Drama Club Staff
Tim Lynch
Director of Theatre Arts
Tim Lynch is the 2022 winner at the Montclair Theatre Night Awards for Excellence in Theatre Education. Mr. Lynch served as the Director of Theatre Arts and Theatre Teacher at Watchung Hills Regional High School, where his students won top acting awards at the Montclair Theatre Night Awards. Mr. Lynch worked in the theatre department at Summit High School Performing Arts Department for six years. A proud member of the National Speech and Debate Association, Mr. Lynch served as a forensics coach for the Summit High Speech Team for six years, coaching students to the final round stages at national tournaments around the country. As an actor, Mr. Lynch has performed in venues such as the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland, Carnegie Hall, Paper Mill Playhouse, NJPAC, and as a singer for Ben Vereen in Concert. Performance awards include a Paper Mill Rising Star Award, Montclair State Theatre Night Award, two-time, NJ District Forensics Champion, and the Award of Excellence in Drama.
Jason Stewart
Director of Stage Crew
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!
Dallas Harvey
Director of Tech Crew
Dallas Harvey is ecstatic to be welcoming a new wave of students to tech crew this year! He's been a part of eight production here at Ridge and looks forward to many more. He is always proud of all the work put into each production by cast and crew and is particularly grateful for the dedication and hard work of the Tech Crew, who bring light, sound, and theatrical magic to the PAC stage!
Seana Benz
Director of Costume Crew
Seana Benz is a 2014 graduate of Muhlenberg College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, in Theatre and Music. Regional performance credits with Pines Dinner Theatre and Muhlenberg SMT, and other credits with various Pennsylvania theatres. Ms. Benz is also employed by various theatres in the tri-state area as a Wardrobe Supervisor/Dresser and is a soon-to-be member of the IATSE Union for Theatre Technicians. Seana looks forward to a year full of creativity and fun with new and returning members of costume crew to help the stories Drama Club tells come to life through the art of hair, makeup, and costuming!
Drama Club Officers
Nathan Schwed
Drama Club President
Nathan is honored to be the Ridge Drama Club’s Co-President! Nathan is a senior, and has been a part of shows including High School Musical (Jack) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Snug) and was the Stage Manager for many shows including Showtime: Don’t Stop the Music, A Christmas Carol, It’s A Wonderful Life, and Cats. He is always available to any Drama Club members for questions or just to chat. He looks forward to working with everyone to make this an amazing and memorable year!
Max Rodriguez
Drama Club Co-President
Max is ecstatic to be serving the Drama Club in every way he can this year! He has been enamored with theatre ever since he saw his first Broadway Musical at three. Some favorite roles with RHSDC include Bottom in "Midsummer," Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol," and Nicely in "Guys & Dolls." He's also had the privilege of directing outside of RHS & hopes to pursue theatrical direction after high school. He can't wait to meet & chat with all of our incredible members (new & returning) & to tell beautiful stories with this community of special people!
Morgan Connell
Drama Club Vice President
Morgan is beyond thrilled to be the vice president of the Ridge Drama Club. She is a senior who has been a part of RDC since her freshman year including 12 Angry Jurors (costume crew), A Christmas Carol and It’s a Wonderful Life (Asst. Stage Manager), and CATS (Victoria & Dance Captain). Morgan plans to pursue a BFA in MT in college. She is looking forward to meeting all of the new members this year and continuing to tell meaningful stories. She’s always here to talk about anything you need!
Jamie Good
Drama Club Treasurer
Jamie cannot wait to work with the Drama Club in a whole new way this year as Treasurer. She is a senior and has played Moth in A Midsummer Night's Dream, mission band ensemble in Guys and Dolls, the Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol, and Alonzo/Munkustrap in Cats. She also stage managed Showtime 2021, a virtual showcase production. Jamie has fallen in love with the Ridge Drama Club and hopes to use this position to spread the joy of theater to returning and new members, as well as those in the Ridge community and beyond.
Gabby Hairston
Drama Club Secretary
Gabby is a senior who has been a part of the club since freshman year and is ecstatic to be the secretary of Ridge Drama Club! Some of her favorite roles include Rumpleteazer (Cats), Lana Sherwood (A Christmas Carol), Peasblossom (A Midsummer Nights Dream), & Cheerleader (High School Musical). Gabby can’t wait to welcome all the new & familiar faces in this incredible club where we all share the pure love for theater and each other. She loves Mean Girls the musical and is more than willing to talk all things Taylor Swift!
Morgan Beatty
ITS President
Morgan Beatty is thrilled to be your ITS President this year! She is so excited to continue to serve the community with Drama Club's Honors Society, Troupe 7742! Previously with Ridge Drama Club she has taken part in Cats, A Christmas Carol, Showtime, Guys and Dolls, High School Musical and more! Morgan is looking forward to studying theatre in college and one day she aspires to be an educator. She is thrilled to share her love of theatre and can't wait to make memories with Drama Club members this season!