DISTILLEDTEAM
WESLEYNELSON
Founder/Executive Director
JESSICAGREENE
Associate Artistic Director
A graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Wesley holds a BFA in Performing Arts with an emphasis in Musical Theatre. Before moving back to Lexington thirteen years ago, he worked professionally across the country as an actor, vocal coach, and musical director. Through his work in theatre over the years Wesley has called several places home, such as Jenny Wiley Theatre (KY), Granbury Opera House (TX), Wohlfahrt Haus Theatre (VA), Crown Uptown Theatre (KS), and toured the country with Top Entertainment (GA), American Family Theatre (PA, west coast tour), and Prather Entertainment Group (PA, FL, AZ). His favorite roles have included the Baker in Into the Woods, Ugly in Honk!, Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys & Dolls, Scrooge in A Christmas Carol, Lt. Joe Cable in South Pacific, and Thomas Wiley in Legend.
Locally he has made his mark behind the scenes as the Founder and Executive Director of DISTILLED THEATRE COMPANY and previously as Executive Director of Distilled's predecessor Kentucky Conservatory Theatre. Throughout Central Kentucky he has helmed such shows as Into the Woods (director), Broadway Under the Stars (director), Mamma Mia! (director), Disney's Beauty and the Beast (director), Sweeney Todd (director), The Wiz (director),
Dreamgirls (director), Jesus Christ Superstar (director), My Fair Lady (director), Monty Python's Spamalot (director),
Cabaret (director), A Chorus Line (director), The Rocky Horror Show (director) and Spring Awakening (director) with Kentucky Conservatory Theatre, 9 to 5: The Musical (director), Scrooge: The Musical (director), Honky Tonk Angels Holiday Spectacular (director), How to Eat Like a Child (co-director),
Cinderella (co-choreographer), and Oliver!(choreographer) with Woodford Theatre, The Wizard of Oz (director), The Rocky Horror Show (director), Avenue Q (music director) with Eastern Kentucky University, and The Laramie Project (director/producer) and Dear Harvey (director/producer) with the Imperial Court of Kentucky.
Local audiences may remember Wesley as the Nurse in Romeo & Juliet (Blackbird Dance Theatre), Gary/Roger in Noises Off! (Woodford Theatre), Jamie in The Last Five Years (Paragon Music Theatre), Chip/Dad/Jesus in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Woodford Theatre), Ali Hakimin Oklahoma! (Woodford Theatre), and Bill Calhoun in Kiss Me Kate (Paragon Music Theatre).
Receiving her bachelor’s degree in Vocal Music Education from Berea College in 2007, and her Masters in Choral Conducting from Eastern Kentucky University in 2010, Jessica spent her first 10 years in public education as the director of choral activities at Frederick Douglass High School in Lexington, Kentucky and West Jessamine High School in Nicholasville, KY. Jessica also served as the District Arts Coordinator for Jessamine County Schools which allowed her passion for arts education and arts administration to lead her to the University of Kentucky where she completed her certification in Educational Leadership. Jessica is now the Administrative Dean at the new K-8 Girls STEM Academy opening in Lexington, KY.
As the Associate Artistic Director and current board president of Distilled Theatre Company, Jessica also serves as music director for the Essential Series and Concert Series productions. She also works to cultivate artists as part of the Distilled Artist Connect division.
Jessica also serves on the Studio Players board of directors as an advisory member and has served as musical director for their past 7 summer musicals and co-produces productions during the regular season. In addition to working with these two Lexington theatre companies, Jessica is a guest artist who has worked with community/professional theaters (AthensWest, The Rep, Woodford, etc.) and local high schools/colleges, such as SCAPA Bluegrass/Lafayette, Berea College and Eastern Kentucky University.
When not in the theater, Jessica can be found working as the artistic director of EKos, EKU's A Cappella pop ensemble and spending quality time with her husband Steve, who is her biggest supporter on and off stage.
BOARDOFDIRECTORS
Jessica Greene, President
Laura Farris, Treasurer
Sharon Murphy, Secretary
Shannon Yates, Board Member
Cole Campbell, Artist Representative
Navji Dixon, Artist Representative
Daniel Ellis, Board Member
Ron Wilbur, Board Member
Austin Vahl, Board Member
Samantha Johnson, Board Member
Keara Beck-Ortt, Board Member
Taylor Greatbatch, Board Member
Elizabeth Chesnut Barrera, Advisory Board
Bobby Nelson, Advisory Board
Steve Greene, Advisory Board
CONTACTDISTILLED
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contact
DISTILLED THEATRE COMPANY
PO Box 864
Lexington, KY 40588
Tel: 859.935.1564