Winter 2024 Intensive Faculty

Patrick Lynch

Choreographer and Director

An Alumni of KJPAS and Christopher Newport University, Patrick is incredibly excited to be back teaching with this amazing team again. After graduating with a degree in musical theater, he spent the next several years performing regionally, in theme parks, and on board several cruise ships. Currently, he is a performer at Walt Disney World, performing daily in the parks’ many shows and parades.

Mary Hannah Wheeler

Choreographer and Director

is currently the Theatre Arts and Choir teacher at Franklin County High School in Virginia. Mary Hannah is a native of Franklin County, VA, and an alumni of KJPAS (where she performed in the ORIGINAL Broadway Rocks at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke, Virginia, under the direction of Kevin Jones!), FCHS, and Virginia Intermont College with a BFA in Musical Theatre. After working in New York City for several years, Mary Hannah returned home to the Roanoke Valley in 2017. She has served as a choreographer for the Virginia Children’s Theater and as Assistant Director and Choreographer for Busch Gardens Williamsburg alongside Broadway Director/Choreographer, Lisa Shriver. Her performing credits Val in A Chorus Line, Dianne in 42nd Street (MMT), and Connie in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (RCT). Mary Hannah is always excited to share her passion for education, dance, and theatre with her students today, tomorrow and well into the future! 

 

Melia Jones

Director

Melia's many performing credits include Mamma Mia, A Chorus Line, Evita, Phantom, The King and I, State Fair, Mame, and My Fair Lady. Melia has filmed many commercials and training videos over the years. She is also a professional scenic artist and costumer. 

Kevin Jones

Artistic Director and Musical Director

2024 will mark Kevin's 25th year of offering professional level training opportunities to students around the country. Kevin's credits include the 1st and 4th national tours of Beauty and the Beast, the European tour of Annie Get Your Gun, the Asian tour of Annie, three productions of Evita and two of Phantom. In 2023 he served as the musical supervisor of the Oceania Marina cruise ship and sailed to both ends of the world (down to Antarctica and above the Arctic Circle).