School of Rock

In his 25th season as Artistic Director at CMT, Kevin has led the nation’s premier theater company for youth in taking on increasingly challenging and professional-quality productions. His innovative approach to productions includes incorporating modern techniques and technology, culminating in recognition of artistic excellence from the National Endowment for the Arts in the form of ten grants. Kevin was an Honorable Mention for the 2016 Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre Education, an honor given to only twenty educators throughout the entire nation. A recipient of the prestigious Lin Wright Special Recognition Award by the American Alliance for Theater and Education, he’s been the guest speaker at the International Association of Theater Educators Conference in Washington D.C., and the Education and Technology conference in New York City. Kevin has collaborated on productions in a variety of venues all over the world. He’s staged ice shows, magic shows, musical revues, industrial shows, corporate parties, television specials and book musicals for a variety of companies, including Tropworld (Atlantic City), Harrah’s (Reno), Six Flags Parks (nationwide), and Royal Viking Cruise Lines (worldwide). Some of the unique productions Kevin has worked on include You’re in the Movies (MGM Grand) in Las Vegas, World of Wonders (Everland) in Seoul, South Korea, and a special Easter Celebration (The White House) in Washington D.C. Kevin has appeared several times as a guest artist with the San Jose Symphony, and has served on the Exhibits Committee at the Tech Museum of Innovation.

Paula Mulcahy- Keane has over 35 years of experience as an accomplished vocalist and actress, performing all over the world.  A San Jose native and proud CMT Alum, Paula spent most of her youth on stage at the Montgomery Theater, as well as  performing at Marriott’s Great America.  After attending UCLA as a theater major, she quickly began her professional career on stage, cruise ships, tv and film.  In 1988, she signed her first European record deal with RCA, where she recorded 2 albums and had 2 top ten hits – including “I’ve Got This Feeling” from the movie Dance Academy, in which she also co-starred.  In 1990, she recorded another album for Virgin Records with producer Giorgio Moroder (Donna Summer, Flashdance), which included the 1990 World Cup theme song “To Be Number One” as well as a European Tour. In Los Angeles she continued to sing on many soundtracks, commercials, and in the studio, with artists such as Celine Dion.  On TV and Film she has worked with Tom Hanks in “That Thing You Do’, Bette Midler in “For The Boys” and Ray Romano in “Men Of A Certain Age”.  She was a featured vocalist for Disney special events for 5 years where she performed at The Hollywood Bowl, Disney Hall and Carneige Hall.   

While putting her career on hold to raise her 3 children, she co-created an award winning afterschool enrichment program (Picadilly), which provided public elementary school children the opportunity to explore their creativity through acting, singing and dancing. A vocal contractor for children’s choirs for studio recordings and concerts, Paula staged a show for rock legend band Cheap Trick at The Greek Theater in Hollywood. 

She is currently a coach for College To Career Acting with Casting Director and educator Wendy Kurtzman. Together they also teach a summer program at UCLA, and focuses in on “Acting the Song”. 

After many years, Paula returned to the CMT stage as Donna in Mamma 

Mia and later as Trish in Kinky Boots, where she also was Vocal Director. Last summer, she was Vocal Director for the Mainstage production of Spongebob the Musical, and most recently Mary Poppins and Something Rotten. She is thrilled to be at CMT where it all started and to give back to an organization that for 56 years has given this community so much! 

She continues private coaching in both acting and voice from her studio in Los Angeles, as well as songwriting and recording.  She just released a Children’s Album, The Sleepyland Band, and is developing a sing-a-long children’s book and TV series. 

Whitney Janssen is thrilled to be working with CMT. Whitney, most recently, choreographed Something Rotten with Marquee at Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose.  Whitney toured regionally in Aida with Theatreleague and Southern California in Beauty and the Beast, Footloose and A Chorus Line (Maggie) with Theatrical Arts International. Locally, Whitney has appeared in Peter Pan (Wendy), Music Man (Zaneeta) at Cabrillo Stage, Music Man at American Musical Theater of San Jose, Chicago (Hunyak), A Chorus Line at Children Musical Theater’s Marquee. She has also taught at American Musical Theater of San Jose’s Theater Arts Institute, Archbishop Mitty High School, Marie Stinnett Dance, San Jose State University and Campbell Community Center. She has choreographed numerous musicals for Archbishop Mitty High School and Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose including Beauty and the Beast, 42nd Street, Rock of Ages, Bright Star, Guys and Dolls, Descendants, Young Frankenstein and Spelling Bee. Whitney completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater from Millikin University and a certificate in Pilates at Core Pilates NYC.   

Amie Jan graduated from Rice University with a Computer Science degree, and briefly worked as a software programmer and IT consultant before she decided that she simply needed to have more music in her life! She moved to California, and began her second undergraduate degree at San Jose State University, double majoring in Violin Performance and Music Education, subsequently earning her teaching credential in Music. In her spare time, Amie performed as a freelance violinist/violist all over the Bay Area, which led her to discover another passion: musical theater. Since moving to California in 2003, she has played in over fifty pit orchestras all over the Bay Area, and has musical directed over fifty more – most of them here at CMTSJ. Amie is currently Orchestra Director at Lincoln HS, and is also a certified Suzuki violin instructor with a small private studio of young violinists and violists. Among her exciting gigs as a freelance musician, Amie has performed in concerts with Josh Groban, Kanye West, and Smokey Robinson.