Children’s Playhouse: Beat Bugs

(Acting Apprentice) is is thrilled to be joining Aurora Theatre’s 2018-2019 Apprentice Company, as well as make her Atlanta theatre debut. A recent graduate of the University of Georgia, Melanie has a bachelor's degree in Theatre and in Advertising. Her recent credits include Othello (Desdemona), The Last Witch (Helen), The Long Christmas Ride Home (Claire), and A Behanding in Spokane (Marilyn). In addition to performing at UGA, she made her directing debut with Next Act’s production of Heathers: The Musical. Melanie would like to thank her fellow apprentices, friends and family for their constant support!

Sarah Grace Valleroy is so excited to be making her Aurora Theatre debut as a member of the AppCo program! She is a recent graduate of The University of Alabama, where she received degrees in both Musical Theatre and Psychology. Some of Sarah Grace’s recent credits include: Les Miserables (Eponine), A Bright Room Called Day (Annabella Gotchling), Ghosts (Regina), The Marvelous Wonderettes (Betty Jean), Doubt (Sister James), and Spring Awakening (Wendla). She could not be more excited to move to the city of Atlanta and begin this journey!

Anthony J. Nash (Acting Apprentice) is a newly minted graduate from the University of Georgia in Athens, with a Bachelor of the Arts in Theatre. He grew up in Villa Rica, Georgia where he found his passion for theatre as a medium of change. Some of the credits he has earned include: A Behanding in Spokane, A Lesson Before Dying, Titus Andronicus, and Virtue. He is more than blessed at this opportunity to grow as an artist with the 2018-19 Aurora Apprentice Company!

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

Monique Gillis is a singer, actress, and dancer from Chauncey, Georgia. She has an A.A in Theatre Studies from Middle Georgia State College and has taken a few acting and dance courses at Kennesaw State University. During her time at MGSC, she performed as Miss Poppenghul in Moonlight and Magnolias, worked as Stage Manager for Anna in The Tropics, and directed A Raisin in the Sun. She also spent some time as a dance teacher at Dance Galore in Cochran, Ga. After taking time off from pursuing her passion, Monique is thrilled to be joining the Aurora Theatre Apprenticeship Company for the 2018-2019 season.

ANTHONY RODRIGUEZ (he/him) a career non-profit leader, is proud to be the first Executive Director of the Hub404 Conservancy. HUB404 is an innovative 9-acre “cap park” that will soar above GA 400 and provide a direct connection to MARTA’s Buckhead rail station. HUB404 will create a dynamic, active, gathering place for the Metro-Atlanta region and transform the core of Buckhead. Prior to joining HUB404, Anthony was President and CEO of Aurora Theatre, a professional theatre he co-founded 26 years ago. He currently serves on various boards, both nationally and locally, including Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, National Alliance for Musical Theatre (Vice President), Theatre Communications Group, the Citizens Advisory Board for Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, and the Advisory Board for Public Broadcasting Atlanta which includes the NPR station WABE and PBS station PBA30. Anthony is a past Chair of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, the first Latino and first Arts Leader to hold that position. He served as Vice Chair of Arts for the Chamber and Chair of Partnership Gwinnett and serves on the National Steering Committee for the Latinx Theatre Commons. Anthony is a graduate of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute, Leadership Atlanta (#2classes) and the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures’ Leadership Institute and Advocacy Institute. Anthony, born in New York, and raised in Atlanta, graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre. He resides in Duluth with his partner in life, Ann-Carol Pence, and their dog Bella.

ANN-CAROL PENCE (Co-Founder/Producing Artistic Director) arranged the music for Aurora’s first Christmas Canteen in 1996 and was hired full-time in September of 1998 as Resident Musical Director. An education major at James Madison University, she used her background to develop Learning Library (or L2). As a musician, she created Aurora’s Musicals by Moonlight, and Aurora’s New Musical Initiative. She has performed as pianist and music director both nationally (Goodspeed Opera House, Pasadena Playhouse, The Cleveland Playhouse, The Kennedy Center) and locally (The Alliance, Theatrical Outfit, The Horizon, Georgia Ensemble Theatre,). As a proud citizen of Gwinnett, Ann-Carol is most proud of Aurora Theatre winning the first ever Pinnacle Award for Large Non-Profit, and the first ever Moxie Award (for woman-led businesses) for Aurora Theatre. These distinctions go well with her 5 Suzi Awards for Outstanding Music Direction. She was a participant in the 2016 Atlanta Regional Leadership Institute and member of the “Best Class Ever!”

JUSTIN ANDERSON (Associate Artistic Director) has served as Aurora Theatre's Associate Artistic Director since 2014. His directorial work has earned 13 Suzi Bass Award Nominations for Outstanding Direction (Winner for The Bridges of Madison County and Les Misérables at Aurora Theatre, in 2017 and 2013 respectively). He is also an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia where he directs and teaches courses in acting and musical theatre. He holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Campbell University and an M.A. in Theatre Studies from Regent University, with additional course study at Rutgers. Song and Dance marks his last project as a full time staff member at Aurora Theatre, having expanded his storytelling skillset and ability into real estate earlier this year. You can find out more about how he and his partner, Michael Crute, are using real estate to help write the next best chapter of people’s lives at www.welcomehomeatlanta.com. 

