Meet the Teaching Team

Taking the Stage Lead Teacher
Jane White
Jane is a graduate of Patrick Henry College and has been with JTC since its first production in 2019. She worked with PHC's Eden Troupe in A Man for All Seasons (Alice Moore), Macbeth (props master), Little Women (stage manger), The Winter's Tale (director), Anne of Green Gables (director), The Importance of Being Earnest (props master), and The Three Musketeers (Mme. Cocquenard). Her credits with JTC include As You Like It (Jacques), Love's Labor's Lost (Rosaline - twice!), Much Ado About Nothing (Balthazar, assistant director), The Importance of Being Earnest (Gwendolen), Hunchback (co-director), Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (Cornelia Skinner), and The Fezziwig Ball (Mrs. Fezziwig, costume manager). Currently, she is directing JTC's winter 2023 show, The Scarlet Pimpernel. Jane has served as an assistant teacher for JTC's teen classes since 2021.

Youth Acting: Intro to Theater Lead Teacher | Next Level Teacher
Genna Pratt
Genna started acting at a young age and began teaching as an assistant for classes with Lighthouse Drama in 2015. She continued working with them as a lead teacher and assistant director until their closure in 2020. Genna has been a part of Jupiter Theater Company as an actor since 2019, and as a teacher since 2021. She has always loved working with children — she spent her teenage years babysitting and teaching children’s ministry at her church. She is pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and has worked at Harrison Street Academy since 2018. She is excited to have her love of teaching and love of drama come together once again. She looks forward to meeting the students and watching them discover the world of theater which she herself has come to love.

Next Level Teacher
Heidi Koleszar
Heidi Koleszar started acting at the ripe old age of 12, and has since been in about 15 plays with Lighthouse Drama, Jupiter Theater Company, and The Potter's Players. Heidi assistant taught JTC's youth acting course in spring 2022 and co-taught JTC's intermediate course in fall 2022. She has loved every second of it. Her credits with JTC include Much Ado About Nothing (Ursula), The Importance of Being Earnest (Miss Prism), Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (Harriet, Therese) and The Fezziwig Ball (Mrs. Dilber). Heidi acts because she has a lot of stories to tell and because she loves to make people laugh. Heidi works as a special education teacher and loves to be active in her church. When she's not on stage, you can find her talking about Jesus, doing Brazilian jiu jitsu, hugging her golden retriever, singing along to the radio, and laughing with her siblings.

Taking the Stage Assistant Teacher
Elias Gannage
Elias Gannage holds a B.A. in History with a music minor from Patrick Henry College and has been acting with JTC since its founding in 2019. He has filled roles on and off stage in over twenty productions with various local theater troupes, including Love's Labor's Lost (Moth), Much Ado About Nothing (Antonio), The Importance of Being Earnest (John Worthing), Hunchback (Poussepain), Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (Leo McAvoy), The Fezziwig Ball (Bob Cratchit), and The Scarlet Pimpernel (Citizen Chauvelin). He has a personal love for Oscar Wilde’s comedies and has directed both The Importance of Being Earnest and An Ideal Husband. When he’s not doing theater, Elias enjoys playing board games, swing dancing, and practicing fiddle, ukulele, and jazz piano.

Youth Acting: Intro to Theater Assistant Teacher
Sydney Vaughn
Sydney began acting at a young age through theater classes with Lighthouse Drama and Jupiter Theater Company with a goal of becoming comfortable being in front of people. And it worked wonderfully. She has since developed a passion for performing through theater and music. Sydney was an assistant teacher with JTC this spring and can’t wait to do it again with Genna Pratt. Sydney's credits with JTC include: Hunchback (Fiddling Vagabond), Our Hearts Were Young and Gay (Stewardess and Musician), and The Scarlet Pimpernel (Various characters with and without various instruments). When Sydney is not on stage, or backstage, she is practicing swing dancing, running her music studio, picking up some new fiddle tunes and trying to keep her only plant alive.

Director of Education
Grace Richardson
Grace has been involved in children’s education for over a decade. She taught piano for ten years, helmed Lighthouse Drama’s classes and productions for the 2017-2018 season, and has assisted with several camps for children and teens. She served as a counselor and camp coordinator for Patrick Henry College’s Teen Leadership camps and actively participated in PHC’s Eden Troupe in various capacities before joining Jupiter Theater Company in 2019. Grace's credits with JTC include As You Like It (Rosalind), She Stoops to Conquer (Constance Neville), Much Ado About Nothing (Beatrice), An Inspector Calls (director), and The Fezziwig Ball (Charwoman). Grace loves sharing her passion for storytelling with thespians of all ages.
Interested in teaching with us?
Contact our Director of Education at education@jupitertheatercompany.com.