Adam LeKang

ALeKang2

Adam is currently studying for his Masters degree in Dramatic Writing at Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Savannah, GA. He is a 2021 Musical Theater graduate from Christopher Newport University, where he minored in Writing and Film Studies. He began his acting career at the age of 6 and has appeared in over 28 local performances. He received Cappie Nominations 2016 and 2017 for Lead Actor in a Play and Suporting Actor in a Play, respectively. Adam appeared in Ford’s Theatre’s Production of A Christmas Carol back in 2009. He was a finalist for SPARC’s New Voices of Theater in 2015 and 2017 for his scripts, “A Teen’s Life” and “Playception: By Evan Packer” respectively. He has appeared on radio, on TV (America’s Most Wanted and Fatal Attractions), in commercials and even as an extra in a couple featured films. Some favorite theatre roles include Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (CNU), Robert in The Drowsey Chaperone (CNU), Curly in Oklahoma! (CNU), Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (Westfield Summer Stage), Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatchers (Chantilly High School), Sheridan Whiteside in The Man Who Came to Dinner (Chantilly High School), Eddie in Lost in Yonkers (Chantilly High School), and as Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Chantilly High School). In addition, Adam has directed the Not Just Dance productions – Singin’ in the Rain, Screen to Stage and Bugsy Malone JR. He also directed numerous Not Just Dance “Aliens in the Castle” productions. He has also appeared in various Not Just Dance shows over the years, recently appearing as Santa Claus in ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Adam is also the author of all of the Not Just Dance Twisted Tales and Aliens in the Castle productions.

Amanda Mason

Amanda_Mason (2)

Amanda Mason is a 2018 magna cum laude graduate of James Madison University. She received her Bachelors of Music in Music Theatre Performance. While at JMU, she performed in many stage productions including Guys and Dolls, Candide, The Merry Widow, The Barber of Seville, and Cosi fan Tutti. She was a member of the Madison Singers, JMU’s advanced choral chamber ensemble, for 2 years. She also was a member of the award-winning all-female acapella group Note-oriety for all 4 years of her college career. Prior to attending JMU, Amanda performed in community theatre at a very young age and continued throughout her high school years in productions with Chantilly Drama. Some of her favorite roles include Penny Lou Pingleton in Hairspray, Baker’s Wife in Into the Woods, and Eva Peron in Evita. Although she is currently developing her professional performance career, Amanda also has a passion for teaching and supporting young actors in hopes of inspiring a new generation of performers. Ms. Amanda recently was the Music Director for Screen to Stage and Magic Treehouse Dinosaurs Before Dark.

Amanda is currently the music director for 101 Dalmatians Kids.

Kanysha Williams

2019Headshot

Kanysha Williams is a Washington Metropolitan Area native and a dynamic actress and singer. Kanysha began her formal voice training when she was 14 years old; a vocal performance major at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC. Upon graduation from Ellington, Kanysha studied voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and at George Mason University. Kanysha has had the honor of performing in some of the country’s most famous venues such as New York City’s Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Recently, Kanysha has been seen in theatre performances in the Washington Metropolitan Area and beyond. Off stage, Kanysha works as a performer and museum educator for the Smithsonian Institute, as well as a private music instructor specializing in vocal and piano training. Ms. Kanysha recently was the music director for Broadway Now and Then, Shrek Jr, Aladdin Jr, Fiddler on the Roof Jr, Screen to Stage, Guys and Dolls and Oliver.

Ms. Kanysha is currently the Music Director for Newsies JR and West Side Story.

Rachel Hutzenbiler

Screen Shot 2021-12-31 at 11.00.31 AM

Rachel Hutzenbiler is so excited to be back at NJD for The Best Weeks of Summer, and away from the heat of the desert!  They are a current graduate student at Arizona State University studying Theatre for Youth and Communities and spent the last year becoming deeply involved in the theatre scene in Tempe.  They were the assistant director for ASU’s production of The Wolves and has been directing and performing new work including chew the fat, Esperanza for the Bats, Baby Shower, and The Neverland, a retelling of Peter Pan by Madeline Sayet.  Rachel has continued working as a teaching artist with Childsplay, a children’s theatre in the heart of Tempe.  Other projects include an immersive installation requiring thousands of stickers called “Sticker Graffiti,” which has received stickers from all over the country and a grant by ASU’s Theatre for Youth programming.  They will be an apprentice for the Theatre for Youth/ USA conference in May.

Before moving to Arizona, Rachel worked with NJD to direct shows such as The Hobbit, Fiddler on the Roof, Jr., and Alice in Wonderland, and was involved with every show from 2018-summer 2022 and worked with area elementary schools as the primary after school theatre program teacher.  It is so nice to be back home!

Jennifer Farmer; Artistic Director

JFarmer

Jen began theatre as a Chantilly High School student studying under Elaine Wilson and Ed Monk. She remembers getting the theatre bug after seeing a production in elementary school written by Elaine Wilson for the Just Say No Campaign. Jen has directed over 20+ Not Just Dance shows. She recently directed the productions of Aladdin Jr, Willy Wonka Jr, Seussical Jr., A Chorus Line, Newsies, & A Charlie Brown Christmas. She has served as Stage Manager for several of The Alliance Theatre’s productions including: A Christmas Carol , Willy Wonka, Art of Murder, Aladdin Jr, Mulan Jr, Camelot, Annie Jr. and Hairspray. Her directorial debut was Little Shop of Horrors (The Alliance Theatre) which received 5 WATCH nominations.

She has also been the Stage Manager for Contemporary Music Center’s Rock Camp and City of Fairfax Theatre Company’s production of Pippi Longstocking. Jen is on staff for Not Just Dance and serves as the main Registrar, Head of the Musical Theatre Classes and provides private coaching. She also heads up the After School Theatre programs at several area schools in Chantilly and Centreville.