Apprentice Company

Benjamin Perrin (he/him) is so excited to be included in this year's Apprentice company with the Aurora Theatre! He is a recent graduate from the University of North Georgia receiving a BFA in Theatre Arts with a focus in Acting. Some of his favorite roles include Macbeth in Macbeth, O'Brien in 1984, Mr. Beaver in The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Doc. Gibbs in Our Town. He also has a passion for directing! Some of the shows he has worked on include Proof, Tick Tick...Boom!, and The Guy Who Didn't Like Musicals. When he isn't in the theatre he enjoys watching Survivor, a show he would love to be on one day! Instagram: @bdperrin0818

JENNA RITCHEY (Crew/Featured AppCo26 Ensemble) This is Jenna's Aurora debut, and she is beyond excited to also be a part of the AppCo26! Jenna grew up in Clarkston, Michigan, and studied at Anderson University SC getting her BFA in Musical Theatre with a minor in Dance. Favorite credits: Sweet Summer Nights(Dollywood); Euterpe, Xanadu(SCSA); Lucinda, Into The Woods(SCSA); Featured Soloist & Dancer, Presidents Gala (SCSA). Thanks to Mom, Dad, Jillian, and Jasmine for always believing in me. IG: @jenna.ritchey

JOEL HARLAN-LEDBETTER (Crew/Featured AppCo26 Ensemble) Happy Holidays! Joel is an Atlanta-born singer, actor and dancer. Previous Credits: The Wiz(Aurora Theatre), Cabaret(Actor's Express), Young Frankenstein(GTA), 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee(GTA). Joel has recently graduated from Brenau University and is a member of Aurora's AppCo26. Thank you for coming to see the show. Joel thanks his friends and family.

Lilly Ray (she/her) is a recent graduate of the University of North Georgia where she received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Theatre. Her focus is in Stage Management, Theatre for Young Audiences, and teaching Adults and Children with Disabilities! Her recent stage management credits include Launch Pad, Fat Juliet (Theatrical Outfit), Young Frankenstein (Gainesville Theatre Alliance), and Lion King Jr. (Peguin Project at the FoCAL Center). She is so excited and honored to be apart of AppCo 25-26 at the Aurora! @lillyraycyruss

ROSE SETON (Swing) is so excited to be working on this show! Rose is a member of Aurora's AppCo26. Professional credits include Beautiful: The Carole King Musicalas Little Eva, The Color Purpleas Olivia, and The Wizas Ensemble (Aurora Theatre). She hopes to continue spreading her love for artistry!

Victoria Rose Reyes (she/her) is a recent graduate of West Texas A&M University, earning a BFA in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Dance. Some of her favorite roles include Cinderella in Into the Woods, Serena in Legally Blonde, Clarissa/Queen of Diamonds in Alice by Heart, and Lady Larken in Once Upon a Mattress, for which she was recognized by the Kennedy Center for Exemplary Performance. Victoria also has a passion for directing and teaching, making her stage directorial debut with Again?, a 10 minute play by Joshua Piper. Most recently, she has performed in TEXAS Outdoor Musical as Isabella and as the lead vocalist in The Prarie Dog Band. She would like to thank God and her wonderful friends and family for their amazing love and support.

XAVIER SHEPHERD (Swing) was last seen in The Wiz and is beyond excited to be swinging Christmas Canteen! He's grateful for these opportunities as a member of Aurora's AppCo26! Favorite credits: Footloose, Freaky Friday, The Wiz,Big Fish, Ragtime, and Our Town. Many thanks to his family, friends, and boyfriend for all of the love and support! <3 IG: @xavierqshepherd

ISA MARTINEZ (they/them) is thrilled to be back at Aurora! You may have seen them on the Aurora stage in Christmas Canteen ‘21-‘24, Sister Act (Suzi Winner), Cinderella, and Song and Dance. Other favorite performances include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Actors Express), A New Brain (Jennie T. Anderson), Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote (Center for Puppetry Arts), and She Persisted (Georgia Ensemble). Isa has a BFA from Jacksonville University and was part of Aurora’s ‘21-‘22 Apprentice company. Mucho amor a mi familia especialmente Mami, Papi, Abuelita, Alex y Alicia