MARALYN QUIñONES is excited to be a part of AppCo19! She recently completed her B.A. in Theatre from Georgia College and State University and has been proud to gain experience in numerous positions while studying, from design, directing and of course stage management. Some of her proudest achievements include being a KCACTF stage management finalist for the show The Ballad of Emmett Till, as well as her senior directing thesis focusing on Cuban Theatre in relation to politics. She would like to thank her family and fiancé for their never ending love and support!

ISABEL & MORIAH CURLEY-CLAY (she/her) their theatrical work can be seen on regional stages across the U.S. Recent credits include: Phenomenal Woman (North Carolina Black Rep, Ensemble Theatre Houston) Network (Florida Studio Theatre), Kim’s Convenience(Aurora Theatre, Horizon Theatre) Hands Up (Alliance Theatre); Two Trains Running (Triad Stage); Fannie (True Colors, Actors Theatre of Louisville and Pittsburgh City Theatre), Reparations *2020 AUDELCO award best set design (Billie Holiday Theatre, NYC). The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, and Ruby (Alabama Shakespeare); Isabel and Moriah’s designs were featured in American Theatre Magazine’s Inaugural Roll Call, 7 Theatrical People To Watch, and are both members of USA 829. Axisstudiosdesign.com

CODY RUSSELL (Properties Designer) is a proud alumnus of Aurora’s AppCo 17 and current company member of The Weird Sisters Theatre Project. He has worked props, set dressings, scenic design, and scenic artistry for 22 productions between 7 companies in the metro Atlanta area. When he is not working on props you may find him music directing or teaching young talent, predominantly with Aurora Theatre Academy. Or you may see him on stage singing his heart out; most recently in the Atlanta Opera’s Chorus of Carmen.

KATIE PELKEY (Managing Director)

DANIEL POPE (Production Manager) is proud to be joining the great team at Aurora Theatre as Production Manager. Daniel has been a sound designer and engineer in the Atlanta area for the past seven years. He’s had the pleasure of designing sound for the Aurora Theatre on many occasions on shows such as: Into the Woods, Christmas Canteen, Sweep, and most recently The Bridges of Madison County. Additionally, he’s worked on countless other productions in the Atlanta theatre community including: Evita and A Streetcar Named Desire as Sound Designer and Production Manager at Serenbe Playhouse. Daniel received a Bachelors in Marketing with a specialization in sales and a minor in Music from The University of West Georgia in 2010.

ANDREW O’NEAL (Technical Director) is excited to start his first season with Aurora Theatre. Previously, Andrew came to Georgia from Virginia where he worked at Radford University as the Assistant Technical Director. He graduated from The University of Alabama in 2014 with his MFA in technical production.

TYLER BARRETT (Assistant Technical Director) is new to Georgia, coming from the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey where he worked as Lighting and Sound Supervisor. He is excited to start a new branch of his career as Assistant Technical Director. Tyler graduated with a BA in Technical Theatre and a minor in Museum Studies from Lynchburg College in 2016.

SARAH THOMSON (Scenic Painter) loves to paint and has been gracing the sets of Aurora Theatre for the last 11 seasons. A resident of Johns Creek, she brings her talents and her crew of Jack and Dylan to support her in her endeavors. Sarah designed and painted sets for many years while her daughter danced with Susan Chambers Theatre Dance. In a previous life, she was the scenic artist for Casa Mañana Theatre, Casa on the Square, Fort Worth Ballet, Dallas Shakespeare in the Park, Dallas Summer Musicals and Six Flags. She has worked with Southwest Studios and Stageworks where she served as scenic artist. Children of a Lesser God also featured Sarah’s original artwork. She is accompanied by her man of the North, Ian.

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

PEYTON MCDANIEL (he/him) is a proud graduate of both The University of Alabama and Aurora’s AppCo.  Since then, he’s been seen kick-ball-changing all around the greater Atlanta area. Some favorite productions include Head Over Heels (Actors Express), La Cage aux Folles (Out Front Theatre Company), Men with Money, and Newsies (Aurora). Peyton is incredibly excited and immensely grateful to be back onstage and back home at Aurora!

Cody Evan Jones (Acting Apprentice) is excited to join the Aurora’s Apprentice Company as well as make his Atlanta theatre debut. He is a recent graduate of the Gainesville Theatre Alliance at Brenau University, receiving his Bachelors in Theatre. During his time at GTA he has been a part of several productions including: The Odyssey (Poseidon), Crazy for You (Moose), Adam & Evie (Adam), Much Ado About Nothing (Balthasar), The Philadelphia Story (Mac) and Monstrous Regiment (Lord Rust/Death). He hopes to hone his craft even further at the Aurora and is grateful for the opportunity to continue learning. He’d like to thank his friends, family, and mentors for the continuous support which encourages him to continue pursuing his passion.