Ann-Carol Pence

Co-Founder/Producing Artistic Director

Ann-Carol Pence 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!”

Katie Pelkey

Managing Director

Katie Pelkey is celebrating twelve seasons with Aurora! In 2013, Katie transitioned to the role of Company Manager, having previously served as Resident Stage Manager. She also created the highly-successful Stage Management and Costume Apprentice Company program that operates simultaneously with Aurora’s Acting Apprentice Company program. For five seasons, she worked as Aurora’s Educational Resources Associate developing educational curriculum for teachers to use in conjunction with Aurora’s TYA Learning Library offerings. And for over a decade, Katie served as Production Stage Manager for New Plays for Young Audiences, a prestigious TYA summer staged reading series based at New York University. She received her BA in Educational Theatre from New York University with a minor in Dramatic Literature. Many thanks to Michael, Maxwell, and Alexander for their love and support! 

Al Stilo

Director of Sales and Programming

During Al Stilo’s 17 years, Aurora Theatre has been a leader that has helped the organization achieve tremendous growth highlighted by the opening of the $35 million expansion of the Lawrenceville Arts Center in fall of 2021. In his time, Aurora Theatre has received numerous accolades and awards including the 2009 Pinnacle Award for Large Non-Profit and the 2016 Governor’s Award for the Arts & Humanities. Al served three years on the executive committee of Atlanta Performs, two on the board of directors for Georgia Arts Network, your advocate for the arts in Georgia, and two on the steering committee for the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation Audience Building Roundtable.  Al has received multiple professional distinctions for marketing from the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau. Al has been a professional actor for 30 years. Onstage at Aurora he has appeared in Newsies,  Les Misérables, Chicago, and several others. All my love to my wife Holly and son Dominic. 

Katie Chambers

Director of Production/Resident Stage Manager

Katie Erin Chambers 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. 

Jasmine Renee Ellis

Director of Education

Originally from Jackson, Mississippi Jasmine Renee’ Ellis serves as the Director of Education. Outside of education, She is an actor, singer, director, and writer throughout the Atlanta Metro Area. Some of her acting credits include: Shakespeare Tavern (MacBeth, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest). Actor’s Express (Lizzie), Horizon Theatre Company (Roe), Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre Company (Marie and Rosetta- where she earned a Suzi Bass Award Nomination), and Southwest Art Center (Mother of God), You can see her in Aurora Theatre’s 28th Season Closing Show Sister Act starring as Deloris Van Cartier. Jasmine also will be directing the Summer Camp Musical Finding Nemo Jr. this June.

Jacky Segui

Director of Community Impact

Juan Carlos Unzueta

Graphic Designer

Juan Carlos Unzueta spent the last decade in Jacksonville, FL in as Education Director at Theatre Jacksonville. While working in NE Florida, he created innovative programming for his young actors as well as partnered with local and national organizations to provide arts-integrated learning opportunities to students in Duval County. Additionally, he handled the design of all marketing collateral and general marketing for the theatre’s education programming. In addition to his work in education, he has spent the last decade performing and directing. Notable credits include: Into the Woods (The Baker), The Light in the Piazza (Fabrizio), In the Heights (Piragua Guy), Pippin(Pippin), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), Tick, Tick, BOOM! (Jonathan), guest artist roles with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and First Coast Opera, and most recently as Charles Bingley in Theatrical Outfit’s Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. 

Daniel Pope

Production Manager

Daniel Pope 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.

Ashley Hogan

Technical Director

ASHLEY HOGAN (she/her-Technical Director) is excited to be a part of Aurora’s family. She worked summers while completing her degree from Georgia State University in ’18. She was an over hire before joining the staff full time. She has “climbed the ladder” to Technical Director and enjoys working with her team planning and building the wonderful sets we see with each Aurora show.

Jack Blackstock

Assistant Technical Director

Maxwell H. Breaux

Marketing Associate

Maxwell H. Breaux is honored to join the Aurora team as a Marketing Associate. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Maxwell is excited to help create theatre in Georgia. Maxwell received his Bachelors of Fine Arts in Acting from The University of Oklahoma in 2021.

