Jacob Keith Watson

Jacob Keith Watson is an actor, singer, teacher, Arkansas native, book reader, garden lover, and BBQ elitist. On the Broadway stage, Watson has performed in Tony-nominated/winning revivals of Merrily We Roll Along (Mr. Spencer/Joe u/s), Carousel (Enoch Snow), Hello Dolly!, and Violet as well as The Phantom of the Opera (Joseph Buquet) and Amelie (world premiere and original Broadway cast). In New York City, Watson was seen in the Encores! productions of Wonderful Town, 1776 (Robert Livingston), Mack and Mabel (Harry, etc) and Oliver. He is currently reprising his award-winning portrayal of Willie Conklin in the Broadway revival of Ragtime at the iconic Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center Theater.

On screen, Watson has been seen as Mr. Bundles in NBC’s live production of Annie, as John Dixon on HBO’s The Gilded Age, and as Tom Holder in Law & Order: SVU as well as the recently released film of Merrily We Roll Along currently streaming on Netflix. He also toured nationally and internationally as Mister Cellophane himself, Amos Hart in Chicago. Regionally, Watson has performed across many genres in Seussical (Horton), Into the Woods (The Baker), Shrek the musical (Shrek), Come from Away (Oz), The Music Man (Marcellus), the world premiere of the new musical by the Avett brothers Swept Away, Benny & Joon (Waldo), Chicago (Amos), As You Like It (Corin), Twelfth Night (Feste), The Doctor in Spite of Himself, La Boheme (Rodolfo), Rigoletto (Matteo Borsa), Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Count Almaviva cover), and Pagliacci (Beppe).

As a soloist, Watson has performed in numerous symphony concerts around the United States and the world. He is also a past winner of the prestigious Lotte Lenya Competition, the NATS National Music Theatre Competition, and a regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.