Meet Our Team

FOUNDER, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Heather Grayberg is a producer, director, choreographer, performer, and consultant serving the Greater Philadelphia area. With a career spanning over twenty-five years, she has performed professionally across the country and has been seen on creative teams throughout the region as a Director/Choreographer of over 75 productions. Heather holds a B.M. in Musical Theatre from Westminster College of the Arts and a Master’s in Arts Management and Executive Leadership from Rider University, where she graduated with distinction. From educational to professional venues, some of her favorite directorial and choreography credits include Ruth: An Original Sight and Sound Production, The Spongebob Musical, Godspell, Bye Bye Birdie, The Wedding Singer, Mary Poppins, and many more! Heather is the owner of Rise Up Theatrics LLC, an arts consulting company specializing in strategic planning, producing, casting, and bringing organizational health solutions to arts and culture-based institutions, including prestigious organizations like the Levoy Theatre (Millville, NJ) and The Brandywine Ballet Company (West Chester, PA). She is a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographer’s Society, a theatrical union. Heather is the founding director of Revival Productions and Chester County School of the Arts and while there has brought over $60,000 in subsidized tuition and tickets to area youth. Prior to Revival Productions, Heather served as a professor of Musical Theatre and Dance and as the Dance Coordinator for Lancaster Bible College in Lancaster, PA. In addition to creating inspiring artistic experiences in both arts education and performance, Heather is passionate about arts advocacy, organizational leadership, and accessibility.

MANAGER

TAP DANCE, THEATER, MUSIC, AND ART INSTRUCTOR

Emily began dancing at the age of 12. During her years as a dancer, Emily trained in many styles including: Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre, Acrobatics, Lyrical and Hip Hop. During these years, Emily studied under the CDTA and RAD syllabi and completed several examinations, up to RAD Intermediate Foundations. 

As a dancer, Emily achieved many awards at regional events, and went on to train professionally with Ballet Kelowna. She is a graduate of the Canadian College of Performing Arts with a major in Musical Theatre and minor in Playwriting. Emily went on to have a successful career working as a cancan dancer and choreographer, has worked on many film and television sets as a background performer, and lead several dance workshops to children in the communities she's performed in.

Emily teaches tap, musical theater, art, music, and acting at Chester County School of the Arts and is excited to spread the love of art far and wide.

DIRECTOR OF DANCE

JAZZ, CONTEMPORARY, BALLET, SUMMER CAMP INSTRUCTOR, AND ELEVATE DANCE COMPANY INSTRUCTOR

Jessica Newsome, affectionately referred to as Miss Jess, has always had a love for dance. Originally from South Jersey (OCNJ area), Miss Jess grew up taking dance, acro and contortion classes. Throughout her childhood, she had the opportunity to compete on two National award-winning competition teams, she competed in multiple pageants and talent shows (crowned “Future Miss Cape May County") and had the opportunity to perform in many community events, including a half time show for the Harlem Globetrotters.

In her adult career, Miss Jess was offered an opportunity to train and teach at Dance Dynamics, under the direction of MaryBeth Clark, where she fell in love with creating choreography. In 2010, she moved to New York City where she was enrolled in the Ballet/Contemporary Certificate Program, through the Peridance Center, under the direction of Igal Perry. After completing the program, she moved back home and finished out the rest of her associate degree in human development and family studies through Penn State. Miss Jess currently resides in Honey Brook, PA with her husband and their three children.

Miss Jess is new to Chester County School of the Arts, but not new to dance. She is big on technique and discipline in the classroom, but also believes that dance should be FUN and a safe outlet for kids and adults of all ages to express themselves through movement. Her favorite styles of dance are Jazz and Contemporary, and she has won many awards for her stunning choreography over the years, to include Choreographer of the Year 2023. She is excited to grow the NEW Dance Company at CCSA and help to mold such talented young people.

SUMMER CAMP INSTRUCTOR

Michael Covel is an actor, musician, and teaching artist from Montgomery County, PA. A theatre graduate of DeSales University, he has performed professionally for the last 7 years and is excited to be sharing his knowledge and experience with the campers here at CCSA . Regional theatre credits include: People's Light Theatre, The Walnut Street Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, Act II Playhouse, Montgomery Theater, Heartwood Regional Theatre, and Revival Productions. Michael is looking forward to a fun productive two weeks!

