Who is Kiski Fall Play?
The Process and Our Team
Under the direction of Mrs. Kaylee Dixon, Kiski Area High School students (Grades 9-12) present a theatrical performance each Fall. Performances run for three evenings. We invite the entire community to come out and enjoy an evening of theater!
Auditions are held during the first two weeks of the school year. All students in grades 9-12 are invited to audition. No experience necessary!
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For auditions, students read "sides" from the show. A side is a short scene or pages directly from the show read with a scene partner.
Audition sides will be provided ahead of time. Students should come to auditions with knowledge of the show and characters.
Under the leadership of Mr. Ryan Felt and our student Crew Chiefs, our beautifully detailed theater sets are 100% created by our students! Many hours of hard work go into designing, building, and painting each set.
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Our students then go behind the scenes during the productions to bring the set and our productions to life.
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All students in grades 9-12 are invited to join our stage crew. No experience necessary!
Under the supervision of our talented Costumer, Mrs. Deanna Whaley and her team, our students study each play's setting in order to design costumes that are relevant and appropriate to make our cast look their best under the lights of the stage!
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Students sew, glue, organize, decorate, and press the costumes for our entire cast.
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All students in grades 9-12 are invited to join our Costume Crew. No experience necessary!
Mrs. Kaylee Dixon is a graduate of Seton Hill University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theater and a B.S. in Business Administration. She has received training in various acting styles, Classical and Musical Theatre vocal technique, and dance including Jazz, Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, and Musical Theatre. She has worked as a Teaching Artist for Seton Arts, as well as Seton Hill University Dance Academy, where she taught a wide range of vocal, acting, and dance techniques for Elementary to High School age students. While Kaylee works as an avid performer, she has an extensive background in choreography, professional production work, and can also be seen choregraphing Kiski Area's Spring Musicals. She has worked as a Production Assistant and as the Assistant Company Manager for the Civic Light Opera (CLO), and is currently the Costume Assistant and Shoe Manager at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.
Our Director,
Mrs. Kaylee Dixon
Our Scenic &
Technical Director,
Mr. Ryan Felt
Mr. Ryan Felt has been involved in the Kiski Area theater program for over 15 years! Ryan also serves as the Scenic Designer and Technical Director for Kiski’s Spring Musicals. When Ryan isn’t on campus or onstage, he is a Store Leader with Giant Eagle and also helps out part time at Allusion Brewing Company as an Assistant Brewer. He is always proud of his Stage Crew for their efforts and dedication to the process. Each set is the product of countless hours of work by these incredible students.
Mrs. Deanna Whaley has been involved with Kiski’s Fall Play and Spring Musical productions for over 20 years, having started as a volunteer for the 2004 performance of Hello, Dolly.
Deanna is a life-long resident of Vandergrift and is a graduate of Kiski, Class of 1973. She attributes her love of sewing to her Jr. High Home Economics teacher, Mrs. Byers. She is always excited to teach her crew new skills and encourage them to step back and see things with a creative eye.
Our Costumer,
Mrs. Deanna Whaley
Our Hair
& Makeup Designer,
Mrs. Sadie Schons
Mrs. Sadie Schons has been involved with Kiski's theater program since her sophomore year of high school. She has been doing hair and makeup for the plays and musicals for three years. She is currently a hairstylist at Sport Clips and has been in the hair industry for the past four years. She’s thankful for all of the support from her family and friends who help the show go on behind the scenes.
Mrs. Melissa Ray has been the Business & Publicity Manager for Kiski's Spring Musical program since 2018 and is pleased to now join the Fall Play team as well! During the school day, Melissa can be found in the Nurse's Office tending to the health care needs of Kiski's high school students.
When she isn't managing tickets or websites for the theater programs, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and attending her children's extracurricular activities. Additionally, she helps to oversee the summer camp health care needs at Camp Lutherlyn in Prospect, PA and is the Music Director at Boiling Springs Presbyterian Church in Spring Church.