Chautauqua Festival 2023 – Secrets Revealed – Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs (1955-2011) performed by Jeremy Meier.  “Think Different” was no grammatical error.  The slogan was intended to inspire a mindset in the same way one might say “think big” or “eat smart.” Steve Jobs sought equal parts beauty, function, and simplicity of design.  A zealous perfectionist, Jobs tested the boundaries of creative possibility and often the patience of his collaborators.  But consider the impact Steve’s ambitious explorations have had in our lives – how we function, communicate, and are entertained.  In the world of Steve Jobs, stasis would be challenged and excelsior a road map.  Home computing, communications, music listening, and movie magic were all revolutionized along the way.  Steve Jobs wanted to know what was next.  He sought this answer professionally for 35 years and fervently investigated possibilities.

Jeremy Meier serves as the Chair of Fine and Performing Arts at Owens Community College in Northwestern Ohio.  He has directed nineteen student productions at the school, including Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Romeo and Juliet.  Audiences last saw Jeremy in his portrayal of Robert F. Kennedy as part of Chautauqua’s Challenge Accepted in 2022.  In 2017, Meier was awarded a grant by Ohio Humanities to pilot the state’s first Chautauqua Training Program for new scholars learning to develop original performances based on historical figures.