INDIA TYREE* (Host/Ensemble) is thrilled to be back performing in Christmas Canteen. Some of her credits include: Passing Strange(Sudabey, Marianna) and The World Premiere of Flex(Cherise) at Theatrical Outfit. Olivia in the World Premiere of Incredible Book Eating Boyat Alliance Theater. She has also been seen in shows here at Aurora such as title character, Cinderella, Eviline in The Wiz, as well as Emma in Andrew Lloyd Webbers Song and Dance. India is represented by Formation Talent Agency and can be seen on TV in Tyler Perry’s "Sistas" and "Zatima" (Heather) and more. IG: @indiatyree

AMY DUFFY  is an actor, music director, and arts administrator. After moving to Atlanta to be a part of Aurora Theatre's AppCo, she has worked with the following companies: Alliance Theatre, The Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Atlanta Shakespeare Co., Buicentennial Productions, Horizon Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse, Stone Mountain Park, Habima Theatre, and the Georgia Aquarium. Aurora credits include Men with Money, Be Here Now, A Doll's House Part 2, Beat Bugs: A Musical Adventure, Christmas Canteen 2018 and 2021, and Mary Poppins. She is the proud co-founder of Destination Theatre. Thanks for being here today! Follow along with her work. IG: @destinationtheatre

Kristin Talley is currently a working dance teacher, actor, singer, dancer and props designer. In 2019, she graduated from Young Harris College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and a minor in history. After graduating, she became a member of the Aurora Theatre’s AppCo’20. A few of her recent shows with the Aurora Theatre include Sister Act (ens/dance captain), Mary Poppins (ens/asst dance captain), Cinderella (swing), On Your Feet (ens), and Christmas Canteen 2019 (featured ens). She is also a principal dancer in the 2-time Emmy award winning Netflix movie, Dolly Parton’s: Christmas on the Square. Kristin currently works as a dance teacher and the dance company director at Lilburn Dance Academy in Lilburn, GA where she teaches students 6-18 jazz, lyrical, and tap.

CASEY GARDNER-FORD is a theatre photographer and actor. She regularly works at 11 Atlanta theatres, including Aurora, produced the #isolatedartistsofatlanta series, worked closely on the growth of the Atlanta Musical Theatre Project, and got married in 2020 to Dan Ford who she met in her first show as an apprentice. Instagram: @caseygardnerford

CORY PHELPS (he/him) is an actor, director, teaching artist, and arts administrator. He is the Artistic Director of Destination Theatre, an Atlanta based professional touring theatre company which provides excellent and imaginative touring productions and high quality educational theatre experiences to people of all ages, backgrounds, and demographics. He has worked throughout Atlanta, the southeast region, as well as NYC and South Africa. You may have seen some of his work at Aurora Theatre (AppCo17), Alliance Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Theatre Buford, The Warehouse Theatre, Atlanta Shakespeare Company, as well as the New York Musical Theatre Festival and BroadwayCon. When ‘So Far Away’ is sung tonight, he smiles to his dad. To Amy & Mom, <3!

RACHAEL OTTINGER KARAS is a Theatre Arts graduate of The University of West Georgia, and was a member of Aurora's AppCo19. During her time with the university, she designed a wide variety of costumes including period clothing to postmodern and fantasy. Some credits include costume, makeup, and hair design for Whispers and Lies, as well as The Scarlet Letter. Rachael was nominated for The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival for her work with The University of West Georgia multiple times. Her most recent work includes assistant design for Alan Yeong on Serenbe Playhouse’s Peter Pan.

BRIE WOLFE (she/her) recently wrapped up her Aurora debut in Christmas Canteen 2021 and P. Nokio, a Hip Hop Musical, and is ready to dive into Cinderella! A member of the 2021-2022 Apprentice Company, Brie is a recent graduate from the University of Georgia (GO DAWGS!), where she earned a B.A. in Theatre and a B.A. in Journalism. Brie has been honored to work with so many incredibly talented and passionate people in this industry and is so excited to be back on the stage! Some of her more recent credits include: Wild Party (Kate), Equus (Jill Mason), and The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Julia). Brie would like to thank her friends and family, especially her dad, Elmer, for his unwavering support and love, and Garrett and Gus for being her rock.

