Christmas Canteen 2018

JIMI KOCINA* is a fool for the Holidays. He's a fool most days-and I should know-I am the guy. Christmas holds a special place in my heart. As a guy who likes to see everyone happy, Christmas and The Holidays seem to get the closest to granting that wish. Past credits at Aurora include Canteen last year, Canteen 12 and 13 years ago, and what you might call a slew in between. Most recently performed in Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime at Horizon Theatre. Next Jimi can be seen here at Aurora in Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Forever thanks to AC and Tony. 

CECIL WASHINGTON JR.*, born in Birmingham, AL., B.A. in Theatre Arts from Alabama State University; Certificate in film and television from The NY Conservatory For Dramatic Arts, Manhattan, NY.  Recent shows include Men with Money, George in Sunday in the Park with George, Benny in Aurora's Musicals by Moonlight In the Heights, Delray Jones in Memphis The Musical, Sam Cooke in The Sam Cooke Story, Mister in The Color Purple, and Curtis Taylor Jr in Dreamgirls. Cecil has appeared on shows such as “The Resident” and  
"Law & Order"; credits also w/ Indie Films, Commercials, Promotional, & Music videos. Coming next will be Guys and Dolls concert at The Jennie T. Anderson Theatre, and Porgy in Gershwin’s “Porgy & Bess” at Red Mountain Theatre. “I am Always Grateful to return to the Aurora Stage, and especially thankful to God to be able to share my gifts with the world. 

KENNY TRAN is originally from Kansas City, MO but now hails from NYC. Select Credits: Christmas Canteen 2018 (Aurora Theatre), The Little Mermaid, Cabaret (Serenbe Playhouse), Legally Blonde, Thoroughly Modern Millie (Thingamajig Theatre Company). He is a proud alumnus of Illinois Wesleyan University (BFA Music Theatre) and was an Acting Apprentice at Serenbe Playhouse. Thank you so much to Bill and Joseph for writing this beautifully wonky show and inviting me along to play. I'd also like to thank Ricardo, Justin, AC, and Tony for guiding and trusting me. Thank YOU, the Aurora audience for making this show and story possible. Last but not least, thanks to my mom and sister for their never-ending love and support. "Don't stop 'til you're on top!" www.kennyctran.com/@kennyctran

CHANI MAISONET* They say the 3rd time is a charm so Happy Holidays once again, Canteen! Chani is a Vocal Performance alumna of Kennesaw State University. Theatre Credits: Becoming Nancy, Ever After, Paige In Full, Beautiful Blackbird, The Dancing Granny (Alliance), Hairspray (City Springs Theatre), 110 In The Shade, Simply Simone (Theatrical Outfit), Holler If Ya Hear Me (Kenny Leon's True Colors), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, In The Heights (Aurora/Theatrical Outfit), A Chorus Line (Lyric). When Chani isn't performing, she is running her own business teaching voice. Visit @Made4Stage for more information and follow her @ChaniMaisonet on IG. 

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. 

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!

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!

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

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. 

RICARDO APONTE (he/him) is delighted to return to the Aurora after choreographing Newsies and In The Heights, where he received Suzi Bass awards for Outstanding Choreography. Recent credits: Carmen (Atlanta Opera), White Christmas (Jennie T. Anderson), and Luisa Fernanda (Florentine Opera). He's had the pleasure of working locally at The Atlanta Opera, The Alliance Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre, Georgia Ensemble, Actor’s Express, Atlanta Lyric, and Georgia Aquarium. He’s also the founder and artistic director of Theatre Platform Project, an educational nonprofit which provides arts programs to diverse communities (Theatreplatformproject.org) Upcoming projects: Cabaret at The Atlanta Opera! Thank you to this superb cast, crew and creative team and to you, the audience, for supporting live theatre. Love to Matty and Milo!

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.

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!

JULIE RAY (she/her) is a scenic designer for theatre, film and television. UGA Professor of Scenic Design and Department Head for the Department of Theatre and Film Studies, her designs for theatre have been presented at many companies including: The Hippodrome Theatre, Actors Express Theatre, PICT Theatre, Quantum Theatre, The City Theatre, Ballet Pacifica, Unseam’d Shakespeare, and East LA Classical Theatre Company. In addition to live theatre, Julie has worked in multiple art departments as Production Designer, Art Director, and Set Designer. TV and film credits include Netflix’s Mindhunter, The X-Files, Babylon 5, Neighbors 2, Abduction, Love & Other Drugs, and 13 Days. Website: www.jraydesign.com.

ALAN YEONG** (he/him) has designed over 20 productions for Aurora. Recent Regional credits include Seattle Children's Theatre/Alliance Theatre -- The Boy Who Kissed The Sky. He's worked with theatres all over Atlanta and is a Professor of Costume Design/Head of Design at the University of West Georgia Theatre program with over 20 years of design credits. Education: MFA in Design (University of Kansas), MFA in Costume Design (Wayne State University), and BA in Theatre (Bemidji State University). Website: www.alanyeong.com

JENNIFER ACKLAND (Costume Shop Manager) is happy to be back at the Aurora Theatre. She was previously Costume Shop Manager and Draper for the 2014 production of Newsies and Mary Poppins at Aurora. Most recently she served as Costume Shop Supervisor at Appalachian State University in Boone NC. Other notable Costume Shop Supervisor positions include Wake Forest University, Festival Stage of Winston-Salem, and The North Carolina Shakespeare Festival where she spent almost ten years as Assistant Shop Manager and then promoted to Costume Director in 2009 until its closing in 2014. She would like to thank her family for all that they do and a big thanks to Dave McKay and Christina Cotner for helping with a smooth transition to Georgia.

RACHAEL OTTINGER is a recent Theatre Arts graduate of The University of West Georgia, and is excited to join 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.

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.

JON SANDMAIER (he/him) is excited to return to the Aurora, the place he called home for his first four years in the state of Georgia.  He originally hails from Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he designed and built sets for a variety of venues and organizations around the area.  Over the past year he has been working in the television and film industry.  One of Jon's favorite projects was building the boat for Men With Money.

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.