Kyle R. Thomas is an award-winning playwright from Shelbyville, Tennessee. His passion for theatre began at a young age when he first discovered his father’s cast album of "The Phantom of the Opera." He fed that passion as a performer in high school and community theatre productions. His love of history inspired his first screenplay, "The First Debate," about the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. He wrote several more screenplays – being dubbed a “writer to watch” by The Black List – before returning his writing energy to his first love: the stage. He adapted his screenplay "Portrait of a Young Man" into a monologue, which was selected for the 2022 Rogue Theatre Festival in New York City. After performing the monologue himself at The Players Theatre, it was also produced at The Walnut House in Murfreesboro, TN. His play, "This House Is Not a Home," received its premiere by Murfreesboro Little Theatre in 2023, and was nominated for Best New Play by Broadway World Nashville. His next play, "Clocks Are Like Angels," was a featured finalist in the 2023 Appalachian Playwriting Festival, selected for the 2024 Rogue Theatre Festival in New York City, and won the 2024 "Best New Play" Award presented by Playwrights First in New York City.

Melanie has over 15 years experience in upper school theatre education here in Franklin, building a thriving Performing Arts department from the ground up. In her past, Melanie studied, performed, and assistant directed at the highly acclaimed Stratford Playhouse in Houston, TX, winning a regional "Best Actress" award for her role in The Diary of Anne Frank. She has directed over 25 plays and musicals in her career, including most recently a TPAC Spotlight-Award winning production of "Grease." Other favorites she has directed or starred in include: "West Side Story", "The Boys Next Door", "Steel Magnolias", Disney's "Newsies", "Tuck Everlasting", and many more. This marks her second time directing the incredible piece "Twelve Angry Jurors." Melanie's desire to love and serve her community, to raise up the next generation of great artists and citizens, and to produce excellent theatrical experiences, all came together in her unique vision for Franklin Theatre Fellowship. She can't wait to share beautifully-told stories that bring people together - starting with this one. Melanie and her husband Ryan (a record producer and mix engineer), have two amazing sons- Jackson & Matthew- and love living in Franklin, TN after first meeting here nearly 20 years ago! When she's not making theatre happen, you'll catch her seeing shows & concerts, trying new restaurants, or being at baseball and basketball games for her kids. Lots. And Lots. Of Games.