theatre pieces with at-risk youth from the Bokamoso Youth Centre in the impoverished rural township of Winterveldt, South Africa. The works addressed issues the youth were facing, ranging from the HIV/AIDS crisis and family violence to teen pregnancy. Since 2003, 12 youth from Winterveldt have been selected to travel to Washington, D.C. perform. In the process, they have helped raise scholarship funds for themselves and their peers. Additionally, students from Jacobson's department at George Washington University have traveled to Winterveldt to work with the youth there.

Retirement Jacobson retired from George Washington University in 2019 after 42 years of service. Vanishing Point (2009) The Body Project (2005) Chosen by the Historian of the U.S. Senate to write, direct, and produce a play commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Senate. (1989)