This year, Mr. Lynch received the Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award for Outstanding Educator, the Montclair Theatre Night Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), and his production of Newsies received Outstanding Overall Production of a Musical from the Rising Star Awards. Prior to Ridge, Mr. Lynch was the Theatre Arts Director at Watchung Hills Regional, where he was awarded Best New Theatre Educator from the Montclair Theatre Nights Awards in 2022. Prior to that, Mr. Lynch worked in the Summit High School Theatre Department and Forensics Team, coaching students to the final rounds at national speech tournaments across the country. He believes the vital life skills and unforgettable experiences gained in the performing arts make being a theatre teacher the greatest job in the world!

Jason M. Stewart is an artist and art educator at Ridge High School where this is his 11th year leading the scenic design and stage crew. Stewart received his MFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art and has exhibited his artwork throughout the east coast, including the Newark Museum and the Monmouth Museum. Stewart and his crew have received many awards and nominations for their outstanding work with scenic design, including the 2017 Paper Mill Playhouse Rising Star Award. Stewart has worked with local and touring theatre companies in the roles of director, actor, designer, stage manager, painter, and builder. Stewart is extremely proud of the hard work the cast and crew have put into each production of their productions. He looks forward to working with this year's incoming members of Stage Crew!

Colin Berry has worked at the Performing Arts Center at Watchung Hills Regional High School for the past four years.  He is a 2018 graduate of Rowan University where he served as Director of Technical Services putting on weekly events and shows.  Mr. Berry worked on sold-out comedy events for Marlon Wayans and SNL cast member Michael Che.  He is a lighting technician for the New Jersey Devils hockey and Seton Hall University men’s basketball games at the Prudential Center.  He has worked corporate, theatrical, and arena-size events for the past seven years as a freelance audio-visual engineer.  He is very excited to extend the joy of theatre to all students who want to learn!