Apps on Tap

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.

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.

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!

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!

EVAN PHILLIPS (Video Designer)  is a proud alumnus of Aurora’s AppCo19.  He graduated from Michigan State University with a BFA in Theatre. He has previously worked on marketing animations used for Aurora’s production of Men with Money. Evan was last seen in Newsies (Mush) and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Ichabod Crane) during his apprenticeship at Aurora Theatre. Evan is an Associate Artist of the Sense-Ability Ensemble and is currently developing an original musical geared towards neurodiverse audiences. 

(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!

BRIANA YOUNG is ecstatic to return to Aurora’s stage as an alumna of the 2019 Apprentice Company. You may have recently seen her Aurora’s productions of Newsies, Christmas Canteen and Festival de MicroTeatro. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia where she earned her B.A. in Theatre and A.B. in Journalism. Favorite theatre credits include: You Can’t Take It with You (Alice), A Lesson Before Dying (Vivian), Aida (Aida), and The Little Mermaid (Ariel). Much love to her parents and the Aurora for their unwavering belief and support. brianaeyoung.com

Olivia Zimmerman  is ecstatic to join AppCo19 and make her Aurora Theatre debut in Newsies! Olivia is a recent graduate of The University of Alabama where she received a BA in dance with a minor in nutrition. Past credits include Lois/Kristine u/s in A Chorus Line, featured dancer roles in The Stephen Foster Story and Beauty and the Beast, and demi-solo roles in Swan Lake and Paquita with Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre. She is incredibly grateful to have been given the opportunity to study and perform with such a talented company and thanks her family and friends for their unwavering love and support.

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.

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!

TYLER TODD (Technical Theatre Apprentice) is an actor as well as a technician who is thrilled to be a part of this Apprentice Company. He most recently played Peter in Silent Sky and was the Master Carpenter at Young Harris College where he graduated with a BA in Theater. He has also been a part of Community Theatres like The Henry Players. He would like to thank his family and friends for their continued love and support. He would not be here today without them.