Kathy became fascinated with the theater at an early age when, at age 11, she jumped in with both feet —creating a stage script for, directing and starring in a 6th grade production of Mary Poppins. During her high school and college years, she performed regularly for Children’s Theatre and the Festival of Arts at Dogwood Dell, and played lead roles in a variety of musicals and dramatic productions. She studied dramatic arts and speech at the University of Richmond — where she played the role of Dorothy in Wizard of Oz. During and after college — Kathy performed in numerous community theatre productions, including Swift Creek Mill Playhouse productions of Carnival, Mame (Mother Burnside) and Stephen Sondheim’s Company (Susan). She was greatly influenced by her mentor, the late Marion Waymack, whose infectious enthusiasm for the stage and dedication to the pursuit of excellence set a standard Kathy strives to emulate.
In 1992, Kathy joined the WEAG Choir and, until 1997, appeared regularly in WEAG’s MFA productions, including Glorious Christmas Nights and Master’s Plan. In 1998, she transitioned from the stage into the director’s chair ─ also joining GCN’s Creative Concept Team as a primary script writer. Kathy directed GCNs 1998 through 2019, and was director for Master’s Plan 2012. She also wrote and directed WEAG’s 1999 Easter production, “The Deliverer.” In GCNs 2003 and 2008, she briefly returned to the stage to portray King Herod’s sinister and manipulative sister, Salome. Kathy serves as Director for weACADEMIES of Art. -Back to Top-
Vanessa graduated with a double major in English and Communication Arts from Asbury College, where she studied acting, musical theatre, and play direction. While currently in education sales and training, Vanessa has a teaching background in English. She is a Glorious Christmas Nights veteran and has appeared in a variety of roles, including Mrs. Snooty in Miracle on Grace Street, Myrtle in GCN 2003, Hazel in GCN 2007, and Mistress Lewis in GCN 2008. For GCN 2008, she also served as Music Director for the GCN Children’s Chorus. Most recently, Vanessa delighted audiences with her portrayal of Phoenix Bird in “Under the Same Stars” (GCN 2014). She also sings in the WEAG Sanctuary Choir.
Vanessa is a gifted teacher and particularly enjoys working with children.
Whitney, born and raised in Richmond, took some of her first steps on the WEAG stage. Whitney attended James Madison University, where she continued to pursue the performing arts, training in Stanislavski and Meissner methods, clowning, heightened language, contemporary scene study, acting for film, movement for the actor, voice for the stage, publicity and management, costume design, stage direction, stage management and audition technique. During her college years, Whitney performed in variety of productions, including “Into the Woods,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Letters to Sala,” “Our Town,” “Grey Gardens,” “Reckless,” and “A Fear of Falling,” and directed “Peter Pan.” Her television credits include “Investigation Discovery: Nightmare Next Door,” “House of Horrors: Kidnapped,” and “Virginia Film Festival: Virginia RX.” She spent the summer of 2014 working as a character performer at Walt Disney World, which Whitney describes as “a very magical experience!”
From the age of seven, Whitney has been a part of the Glorious Christmas Nights family, and GCN was where she fell in love with performing! More seasoned GCN patrons will remember Whitney as the original Becka in “A Storybook Christmas.” Most-recently, she appeared as Breezy, the Seahorse, in GCN 2014: “Under the Same Stars.” She also shares her vocal talents as a member of WEAG Worship Teams.
Jerold Solomon graduated from VCU in 2001 with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree. He has performed in many local and national productions, including national tours (Ragtime, Big River and Annie), New York Music Festival performances (Cutman the Musical and Orphan Train); Regional productions (Ragtime, Gross Indecency, Smokey Joe’s Café, Sweet Charity, Olympus on My Mind, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The Lost Colony, King Island Christmas, Henry V, Merry Wives of Windsor and 7:11: Franchised). He also performed in South Pacific at the Lincoln Center Theatre.
In 2014, he was cast in Virginia Rep’s The Color Purple, but only accepted if he could bring his family and stay for summer. Five years later, they’re still in Richmond, where he teaches high school theatre and still performs.
Jerold has been performed lead roles in Glorious Christmas Nights productions for the past several years. He sings with the WEAG Praise Team and teaches weDRAMA classes to youth and adults.