ROCK STAR UNIVERSITY

Jennifer Kelly literally grew up in the back of theatre, directed her first full length musical at 14, and began working professionally as a director at 18. She went on to receive a BA in Theatre from Principia College under the tutelage of Richard Morse (brother of Tony Award winning actor Robert Morse) and her Masters from Colorado Christian University. She also spent an exciting year abroad training at the Royal Shakespeare Conservatory in Stratford, England, Lake District, and at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. The former director of the Lemon Bay High School Theatre Department and Thespian Troupe #257, she also serves on the Florida State Thespian Board and as Executive Director of Jennifer Kelly Productions and Rock Star University founded in 2001 (formerly Lemon Bay Performing Arts Academy). She spent 10 years at the helm of Lemon Bay High School Theatre's  internationally acclaimed and award winning program.Since 2005 she was selected four times (Seussical: The Musical, Swing!, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and The Wedding Singer) as one of eight productions to bring a Mainstage to the Florida State Thespian Festival. Her production of The Wedding Singer was recently selected in 2009 as the closing performance at the International Thespian Festival held at the Lied Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 

Current projects include producing BEAUTIFUL: An Original Flying Show under the Tony Award winning Broadway Executive Producer, Randall Wreghitt. 

www.beautifulflyingshow.com
www.jenniferkellyproductions.com

Jason Whicker is the Head Aerial Choreographer at ZFX Flying Effects and has worked on numerous Broadway and large scale productions such as American Idiot (currently on Broadway), Fame Becomes Me (Martin Short), Angels: The Musicals (Broadway Bound), and numerous professional, college, community theatre, and high school flying shows such as The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan, Curtains, 12th night, and Tempest.  

Jason has also created new works of flying art for Cisco Systems, Wrigley's 5 Gum, and many other large Corporations. He also heads up the workshops for ZFX where a recent "new works‟ were created for Denison High School (Dallas, Texas) for The International Thespian Festival. Most recently, Jason spent three weeks in Kuwait at the Bayan Palace where he rigged and choreographed aerial flight at the 50th Anniversary of Kuwait's Liberation. Also a highly talented performer, he is a graduate of Ball State University with degrees in Musical Theater and Acting and a minor in performance studies. His theatre career has included stints with national tours such as Grease and Clifford Live! Jason’s experience in choreography includes recognition from the Society of American Fight Directors as an Actor Combatant in unarmed, rapier, broadsword and bo-staff. Jason has choreographed for theme parks, colleges and many others.

Born in Harmony, New Jersey, soprano Deborah Berioli posseses a full, rich, velvety voice that soars in the upper registers.  Berioli’s performance of Amelia in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera was chosen as one of the years’ top ten best classical performances in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2005. 

 Most recently Berioli made her debut in the title role in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with Opera San José in San José, California.  Her performances were hailed by critics as a touching, dramatic success.  Berioli was a resident artist with Opera San José from 2004 to 2006 and performed eight leading roles, including The Countess in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, the title role in Puccini’s Tosca, Amelia in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, Mimi in Puccini’s  La Bohème and Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.  On the concert stage, Berioli has performed in Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall with the Minnesota Orchestra, with Symphony Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz Symphony, Redwood Symphony, Venice Symphony, Charlotte Symphony and the acclaimed Mid-Summer Mozart Festival. Berioli was the first place winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council competition in the Upper Midwest District and the second place winner of the Upper Midwest Region in 1999.  Other operatic credits include performances with Minnesota Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera and the Metropolitan Opera Guild.  She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of the Venice Performing Arts Series, located in Venice, Florida.

Patrick Ryan Bolger started his education at New World School of the Arts in Miami, Fl. He then transferred to University of South Florida and received his Bachelors degree in Theatre Performance. While at U.S.F. Patrick performed in countless productions including Animals and Plants, 100 Saints You Should Know, Inertia the Musical, and Hair. Patrick recieved an Irene Ryan Nomination for his performance as Claude Bukowski in Hair!. He toured the United States with Izumi Ashizawa Performance performing the Noh-Suzuki Epic of Gilgamesh. Along with performing, Patrick taught Suzuki workshops to high school and college students. He just recently got off of the road as he has been touring "I Never Saw Another Butterfly" with Eckerd Theatre Company. Patrick has worked in a lot of companies in the Tampa Bay Area including Jobsite Theatre, Stageworks Theatre, Gorilla Theatre and Masque Theatre. Patrick is thrilled to be singing and dancing again and is even more excited to get the kids in love with it as well!

A BFA graduate of USF, Patrick is a dynamic performer, actor, dancer, singer, and director. He brings great energy to the stage with his passion, professional, and love to perform!  He has worked as an instructor/counselor for over five years, and is favorite among the kids - inspiring them to commit themselves to every performance, train hard, and work together for the best possible product. Patrick is a great asset to the RSU Team!

A vocal instructor with Rock Star U (formerly LBPAA) since 2001, Beth has taught the vocals on numerous productions including High School Musical, Stuart Little, Aristocats, 101 Dalmatians, Annie, Nemo, Snow White, and Oliver just to name a few.

Beth is also the music teacher at Vineland Elementary and a master flute player playing with numerous symphonies in Southwest Florida. An accomplished music instructor, vocal coach, and teacher, Beth is a strong asset to our team.