Check Out James Castle Stevens’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to James Castle Stevens

Hi James Castle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My name is James Castle Stevens, and I’ve spent my life immersed in the creative arts: acting, directing, designing, and marketing. I was born in 1964, in Brooklyn, New York, where my passion for storytelling first took root. I pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Brooklyn College, studying under F. Murray Abraham, which gave me a strong foundation in performance. In 1991, I moved to Los Angeles to further my acting career and had the opportunity to train with fine instructors, including John de Lancie.

Acting in Los Angeles led me to television, where I appeared in various sitcoms and dramas. One of my most pleasing roles was in Star Trek: The Next Generation, where I played a small role in the episode “Attached.” As a self-professed nerd, this was a true highlight in my career. I also made recurring and guest appearances in The King of Queens, The Drew Carey Show, Working, The Army Show, Malibu CA, and Rules of Engagement, among others.

As my career evolved, I expanded into directing theatre, where I’ve helmed over 25 productions in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Directing has allowed me to bring stories to life in new ways, and it remains one of my greatest passions.

Beyond the stage and screen, I have also built a career in creative design and direction. My journey into graphic design began as a Senior Graphic Designer and later as an Art Director at Weiser Creative Group. During my time there, the agency won 15 Addy Awards in 2009, a testament to the team’s hard work and innovation.

I later transitioned into marketing leadership, and as one example, served as Director of Marketing and Creative at Casting Networks, a SaaS company in the entertainment industry. Another role at A3 Visual (formerly AAA Flag & Banner) focused on rebranding efforts and expanding the creative department into a full-service division, where I oversaw a talented team of designers.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working across multiple disciplines, blending creativity with strategy. Whether I’m directing a play, designing a brand, or crafting a marketing campaign, my goal is always to tell compelling stories and create meaningful experiences.

My latest venture has been Theatricus, a nonprofit performing arts collective dedicated to promoting and producing new and provocative works in theatre. Founded on the principles of volunteerism and guided by seasoned theatre professionals, Theatricus has quickly become a beacon for artistic collaboration and community engagement.

The first major program for Theatricus is the VOX NOVA Playwright Festival. VOX NOVA is poised to become a significant event in the Southern California theatre calendar. The festival will feature a competition for playwrights in 2025, with the winning submission receiving the distinguished honor of having their play produced in 2026 by Theatricus.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No road in life is ever truly smooth, but through personal perseverance and the kindness of others I have made a successful creative career. My struggles have included personal challenges like a divorce and taking care of a mother with dementia, and professional challenges have largely been related to the nature of our industry. As an actor, it was the sheer effort of simply getting the gig. As a creative director, it has been difficult clients or projects, but the end results are usually most rewarding. Directing theatre has challenges too, such as tight budgets and small attendance, but it is always a joy and lifts my spirits as few things can.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Having spent the past 20 years directing theatre as a labor of love, I have seen how different theatres manage their seasons, their resources, their talent, and their own staff. I have often thought: “How would I do that? How would I improve upon their efforts? What programs would I create to bring an arts community together?”

Starting Theatricus as a way to answer those questions has been exciting, tense, and rewarding. And though many theatre companies have created fine playwright festivals and programs, I truly believe that VOX NOVA will be unique in its own right and of great benefit to the Southern California arts community, and some day, the national arts community at large.

I will rely on my existing relationships with actors, directors, writers, and designers to build something new and exciting. I also hope my reputation as a competent theatre director and creative director will aid me in open doors and creating relationships with like-minded talents and technicians to grow VOX NOVA into a preeminent playwright festival.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Submissions for the VOX NOVA Playwright Festival will open on May 1, 2025 and close on June 1, 2025. Playwrights from across the country are encouraged to submit their original full-length plays for consideration. A panel of esteemed theatre professionals will review the entries and select the finalists, culminating in the announcement of the top 3 winners in August of 2025.​ You can find more information on our website at https://thearticus.org.

You can also consider volunteering your time with Theatricus and VOX NOVA! Simply fill out a short form at https://www.theatricus.org/volunteer.html and we’ll get back to you in short order.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theatricus.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theatricuscollective