DRUMS AND GUITAR INSTRUCTOR

Sara Herman received her Masters of Education degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Eastern University.  For the past three years, she has been seen as a substitute teacher for the Downingtown and Octorara school districts.  She is currently the Middle School Science teacher at West Fallowfield Christian School in Atglen, PA, where she also teaches percussion and guitar.  Ms. Herman has played in the pit for many productions, including Godspell, Working, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, and Songs for a New World.  She has also had the privilege of playing in the pit for two original musicals: Broken by Kevin Monaghan (2016) at Eastern University, and The Word by Bill Monaghan (2000-2001 Tri-State Tour).  She was last seen playing drum set for Revival Production’s 2021 of Godspell.  Ms. Herman also has Stage Combat experience (hand to hand, swords), and has worked choreographing Stage Combat for productions including Newsies, Peter Pan, Danny in the Deep Blue Sea, Twelfth Night, and Carousel.  Ms. Herman currently resides in Christiana with her husband and three children.

VOICE, PIANO, AND SAXOPHONE INSTRUCTOR

Matthew is a graduate of West Chester University with a Master of Music in Music Education-Performance. Outside of his cognate studies in voice, he has a passion for and research focus on classroom pedagogy for LGBTQIA+ students and vocal pedagogy for Trans, Gender Nonconforming, and nonbinary singers. Before his studies at West Chester University, Matthew graduated from Seton Hill University, earning a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education, with secondary studies in music composition, piano, and saxophone. He was the sole recipient of the Sister Clementine Oler Memorial Award for Excellence in K-12 Certification, having been selected from a pool of all art, music, language, and physical education students in his graduating class. Matthew holds additional vocal pedagogy certifications from the Chicago Voice Lab in Gender Affirming Voice and Speech and the Estill Voice Method from Estill International. He has taught all vocal, instrumental, and general music levels in private, public, and specialized psychiatric settings throughout his seven-year career in Pk-12 music education. Currently, he is the Performing Arts Coordinator at Mercer County Community College in West Windsor, NJ, overseeing music, theater, dance, and entertainment technology.

Matthew's experience as a performer and conductor includes opera, musical theater, solo recitals, liturgical music, and choral performances. As a conductor, Matthew was the assistant conductor of the Seton Hill University's Chamber Choir, Una Voce, served as the Director of Music for Scottdale United Methodist Church, and was the conductor of Revival Productions 2022 Readings and Carols concert. He has also conducted musicals and opera chorus, serving as the Choir Master for WCU Opera's production of L'elisir d'amore. An avid lover of choral music, Matthew has worked as a professional chorister soloist since 2014, having worked for several churches in Greensburg, performing with the Westmoreland Symphony Chamber Singers and taking part in the Voces Solis Summer Singers Chamber Choir in Pittsburgh. His most memorable performances are L'Enfant et le Sortilèges ( La Libellule/Le Petite Vieillard/And La Rainette), Messa di Gloria, and performing Carmina Burana with the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra. Matthew will perform with the New Jersey Lyric Opera and Boheme Opera NJ in their upcoming seasons.

SUMMER CAMP INSTRUCTOR

Emmilee Jordan first moved to Lancaster in 2022 for Sight and Sound Conservatory and has decided to stay! Emmilee has been performing since she was seven years old. Some of her favorite productions she has been in include  Elsa in Frozen (2019), Beth in Little Women the Musical (2022), and the Witch in Into The Woods (2021). Emmilee is super excited to be working with Revival and cannot wait for camps!