Daisie Marie

Director of Patron Services

Tyler Barrett

Facility Maintenance Supervisor

Tyler Barrett is happy to return to Aurora Theatre as the Facility Maintenance Supervisor.  Previously working as the Assistant Technical Director in 2019, he is excited to bring his experience into this new role. 

Greg Hunter

Company Manager

Greg Hunter is a Georgia native, growing up in Buford where his family has been planted for generations. as a 2014-2015 Aurora Theatre Apprentice member, Greg Is honored to return to his home theatre at the resident Company Manager. After graduating in 2018 from Michigan State University with a MFA in theatre, Greg returned to Atlanta and hit the ground running, working as an artist with Stage Door Players, Synchronicity Theatre, Found Stages, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, and the Center for Puppetry Arts, to name a few. He has also worked as an educator at the Center for Puppetry Arts, University of North Georgia, and Buford High School. Greg is excited to work with Aurora to continue growing the local arts community. www.greg-hunter.com

Issac Burrier

Head of Lighting

Issac Burrier is excited to have joined Aurora Theatre as their Head of Lighting. Isaac has worked on numerous shows with Aurora including Christmas Canteen, Mary Poppins (2022), Swindlers, and several others as the Master Electrician. Before working with Aurora, Isaac worked in Nashville, TN as a lighting and scenic designer as well as a lighting tech in Raleigh, NC. Some of his professional credits include: Ordinary Days (Georgia Gwinnett College), Giant Squid (Woven Theatre Company), Lungs (Woven Theatre Company), The Whale (Verge Theater Company), Beneatha’s Place (Verge Theater Company) and several dance recitals with Rejoice School of Ballet. Isaac is also a graduate of Belmont University with a BFA in Production Design in Theatre.

Carlos Adorno

Event Technical Manager

Maria Antonetti

Director of Development

Susanna Wilson

Development Associate & Grants Writer

Jahi Bogard

Education & Volunteer Coordinator

Alaina Holeman

Rentals and Events Manager

Alaina Holeman is happy to be making her debut at Aurora in different capacity as a Rentals and Events Manager. Born and raised in Georgia, Alaina has been apart of the theatrical scene since she was at Gainesville High School under the direction of then director, Pam Ware. After graduating and obtaining a scholarship with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance located in Gainesville, Georgia, where she received a BA in Theatre, she went on to tour internationally with Nickelodeon’s Paw Patrol Live!: The Great Pirate Adventure, where she played the role of Rocky (#GreenMeansGo!) traveling to over 30 states and Canada. She is excited to be part of the Rental and Events Team as she collaborates with clients to bring their visions to life. Book a Tour with her today to learn more about what our wonderful city has to offer!

Alice Neff

Costume Director

Alice Neff joined the resident staff at the Aurora in 2022. Previously, she was the shop manager for Cinderella, Swindlers, and Christmas Canteen 2021, and was a draper for On Your Feet, Men with Money, and Mamma Mia, and designed Mary Poppins, Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, a co-production with Horizon Theatre. She was the shop manager for the Theatre & Dance Department at Appalachian State for many years, and was a draper at Glimmerglass Opera and a stitcher for the Hallmark mini-series True Women. She has designed for Florida Repertory Theatre in Fort Myers, and for Lees McRae Summer Theatre, Blowing Rock Stage Company, and Horn in the West in NC, along with numerous schools in the southeast.

Jono Davis

Complex General Manager

Jono Davis is the Complex General Manager of the Aurora Theatre and the Lawrenceville Arts Center. Previously, he was the Artistic Director and Manager of the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre. In the last decade, Jono’s had his hands in over 70 productions in Atlanta. He has worked and performed at Actor’s Express, Alliance Theatre, Arts Clayton, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Aurora Theatre, Fabrefaction Theatre, Georgia Ensemble Theatre (Suzi Bass Award nominee), and SAIAH. His previous work at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre and its concert series, The Overture Series, was awarded a global Telly Award, several Suzi Bass Awards, and over 30 BroadwayWorld Awards, including Best Musical and Favorite Local Theatre.