AKASHA NELSON (she/her) is thrilled to be a member of the 2022 Aurora AppCo! She was most recently seen in Christmas Canteen 2022 and in GLOW Lyric Theatre's Summer Festival Season. Select credits include: #14 in The Wolves (Warehouse Theater), Caroline in I and You (Clemson University), Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Younts Center), and Hattie in Ella Enchanted (SC Children's Theater). All glory to God. Instagram: @akashanelson

SYDNI STEPHENSON (she/her) Sydni is delighted to be back at Aurora for this amazing show! She has a degree in Production Design with a concentration in Costume Design from The Savannah College of Art and Design. Recent credits include Christmas Canteen 2023, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, Play That Goes Wrong, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Kim’s Convenience, Christmas Canteen 2022 and Mary Poppins here at The Aurora Theatre.

ASHER PATTEN (Ensemble) After spending the year traveling the world as a vocalist with Norwegian Cruiselines, Asher is delighted to return home for Christmas. Asher is an alum of Aurora's AppCo24, and this is his third consecutive appearance in Christmas Canteen. Atlanta credits include: Beautiful: the Carole King Musicaland Sister Act(Aurora), Jersey Boys(City Springs). A special thank you to all of our patrons for sharing your company with us and may God bless you this holiday season! Love to AppCo24!

NOELLE MCINTYRE (she/her)  is a member of this years acting apprentice company and this is her fourth production here at Aurora. Past Credits: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Christmas Canteen, The 3 Little Pigs (Aurora), Pygmalion, Urinetown, Our Town, Secret Garden (Gainesville Theatre Alliance). She has a BFA in Acting from Brenau University, and would like to give a special thank you to her friends and family for their love and support this year. Insta @noelle_mcintyre

GREG HUNTER (Ensemble) is a Georgia native and has had many opportunities to perform around Atlanta; his recent credits include The Wiz, Waitress, Christmas Canteen2024, The Color Purple(Aurora Theatre), The African Company Presents Richard III(Shakespeare Tavern), Ghastly Dreadfuls'24 & '25 (Center for Puppetry Arts), and Wait Until Dark(Georgia Ensemble). He sincerely hopes you enjoy! www.gregmhunter.com

KATIE ERIN CHAMBERS* (Director of Production and Resident Stage Manager) is excited to be starting her 8th season with Aurora Theatre and stepping into a new role as Director of Production. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia, a member of Actor’s Equity, and a proud alumna of Aurora's 2013-14 Apprentice Company. She has previously stage managed in Atlanta for Horizon Theatre Company, Theatrical Outfit, Synchronicity Theatre and Habima Theatre. She has also served as coordinator for the New South Young Playwrights’ Festival, production manager for the Atlanta Musical Theatre Festival, and coordinator for the Atlanta Unified Auditions.

*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the US.

RUSSELL ALEXANDER II (he/him) is so thankful to be back home at Aurora joining the cast of a show that started his passion for theatre as a young child & this time with his pup “Ruff”! Aside from the stage, Russell can be found cruising the seas with his solo headliner show, or inspiring young minds at Savannah College of Art &
Design. Recent Credits- TV/Film: “Ironheart” (Marvel/Disney+), A SPARROW CRIES AT NIGHT(Toshiba Productions), “Jefferson County: Probation” (Comedy Central), “Heaux Phase” (FUBU Prod.) STAGE: Christmas Canteen, Children of Eden, Newsies, Mamma Mia!, Ripcord (Aurora Theatre), The Wild Party, A New Brain (Jennie T Anderson Theatre), The Wiz, Memphis (Red Mountain Theatre), Occupants (Kennedy Center), The Addams Family (Lyric Theatre). Follow Me @_alexanderii

Jacky Segui is a singer and actor, originally from Puerto Rico. She holds two Graduate Degrees: MFA in Performing Arts and MA in Arts Management. As her thesis, she wrote a play called Puerto Rico Goes Dark: Stories of my People, which she hopes to workshop soon. Previous credits include Rock The Presidents as Amy/Ensemble, In The Heights as Nina, and Man of La Mancha as Antonia. She is honored to be joining the On Your Feet cast and to be part of Aurora’s AppCo20.

MEGAN RITCHIE (she/her) is a versatile and passionate creative professional, performer, choreographer, and stage manager. A graduate of Western Carolina University with a B.F.A. in Musical Theatre, she is also a proud alumna of Aurora Theatre’s apprentice program. Previous Aurora credits include Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Marilyn Wald/Ensemble) and Sister Act on the Aurora Main Stage. She has also contributed behind the scenes as an assistant choreographer and stage manager for productions like Stiles and Drewe's The Three Little Pigs. She is forever thankful to her family and Cody for consistently supporting and encouraging her in doing what she loves.