Jay Briggs '06 and Jillian Hannah '16 have joined the growing education department at Mill Mountain Theatre.
Jay Briggs ’06 and Jillian Hannah ’16 are now part of the growing education team at Mill Mountain Theatre, a professional regional theater in Roanoke, Va.
Briggs, who joined the theater seven months ago as a resident teaching artist, has been named director of education and community engagement. Hannah joins Mill Mountain Theatre after her summer employment there as a member of the 2016 Summer Apprentice Company, an ensemble of young actors performing free shows throughout the Roanoke Valley, as a teaching artist for the theater’s conservatory programming.
“This is a dream team with an incredible skill set. This duo covers directing, choreography, music direction, and teaching multiple disciplines in the performing arts. They are also performers themselves with expansive credentials from across the country,” said Ginger Poole, producing artistic director at Mill Mountain Theatre. “We could not be more excited about Jay and Jillian joining us at MMT.”
Briggs has worked as an actor, director, producer and educator in various locations around the country including stints in New York, Louisville, Los Angeles and Seattle. Originally from Hendersonville, N.C., Briggs graduated from Elon with his bachelor’s in acting in 2006. Briggs lives with his wife, Amanda Sox ’07, and their daughter, Cordelia.
“It’s an exciting time for Mill Mountain Theatre Education,” Briggs said. “We are primed for growth, and now have the infrastructure to diversify our offerings within the Conservatory and expand our reach into new parts of the Roanoke Valley community. I’m thrilled to be guiding the department into this new season.”
Hannah graduated from Elon in the spring with her bachelor’s in musical theater, and as a member of Mill Mountain’s Summer Apprentice Company this past summer, she participated in two touring children’s productions.
“We could not be happier to have Jillian round out our team and bring her back as our new teaching artist with our conservatory programming,” said Poole.
The Education department at MMT serves over 470 students each year through in-house programs, and continues to expand community outreach programming outside of the theater’s walls. With roots in its community and excellence as its primary objective, MMT has served southwestern Virginia and the theater industry for more than 50 years.
Mill Mountain Theatre has a strong professional relationship with Elon University’s performing arts programs, and continues to hire exceptional student and alumni performers, designers and administrators.