Jackalope Theatre Company has produced dozens of original stageplays for over a decade. Since its beginnings on the West Side of Chicago in 2008, Jackalope’s mission has been to promote emerging artists that have a story to tell, regardless of their experience level. 

The company’s most recent production, “Neighborhood Watch,” places audiences in the aftermath of the 2024 presidential election. Paul, an over-protective widower, has his life turned upside down when Mo, a Muslim out of towner, starts having feelings for his liberal daughter, Becca. The relationship causes friction between the suburban man and his little girl and spirals him into facing his fears and “far left” ideologies. 

Written by Rehana Lew Mirza, “Neighborhood Watch” pulls no punches with raunchy dialogue and extreme opinions on current events relating to gun control, cyberterrorism, interracial relationships and Islamophobia. 

The director of “Neighborhood Watch,” Kaiser Ahmed, graduated from Columbia in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in theater directing. Since then, he has embarked on a journey from student to professional artist, which was paved by alumni interactions.

Jackalope Theatre was co-founded by Ahmed and fellow Columbia graduates AJ Ware, Gus Menary and Andrew Swanson. The artists formed the company with the goal of producing and directing their own work after graduating. 

“That was a real motivation to make Jackalope,” Ahmed said. “We wanted work that spoke to the current moment, and there was no better way for us to do that than to start making it ourselves.”  

Other plays the company has done include “The Lask Duck” in 2012, “The Killing of Michael X” in 2014, and “Life On Paper” in 2019.

Their latest, “Neighborhood Watch,” is performing at Broadway Armory Park in the Edgewater neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side, where Jackalope has been since 2014, and has multiple Columbia connections.

Victor Holstein, who graduated in 2004 with a bachelor’s in acting, is in the cast as Shawn Raymond. Tristin Hall, who graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s in musical theater, is on the crew as the fight and intimacy coordinator. 

“Even though I’ve never worked for Jackalope before, it immediately feels like home to me because I think of that connection,” Holstein said. “I love expanding this realm of Columbia alumni in my life, whether we went there at the same time or not.” 

Ahmed described having Holstein and Hall on “Neighborhood Watch” as a representation of the hard work that shaped them as students.

“There’s a specific style of theater maker that is a Columbia theater maker, and they work really well here at Jackalope because we’re all from the same ilk,” Ahmed said. “There’s a manner of kindness and work ethic that comes through, and they represent that really well.”

While the varying age gaps may have been daunting when Ahmed was a student, the feeling washed away as he started sharing the room with other former students in a professional setting. In fact, those differences came together to form a sense of range he would have never conceived. 

“It’s really beautiful because we bring alum together here at Jackalope, and they come from all kinds of graduating years; the stage becomes this great equalizer,” Ahmed said. “All the years that were between us go away, and the passion and artistry of Columbia artists is in the room at the same time.”

Hall said those in the company interacted with her based on shared passion, not graduation year. “They never made me feel younger or new to the team,” Hall said. “Everybody felt very welcoming, very respectful. I’ve been able to work with alumni who are younger than me, which has also been very cool. We’re all from the same place, we’re all going forward. All our dreams and goals are the same. Let’s keep making cool theater and let’s be a team together. Let’s collaborate.”

Jimmy Noriega, director of Columbia’s School of Theatre and Dance, reflected on their success. “We are extremely proud of the work of our theater alumni, especially when student connections lead to collaborations and impacts beyond our campus,” Noriega said.  

Ahmed and other alumni also use mentorship to ensure that similar safe spaces exist outside of the theater. Ahmed and Holstein are just a couple members that make up the college’s Theatre Advisory Board, which launched in 2024. This board serves as a bridge for students in the theater program to foster beneficial relationships with industry professionals actively working in the field. 

Both Holstein and Ahmed stressed how crucial of a role former students play. 

“The purpose of the board is to connect the students with the professional world and then specifically connect students with Chicago theater,” Holstein said. 

“The experience of going to Columbia is coupled with this experience of coming out of Columbia and being connected to a lot of folks who had come through the doors before,” Ahmed said. “I think it is crucial that they’re all working in their industries and looking for more connections with people in the industry, and not just the recent alums, but older alums too.” 

Hall had a tip for current students for maintaining connections with their peers after graduation. 

“Be kind and be open,” Hall said. “Not just because of what you think you might be able to gain from the other person, but because it’s a good idea to just be a good human, especially now. That does bleed into people wanting to work with you more and wanting to bring you on for projects.”

According to Ahmed and company, the teamwork surrounding “Neighborhood Watch” embodies Jackalope’s mission to foster a sense of community not just in stories, but for the storytellers as well.

Tickets for “Neighborhood Watch” and more info on Jackalope Theatre can be found at www.jackalopetheatre.org.

Copy edited by Kaitlyn Mahan