Meet Our Team
John Knaus
Vice President/ Founding Co-Director
John Knaus, hailing from the picturesque landscapes of upstate New York, has always been drawn to the enchanting world of theater. His journey into the spotlight began in his formative years, where he honed his acting skills on the stages of his local high school, passionately performing in beloved musicals such as "The Fantasticks" and "Brigadoon."
In 2011, amidst the joys and challenges of parenthood, John, along with his beloved wife Kristel together with long time home schooling friends Jim and Alyson Wagner, embarked on a remarkable journey. Fueled by their shared love for theater and a desire to provide a stage opportunity for homeschooled youth, they co-founded City on a Hill Youth Theatre, a beacon of inspiration and artistic expression in their community. Fourteen years later John and Alyson continue to direct two productions a year.
Today, as John continues to inspire and uplift audiences with stage directions, he remains steadfast in his commitment to fostering a legacy of passion, perseverance, artistic excellence, and ministry for God for generations to come.
Alyson Wagner
President/Founding Co-Director
Growing up in Oregon, Alyson fell in love with stories as she listened to her great-aunt share about her life teaching in a one room schoolhouse on the prairie, and heard her mom read to her as her private school librarian.
Both of her parents stirred in her a love of history at an early age too, so it’s not surprising that her favorite genre is a “heavy on the history” historical fiction story. Alyson enjoyed the stage from an early age through high school, and is motivated by how stories share such unique and challenging truths.
She loves seeing an artistic idea come to life in a stage production, and has a passion for investing in the lives of teenagers, so she is thankful to collaborate with the COAHYT team to combine creativity and ministry.
Jaymee Wagner
Production Manager/
Summer Production Director
Jaymee first fell in love with theater when she attended a production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST when she was nine years old.
As she grew up, she developed a passion for storytelling in any form, but especially literature and live theater. As the daughter of COAHYT Co-Director Alyson Wagner, she was an inaugural member of COAHYT in 2011 and one of the reasons that the company exists today.
In college, she combined her love of theater and her love of literature, and earned B.A. degrees in Theatre Arts: Production, Theatre Arts: Dramaturgy, and English from Liberty University. She is currently pursuing her Juris Doctorate degree at Liberty University School of Law.
Jaymee has worked locally with Alluvion Stage Company and several community theaters, as well as Provision Theater in Chicago. Now, she loves using her skills to teach and invest in the lives of COAHYT’s students.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors consists of members of the Central Virginia Community who support the mission of our organization and contribute from their own professional skills and experience.
John Knaus – educator, actor, director
Alyson Wagner – educator, producer, director
Jaymee Wagner – actor, producer, director, COAHYT alumna
Timmy Williamson – actor, musician, director, guest artist
Rachel Hoagland – educator, actor, director
Joseph Martins – educator, lawyer, parent of COAHYT students
Joe Eskridge – businessman, platinum sponsor