Apprentice Company Showcase 2023

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

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.

KENDALL BERRY (she/her) Kendall is thrilled to be back on the Aurora Theatre stage after completing her Apprenticeship here last year. She recently graduated from LSU with a BA in Theatre Performance and a minor in Social Work before moving to Atlanta. You may remember seeing her as part of the "Crew" for The Play That Goes Wrong or as Baby Bear in Aurora's TYA production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. She has spent the last few months on tour with the Atlanta Shakespeare Company doing Romeo and Juliet 60 and Midsummer 60 at schools all over the Southeast; she is happy to be in one place for a little while. She would like to thank her family for always supporting her dream to go into theatre professionally. I'm doing it y'all!

SEBASTIAN LOPEZ (they/them) is part of this year's Aurora Theatre Apprentice Company and is thrilled that Mary Poppins is their Aurora debut. Sebastian is an Atlanta-based actor and recently graduated with a BA in Theatre & Performance Studies from Kennesaw State University, with a concentration in Musical Theatre & a Minor in Dance. Theatre has always been Sebastian's greatest passion and they are extremely grateful to pursue performance as a career. They dedicate this performance to their partner Nicholas Knox. 

Insta: Bash_The_Performer 

SYDNEY MICHELLE (she/her) is excited to be a part of the Aurora family. She started as a box office associate at the Aurora in February of 2022. She is now happy to be a part of Appco23. Sydney has had the privilege of understudying Ms. Andrew and being an ensemble member in Mary Poppins (Aurora Theatre, 2022). She was an Ensemble Member in Summer: The Donna Summer Musical (Aurora Theatre, 2023) Sydney graduated from The Theatre School at Depaul University (2020) and received a BFA in Theatre Arts. Sydney starred in a short film called A Divas A Bedroom. Sydney also is a content creator and her brand Black.Funny.Diva. She enjoys entertaining her audience by having a comedic diva lifestyle. Sydney is ecstatic to be back at home on stage and ready to work with incredible people.

SYDNI STEPHENSON (she/her) Sydni is delighted to be back at Aurora for this amazing show! She has a degree in Production Design with a concentration in Costume Design from The Savannah College of Art and Design. Recent credits include Christmas Canteen 2023, Beautiful: The Carol King Musical, Play That Goes Wrong, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Kim’s Convenience, Christmas Canteen 2022 and Mary Poppins here at The Aurora Theatre.

TALORIA MERRICKS  is super excited to be playing the role of Ensemble/US Duckling Donna in Summer: Donna Summer the Musical. She is excited to help portray this story of black excellence. Taloria is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her studies include drama classes at Howard University. She is a part of Aurora's AppCo23. Her past roles have included, Ensemble/US of Mary Poppins in Aurora's Mary Poppins. Also, she was the female identifying Swing in Aurora's Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Leading Player in a production of Pippin, & more. Taloria continues to pursue her passion in all forms of the Performing Arts with the help of God and her family.

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.

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 

ALEX GARRETT (she/her) is super excited to be a part of Aurora Theaters production of Marry Poppins! Favorite roles include Miranda in the Busie Body at MTSU, Bianca in Kiss me Kate at MTSU, Veronica Sawyer in Heathers at the Franklin Theater, and Jan in Grease at the arts Center of Cannon County. She is very thankful to her friends and family for their constant support.