Jessica Peterson (English 2003), Founder of Yellow Tree Theater

Jessica Peterson studied what she wanted, something not heard of from the usual graduate.

“Don’t worry so much about it, get your degree, take classes that you’re passionate about, pursue what you want to pursue, do what you want to do and eventually those skills will be needed,” Jessica says.

Jessica graduated from UMD in 2003 with a major in English and a theater minor. “I loved literature, and that was enough in that time in my life,” Jessica says of her English major. She was encouraged in her studies by Dr. Krista Twu, the Director of Graduate Studies of the English MA Program. Into Jessica’s fifth year, she ran out of funding from a scholarship and was approached by Krista to apply for an English Department scholarship.

“She’s just one of those people who brought me in and says you belong here,” Jessica says. She really jumpstarted the whole writing part of it as well. I don’t know many teachers who did that.”

“Jessica’s experience definitely demonstrates that the English degree is flexible,” Krista says. “Going to college allows you to develop your interest and passions. A job will spring from your passions and your interests if you develop who you are.”

Jessica began her education at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus. After two years she transferred to UMD. There, she wrote her first production and was a part of Undergraduate Research Opportunity (UROP) led by Tom Isabel, a theatre professor in the School of Fine Arts.

“That experience jump started my interest in playwriting,” Jessica says.

Jessica and her husband Jason married in 2002, and then they both went to New York. Jessica pursued acting and playwriting, while her husband pursued play writing for three years.

“When I was in NY things would just happen there,” Jessica recalls.

While she was there, she published a play after meeting an editor for Smith & Kraus, a major publishing company. The play was called “What I Learned from Grizzly Bears.”

Jessica says that, “never would have happened if I hadn’t gone up to talk to him and didn’t have that passion.”

After a few years in New York and the birth of her first son, Westin Jessica and Jason decided to move to Champlin, Minnesota and open their own theatre, Yellow Tree. That was three years ago. Now the playhouse, located in Osseo, Minnesota, is a “self-sustaining effort” Jessica says proudly. Their goal “is to bring new and unheard of works to our community. We’re really just after telling good story.” Jessica and Jason write and act for the theatre.

 "We wanted to do something different with Yellow Tree, which is why we chose a small town outside the Twin Cities." Jessica says. “It’s busy but it’s fun, we’re doing what we love to do and I think every artist dreams of having their own venue to produce their own work.”

Visit Jessica's site HERE