meet our founder
JUSTIN COOK
Justin Cook is a dynamic Houston native whose life has been shaped by the power, pulse, and poetry of the stage. A proud graduate of the renowned Webster University Conservatory of the Arts in St. Louis, MO—where he earned his B.F.A. in Acting—Justin has spent his career igniting imaginations, elevating young voices, and championing the transformative force of theatre.
As a professional actor and electrifying teaching artist, Justin has left his creative fingerprints across the Houston arts community. He has brought his talents to The Ensemble Theatre, serving as a vibrant teaching artist in the Young Performers Program and in various after-school arts initiatives, including The Academy of Accelerated Learning. His artistry also graced The Ensemble’s mainstage in dazzling productions such as The Wiz and Cinderella.
Justin’s theatrical journey further expanded during his celebrated tenure as a professional company member with A.D. Players Theater Company (2009–2013). There, he lit up the Children’s Theater with memorable breakout roles and inspired countless emerging performers through his work with the Theater Arts Academy.
From 2013 to 2025, Justin devoted over a decade of heart, innovation, and artistry to Small Steps Nurturing Center, serving as the full-time Fine Arts Drama Teacher and Director of Arts in Early Childhood Education. It was here that he built a groundbreaking drama curriculum—crafted from whimsical themes, live action storytelling, and his signature theatrical spark. This body of work became the creative blueprint for his expanding arts and entertainment production company, Drama Live.
As the founder and fearless creator behind Drama Live, Justin has championed youth artistry since 2009, bringing adventures to numerous Houston-area schools including his longest running residency school The Academy of Accelerated Learning located in the heart of Houston’s inner city. His impact stretches beyond state lines to international stages, where he has taught and inspired young performers through global programs such as the “Yes I Can” Summer Camp in the Cayman Islands.
Today, Justin launches boldly into a new chapter—bringing his passion, vision, and theatrical brilliance to his own children’s and youth drama studio. With every class, production, and story brought to life, he continues his mission: to train, empower, and ignite the next generation of artists, dreamers, and world-changers.