SUMMER CAMP INSTRUCTOR

Ellie is elated to be joining CCSA for the summer as a camp counselor! Lately, Ellie has been working with Revival, Chester County School of the Arts, and Rise Up Theatrics the past year on several projects including acting as ASM for Oklahoma! last summer. Ellie’s recent onstage credits include Revival’s production of Footloose (Wendy Jo) and Immaculata University’s Newsies (Katherine)

SUMMER CAMP INSTRUCTOR

Melanie Mendel is a musician, teacher, and performer based in Cherry Hill, NJ. She is a classically trained Soprano that has performed on stages all over the world. Melanie enjoys singing both musical theater and operatic repertoire. She recently vocal directed Cinderella: Youth Edition, and has previously vocal directed A Year With Frog And Toad Kids, Broadway Kids, and was the assistant vocal director for My Son Pinocchio JR. Past credits include: Fiddler On The Roof (Hodel), The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel), The Magic Flute (Pamina), and Alcina (Morgana). Melanie has a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University, and a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Mannes School of Music of The New School. Whether she is teaching music or performing on stage, she finds joy in sharing music with her students and audiences. Melanie is very excited to be on the faculty this summer for the Broadway Bound and Teen Intensive Summer Camps at Revival Productions/ Chester County School of the Arts!

PIANO INSTRUCTOR

Renee Mendenhall received her B.S. in Music Education from The Pennsylvania State University and obtained her M.M. in Music Education from Northwestern University. She taught public school instrumental and general music for ten years. She serves as piano accompanist and pit orchestra musician (performing on clarinet, saxophone, keyboard) for a local high school and enjoys performing in retirement homes and churches as well as busking on the streets with her accordion and ukulele.

SUMMER CAMP INSTRUCTOR

Anna Potson is so excited to be working on The Lion King Kids! Anna is a Philadelphia/NY based actor who recently just graduated from DeSales University with a BA in Theatre, as well as a concentration in Musical Theatre. Currently Anna is stage managing Spongebob: The Musical Jr on Montgomery Theater’s project stage, and couldn’t be more thrilled to be helping students navigate through a professional theatre process. Some of her recent credits include: Heather Duke in Heathers, Lady Catherine in Pride and Prejudice, Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music, etc. A huge thank you goes to family and friends for their support and love. Another thank you to the wonderful cast/crew on this show and the beauty of what we created.

PIANO INSTRUCTOR

A natural musician from a young age. Sam graduated with honors from Kean University as a piano and voice major. He has a deep background in classical piano and voice. Sam is an award-winning playwright and composer doing work on several plays and musicals of his own. This is his fifth year as a music teacher and he has found a deep love for teaching kids. Wherever the Lord takes him, he hopes to spread the joy and wonder of music.

VOICE INSTRUCTOR

Michael Welch has previously served as the Founder and Artistic Director of Voices of Light, a semi-professional chamber choir based in Richmond, KY. Welch also served as an adjunct instructor of music at Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, Kentucky, where he directed the Concert Choir and taught choral conducting.

Welch holds degrees in choral conducting (MM) and voice performance & theory/composition (BM) from Eastern Kentucky University. Learn more about Michael as a singer, composer & conductor at his music production website: www.ridgeviewproductions.com 

HIP-HOP, JAZZ, AND CONTEMPORARY DANCE INSTRUCTOR

Christy Wesolowski is a highly motivated and performance driven dancer with 16 years of experience in delivering exceptional stage performances, with 6 of those years dedicated to competing at dance competitions all over the east coast. She’s experienced in most styles of dance including tap, modern, musical theatre, pointe, and ballet with special focus in contemporary, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. Throughout those 16 years she received many accomplishments and opportunties such as Two-time 1st Place Regional Champion at KAR Dance Competition, Received Hollywood Dance Invitational (2016) and Australia Dance Invitational (2017 & 2018), Participated in a master class in Philadelphia under the instruction of Tyce Diorio from “So You Think You Can Dance”, took class with the Rockettes in NYC and master classes at the Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles, Participated in a Disney Audition Workshop in LA under the direction of one of Disney’s top choreographers, Modeled for KAR’s (Kids Artistic Revue) 2017 Dance Competition Campaign and many more. After graduating high school in 2019 she decided to take the next year off from dancing to focus on school but soon realized that she wanted nothing more than to get back into the studio, so she did. In 2021 Christy started her first official teaching job and found a new passion and love for dance she never knew she had. She has since choreographed and taught countless award-winning routines to students ranging from preschool to high school and continues to do so while also creating a fun, yet hardworking, environment.