Christmas Canteen 2023

RUSSELL ALEXANDER (he/him) Atlanta: The Wild Party (Jennie T Anderson Theater); The Addams Family: The Musical (The Lyric Theatre); Children of Eden, NEWSIES, Mama Mia!: The Musical, Ripcord (Aurora Theater).
Regional: Memphis, The Wiz (Red Mountain Theatre Company);
Film/TV: Ironheart (Marvel/Disney+); Jefferson County P.O (Comedy Central); A Sparrow Cries at Night (Eboshi Platinum Productions); Heaux Phase (FUBU Networks)
Other: Celebrity Cruise Lines Headliner (NYC3) (A Tribute to Bruno Mars). IG: @_alexanderii

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. 

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

CHLOE CORDLE (she/her) is thrilled to be returning to the Aurora after closing out Beautiful:The Carole King Musical as Cynthia Weil. Aurora credits: Children of Eden, Men with Money, Mamma Mia! Atlanta credits: Guys and Dolls (Adelaide), The Drowsy Chaperone, Oliver! (Nancy U/S, DC), Jekyll & Hyde (Asst. Choreographer), Jesus Christ Superstar (The Atlanta Lyric) Nine, Sunday in the Park With George (Jennie T Anderson Theatre) Bright Star (Georgia Ensemble). Choreography credits: The Shuler Awards (2022/2023 Asst.), Ragtime (Asst./Serenbe Playhouse), Oliver!, Jekyll & Hyde (Asst./The Lyric). Training: Florida School of the Arts/Gainesville Theatre Alliance. Special thanks to her sissy, mum, pops, & Adam for their love and support xx IG: @chloecords

KARI TWYMAN (she/her)Performer. Choreographer. Educator. This is Kari’s second year as a Performer and Choreographer in Christmas Canteen! Other Aurora Credits Include: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Mary Poppins, Mamma Mia, The Hunchback of Notre Dame & In The Heights. Kari has been seen at several theatres around the ATL area. BFA in Musical Theatre from Brenau University. www.karitwyman.com.

ISA MARTINEZ (they/them) is so excited to be returning to the Aurora stage!! They most recently appeared in Aurora's Christmas Canteen. Local credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Actor's Express), A New Brain (Jennie T Anderson), Lizzie (Lizzie u/s Actor's Express), She Persisted (Georgia Ensemble) and Dragons Love Tacos (Georgia Ensemble). Isa has a BFA in Musical Theatre from Jacksonville University, and was a member of Aurora's 21-22 Apprentice Company! Mucho amor a mi familia <3

BRIANNE KNIGHTS (she/her) is excited to be back at Aurora Theatre for the most wonderful time of year! She is an actor, singer, dancer, writer, and an Atlanta native. She attended the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA and is a proud Alumnus of the Youth Ensemble of Atlanta where she serves as an educator. She has performed in several theaters around Atlanta including 7 Stages, Southwest Performing Arts Center, the Rialto, and Horizon Theatre to name a few. Her most recent professional credits include Christmas Canteen (2019), Mary Poppins (Ms. Corry), the original musical, Mother of God, and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical. Tv Film: Gotham Knights and Holiday Road. Follow her on her artistic journey on IG @bri.knights

ASHER PATTEN (he/him) is from Searcy, Arkansas and is a member of this year's acting apprentice company at Aurora Theatre. His recent work with Aurora include Christmas Canteen 2023 and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. He studied acting and music at Harding University where he was featured in many roles (Buddy the Elf in Elf: The Musical, Prince Topher in Cinderella, Inspector Carter in The Play That Goes Wrong..). Special thanks to the folks at Aurora for bringing him on board for this wonderful year, and to his family for always rooting for him. IG: @asherpatten

ZION GLENN (he/him) Atlanta: Urban Holiday Soup (Youth Ensemble of Atlanta). Regional: Peter Pan Jr., Hairspray Jr., Madagascar Jr, (A Company of Friends), Footloose ( The Legacy Theatre) Summer Surf Party (Georgia Ensemble Theatre), The Pretty Pants Bandit (Georgia Ensemble Theatre) Educational: For Peace I Rise (Emory University) Cultivating Brave Spaces, Broadway Unplugged, Heathers (Oglethorpe University/Actor’s Express) Urinetown (Oglethorpe University/Actor’s Express) The Cycle (Oglethorpe University) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (Aurora Theatre) Christmas Canteen (Aurora Theatre) The Cycle Film/TV: Greenleaf (CAB Castings), Dear Evan Hansen (2021) (Tammy Smith Casting). Zion is thrilled to be a part of Aurora’s ‘23-’24 Apprentice Company!

