Kelly Patton  Director Kelly Patton, born and raised in Florida, grew up loving the sun almost as much as she loves dancing, laughing, and creating a safe place where children can freely express themselves and let their lights shine bright. After years of working in environmental education, she moved her family down to Costa Rica where she raised her kids in the jungle right next to the beach. She founded Jungle Arts and Dance in 2009 to provide children opportunities to play and express themselves through dance and drama. Along with her team, they produced shows such as Grease, The Wizard of Oz, Footloose, A Chorus Line, Annie Jr, 101 Dalmatians, and several dance showcases. The company grew to include hundreds of children, teens and adults over the years. After 12 years of living abroad, it was time for some fresh air. Kelly and her two children uprooted and moved to Maine in 2021. She was the Musical Theater Director and Choreographer for Casco Bay High School in Portland from 2021-2024 where they produced Mamma Mia, Young Frankenstein, and Willy Wonka and has also directed with Gorham Arts Alliance. Kelly loves getting to know the great state of Maine and believes the most important thing we can do as humans is to love ourselves, love one another, love the earth, and spread kindness throughout our homes, community, and the world. She is excited to bring a piece of the jungle to Maine with Jungle Book Kids!