Christmas Canteen 2022

GALEN CRAWLEY* (she/her)is thrilled to be home for the holidays! This Snellville native is jingling her bells to be appearing in her fourth Christmas Canteen. You may remember her as the eponymous nanny from Mary Poppins (a role she has played twice at Aurora), or as a wicked stepsister in Cinderella. Regional: Ragtime, The Last 5 Years, and Urinetown (Nashville Rep), It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Studio Tenn), Beehive (Flat Rock Playhouse). Atlanta: Shrek and Broke (Alliance Theatre), Fiddler on the Roof (City Springs Theatre), The Wild Party (Jennie T. Anderson Theatre), My Fair Lady, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Joseph…Dreamcoat (Atlanta Lyric Theatre), Miss Bennet and 110 in the Shade (Theatrical Outfit), Our Town (Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern), Bad Jews and Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson (Actors Express). 2014 Suzi Bass Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Mary Poppins. She holds a BFA in musical theatre from The Sargent Conservatory at Webster University; follow her online at GalenCrawley.com or @galencrawley wherever it counts. Thanks always to Jacob, Mom, Dad, Devyn, and her forever angel, Abigail, who trots along in her shadow and nibbles at her heels on the high notes. 

RUSSELL ALEXANDER (he/him) Atlanta: The Wild Party (Jennie T Anderson Theater); The Addams Family: The Musical (The Lyric Theatre); Children of Eden, NEWSIES, Mama Mia!: The Musical, Ripcord (Aurora Theater).
Regional: Memphis, The Wiz (Red Mountain Theatre Company);
Film/TV: Ironheart (Marvel/Disney+); Jefferson County P.O (Comedy Central); A Sparrow Cries at Night (Eboshi Platinum Productions); Heaux Phase (FUBU Networks)
Other: Celebrity Cruise Lines Headliner (NYC3) (A Tribute to Bruno Mars). IG: @_alexanderii

JUAN CARLOS UNZUETA is so excited to be participating in Christmas Canteen in July this year at Aurora. Other Atlanta credits: Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience (Alliance Theatre), Miss Bennet Christmas at Pemberley (Theatrical Outfit), In The Heights, País de Bicicleta, The Three Billy Goats Gruff, Beat Bugs A Musical Adventure (Aurora Theatre), Little Shop of Horrors, Merrily We Roll Along in Concert, and Fun Home (Actor's Express), Freaky Friday (Horizon Theatre) Songs for a New World (BUICEntennial Productions). Education: BFA, BA, University of North Florida. Other: Director of Cross-Cultural Programs at Aurora Theatre, Represented by People Store. IG: @juancho181

KARI TWYMAN (she/her)Performer. Choreographer. Educator. This is Kari’s second year as a Performer and Choreographer in Christmas Canteen! Other Aurora Credits Include: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia, The Hunchback of Notre Dame & In The Heights. Kari has been seen at several theatres around the ATL area. BFA in Musical Theatre from Brenau University. www.karitwyman.com.

ISA MARTINEZ (they/them) is so excited to be returning to the Aurora stage!! They most recently appeared in Aurora's Christmas Canteen. Local credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Actor's Express), A New Brain (Jennie T Anderson), Lizzie (Lizzie u/s Actor's Express), She Persisted (Georgia Ensemble) and Dragons Love Tacos (Georgia Ensemble). Isa has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Jacksonville University, and was a member of Aurora's 21-22 Apprentice Company! Mucho amor a mi familia <3

JAMES ALLEN MCCUNE (they/them) is an American actor/producer originally from Atlanta GA. Affectionately known by the nickname “Famous Actor James Allen McCune,” (from his time on the series “Sugar Pine 7”) James is thrilled to be returning to the stage after nearly 10 years of focusing on TV and Film. Credits include “Blair Witch” (2016), “How to Get Away With Murder,” “Shameless,” “The Walking Dead” and more. Theatre credits include “The Last 5 Years,” “Cabaret,” “RENT,” and more.

JALISE WILSON (she/her) is excited to make her Debut in such a historical show at a historical theatre & for her favorite holiday! Selected Regional Credits: The Color Purple & Into the Woods (City Springs Theatre Company), Little Shop of Horrors (Berkshire Theatre Group), Hairspray (Atlanta Lyric Theatre Company), State Fair (Wagon Wheel Theatre), Tarzan (MUNY). She recently Assistant Directed Caroline, or Change at The Jennie T. Anderson theatre. She is a proud Artistic & Casting Associate at City Springs Theatre Company (previous Company Manager). Pre-pandemic, she worked for Royal Caribbean Cruise Line as a Lead Vocalist (Vocal Captain) at Sea! B.F.A. Degree in Musical Theatre from The University of Michigan. Go Blue! Love to her village always.

TYLER KIDD (he/him) is an Actor, Singer, and Dancer who works full time in the world of TV/Film, Musical Theatre, along with being a recording artist. Currently part of Aurora's AppCo23, he previously was a Dance Instructor/local Choreographer that had the chance to teach at multiple schools in the Atlanta area. He has plans to one day be able to travel around the world getting to share his studies and schooling. He’s very excited to be a part of this musical and really hopes that you enjoy the show.

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

VICTORIA DICKSON (she/her) hails from St. Louis, MO. She has an MFA in Performing Arts from Savannah College of Art and Design and a BS in Theatre Studies from Missouri State University. Regional: Mary Poppins, Christmas Canteen, Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Aurora Theatre). Other favorite roles include Beatrice in "Much Ado About Nothing," Death/Ex-Wife/Goods & Riches in "Everyman," Adult Women in "Spring Awakening," and Susan Curtis in "The Secretaries." Thank you to her parents and the Aurora team! @realvictoriadickson 

JAHI BOGARD (he/him) is an actor from Atlanta, GA through way of Little Rock, AR! Jahi has received his BA in Musical Theatre from Greensboro College and his MFA in Performance from the University of Louisville. Some of Jahi’s favorite roles he’s portrayed are Lank from Detroit ’67, Sam Carmichael from Mamma Mia!, and Sir Toby Belch from Twelfth Night. Jahi is dedicated to discovering and testing new ways to push the boundaries of African American and Queer theatre.