Christmas Canteen (Virtual)

Michael Crute is thrilled to be back at the Aurora Theatre. He recently had his Aurora Theatre debut in Aurora’s summer production of Children of Eden. Currently enrolled at the University of Georgia, Michael will graduate in May with his B.A in Advertising & a certificate in Music Business. He’s honored to be a part of such a talented cast and would like to thank his family, friends and God for all of their love, support and continued encouragement.

LAUREN HILL, an Atlanta native, is thrilled to make her Aurora Theatre debut! Lauren is a senior BFA Acting Major at Brenau University. Recent credits: Aida (Amneris) and Beauty and the Beast (Belle) at the Atlanta Lyric, Cabaret (Texas/Dance Captain) and Godspell (Morgan) at the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Thanks to the entire Children of Eden production team for the opportunity to tell this story! Love to her family, friends, and Thomas! To God be the glory! @lauren_ehill.

Maya Quiñones is excited to make her Aurora Theatre debut! She is an emerging singer/songwriter, currently working on her first Latin Fusion EP, Waves. Credits include: Judas in Godspell, Nautica in Bring It On, Ensemble in The Wiz in Concert (Independent Artists' Playhouse). A Dare Dream Dance alumna, she spent much of her youth studying various forms of dance; among her favorites are Afro-Cuban and Horton. She is currently a senior at Campbell High School and plans to study contemporary vocal performance in college. Mami & Papi, thank you for always supporting my dreams. IG: @mayaqquin

HADEN RIDER (he/ him) is thrilled to be back with some of his favorite people at the Aurora Theatre, and to be celebrating the most wonderful time of the year with such an incredible cast and creative team!
Past regional credits include: Monty Navarro in A Gentleman’s Guide To Love and Murder, Quasimodo in The Hunchback Of Notre Dame, Perchik in Fiddler On The Roof, Jack in Into The Woods, Radames in Aida, Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar, Tony Elliot in Billy Elliot, Abel in Children Of Eden, Gabe in Next To Normal. Boundless thanks to the Aurora Theatre as well as family and friends for their love and support. 
Have a Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, and a blessed New Year!  www.hadenrider.com
‪IG: @haden_riderdie

INDIA TYREE (she/her)'s recent credits include Jennie T Anderson Theatre’s The Last Five Years (Cathy) , Aurora Theatre's Song and Dance (Girl) and Christmas Canteen 2021 (Host). Buicentennial Productions, Respect.  Twelfth Night (Olivia) at Atlanta Shakespeare Tavern, Rock of Ages (Justice) and Burn The Floor (Lead Vocalist) on Norwegian Breakaway. Aida (Aida) at Atlanta Lyric Theatre.  Film/TV: Tyler Perry Studios, Sistas and Zatima, (Heather). Representation: People Store Agency. Follow her artistic journey on Instagram: @indiatyree

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

DAVID ROSSETTI (he/him) is thrilled to be back with his friends at Aurora Theatre and at the new LAC! Previous artistic work includes Associate Choreographer to Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, In The Heights) for the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat national tour and dance captain and swing for the Broadway revival of Annie. Choreography and direct- ing credits in NY: Thankskilling: The Musical, Nightfall on Miranga Island (2012 Fringe Festival “Encore Series”) the viral sensation The Spidey Project (reti- tled Peter, Who) which was an official selection for the 2018 New York Musicals Festival (Best Choreography nomination). Atlanta credits: Drowsy Chaperone at Atlanta Lyric, Broadway in Review at City Springs (Virtual Presentation), and Legally Blonde, Once on this Island, Hairspray, Cabaret, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Wedding Singer and Singin’ in the Rain at Gainesville Theatre Alliance. He also served as an Assistant Director for the Hairspray National Tour and at Paper Mill Playhouse. He thanks Tony & AC for trusting him and his hubby Dustin (and dog Mr. Benson) for letting him spend so much time away from home. Website: www.davidrossetti.com.

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!”

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.

KATIE PELKEY (Managing Director) 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 programs 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!

Renita James (Director of Education) is a proud graduate of AppCo 2013. It was during that year that she furthered her love of educational theatre while performing in Unnecessary Monsters and teaching several classes and workshops. Upon completion of her apprenticeship, Renita performed with theatres across the country. She also completed a teaching artist fellowship with Metro Theater Company, before returning home Atlanta. Renita currently heads up Teen Nation, Aurora’s program exclusively for teens, and works closely with our educational partners. Some of her favorite acting credits include: FML: How Carson McCullers Saved My Life (7 stages), Once Upon A Mattress (Stage Door Players), and The 12 Dates Of Christmas ( Aurora). 

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

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.

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.

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.