NOELLE MCINTYRE (she/her)  is a member of this years acting apprentice company and this is her fourth production here at Aurora. Past Credits: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Christmas Canteen, The 3 Little Pigs (Aurora), Pygmalion, Urinetown, Our Town, Secret Garden (Gainesville Theatre Alliance). She has a BFA in Acting from Brenau University, and would like to give a special thank you to her friends and family for their love and support this year. Insta @noelle_mcintyre

CALVIN BERNARDO (he/him) has returned for his sixth Aurora Theatre production. You may have seen him in this season's Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, in last season's Summer: The Donna Summer Musical as Pete Bellotte, or as Robertson Ay/Valentine in Mary Poppins. He also recently performed in Aurora's Theatre for Young Audiences program in Stiles and Drewe's The Three Little Pigs, as well as portrayed Norm Waxman in Jersey Boys at the Alhambra Theatre in Jacksonville Florida. He is currently a member of Aurora's AppCo24, and has taught musical theatre and acting at the Lionheart Theatre Company for five years. He'd like to thank his family and Natalie for their love and support.

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!”

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!

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.

SHELLI DELGADO (Script Supervisor) is an Atlanta local actor and writer, happy to be back for her second year of Christmas Canteen. Aurora Theatre acting credits include The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, A Doll's House Part 2, Into the Woods, Don't Dress for Dinner, 4000 Miles, Les Miserables & Mary Poppins. Shelli was also a 2013-14 Aurora Acting Apprentice. She is currently playing Nutkin in the world premiere of Into the Burrow at Alliance Theatre. Writer of Quarter Life* the Web Series. TV/Film: "Doom Patrol", "The Vampire Diaries", Reptile. Listen to her newest EP "First Rodeo" available on all musical platforms. IG: @shellidelgado

ASHLEY PRINCE (she/her/hers) is a musician, actor, and teacher from Mississippi. She's programmed and played every Aurora musical since The Hunchback of Notre Dame in 2017, and you may have seen her at an Aurora Theatre cabaret or in the Reindeer Games during the holidays. Ashley is a proud SCAD grab with a BFA in Performing Arts. When she's not at Aurora, she's chasing her toddler or teaching at Mister John's Music (www.misterjohnsmusic.com). Follow her little family on instagram: @ashleyrprince. 

ELIZA CRAFT (she/her) is so excited to work on her second production with Aurora AppCo24's Stage Management Apprentice! Previous credits include Beautiful: the Carole King Musical (Aurora) The Incredible Book Eating Boy (Alliance Theatre); Guys and Dolls (Atlanta Lyric); Bootycandy (Actor’s Express); RENT, Jitney, The SpongeBob Musical, and The Spitfire Grill (Kennesaw State University). She just graduated with a BA in Theatre and Performance Studies from Kennesaw State University. Lots of love to her amazing family and mentors.

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.

KEVIN FRAZIER (he/him) Favorite Aurora credits include Mamma Mia and Wit. Atlanta credits include: Actors Express, 7 Stages, Fabrefaction, Pinch N' Ouch, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, and Synchronicity. Other credits include Cleveland Playhouse, Merrimack Rep and Stoneham Theatre, The Peterborough Players, Glow Lyric Theatre and The Warehouse Theatre, Creede Rep, and both the New York and DC Fringe Festivals. International credits include Teatro Metripol (Tirana, Albania). Educational credits include Furman University (SC), Case Western Reserve University (OH), Lafayette College (PA), The Gainesville Theatre Alliance (GA), and Wake Forest University (NC). Kevin is an Associate Professor at Wake Forest University. Thanks to his family for their love and support!

Bio Coming Soon!

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.

Anna Lee is thrilled as always to be back designing at Aurora. She graduated from Kennesaw State University with a B.A. in Theatre and Performance Studies. Her credits include Zombie Prom (GGC), Spring Awakening (Oglethorpe), This Wonderful Life (Suzi Nominated), The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (Suzi Nominated), Christmas Canteen 2019, and Children of Eden (Aurora Theatre). Upcoming: Steel Magnolias (Serenbe Playhouse). Big thanks to Justin, her family, Jeffrey, CB, and all the Katies and Daniels she knows.

KRISTIN TALLEY (she/her) is currently a working Atlanta teaching artist, dancer, singer, actor and props designer. In 2019, she graduated from Young Harris College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and a minor in history. After graduating college, she became a member of the Aurora Theatre’s AppCo’20. During her apprenticeship, Kristin started designing props. She is so thankful to be the resident props designer at the theatre where she started. A few of her recent shows with the Aurora include, The Play That Goes Wrong, Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Kim’s Convenience, Christmas Canteen ('21, '22), Cinderella, and On Your Feet. She is also a principal dancer in Dolly Parton’s: Christmas on the Square on Netflix. Enjoy the show!

ALICE NEFF (she/her) 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.

EMILY GRACE BLACKSTONE (she/her) is excited to be back with Aurora for another season. Her previous shows at Aurora include The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Men with Money, and & Newsies. She has also worked with the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta as well as Arena Stage and the Shakespeare Theater in Washington, DC. She thanks her family and Patty for all their support. 

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.

Bio Coming Soon!

ISAAC BURRIER (he/him) 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.

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.

Bio Coming Soon!

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!