In preparation for an ambitious 2016-17 Season, Aurora Theatre proudly announces the addition of two new members, Renita James and Lauren Robinson, to its full-time staff! With this addition, Aurora Theatre now boasts a staff of 16 employees and more than 300 part-time and contract workers.
Renita and Lauren are two people with a tremendous passion for the arts and how we serve the community here at Aurora. As we look to the future, our successes demand we expand our programs and maximize the use of the physical space, says Anthony Rodriguez, Aurora Theatre Producing Artistic Director. These individuals, along with the rest of our top-notch team, will help Aurora Theatre reach new heights, now and in the future.
James will join the education staff and serve in the role of Education Coordinator, where she will help to expand the scope of Auroras already successful community outreach program. An alumnus of the inaugural class of Aurora Theatres Apprentice Program, James work in theater has taken her all over the country. In the past three years, she has become extremely passionate about education and theater for social change.
I have a passion for using the arts as a tool to help build community and address social issues, says James. I cant think of a better place or people to help me fulfill my lifes work than Aurora.
Lauren Robinson is no stranger to Aurora Theatre, previously serving as spotlight operator on many Aurora smash-hit musicals like Memphis and Into the Woods. Robinson has worked in almost every aspect of technical theater while attending Kennesaw State University. In addition to her studies, she has worked professionally with many of Atlantas top theaters serving as a carpenter and electrician. Robinson will now serve in the role of Assistant Technical Director, helping Aurora to continue to raise the bar on its award-winning production values.
Aurora Theatre is allowing me to turn my passion into a career. Working with Aurora technical director Daniel Terry over the past few years has been great because I know we already make a great team, says Johnson. Im very excited to take on the challenges of making one of the busiest theaters in the county shine.
About Lauren Robinson
Lauren Robinson is a recent graduate of Kennesaw State University (KSU). While at KSU, she worked as a carpenter, master electrician and technical director for the KSU Theatre Department. Professionally, she has worked as a carpenter and electrician for Aurora Theatre, Actor’s Express, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Horizon Theatre, 7 Stages and Dad’s Garage. Robinson also works as a spotlight operator for Aurora Theatre, the Cobb Energy Center and Theatre in the Park at Piedmont Park.
About Renita James
Renita James began at Aurora as an apprentice in the inaugural Acting Apprentice Company. It was during that year that she furthered her love of educational theater while performing in Unnecessary Monsters and teaching several classes and workshops. Upon completion of the apprenticeship, James pursued work that used theater as an avenue for education and social justice. She spent time performing and teaching in a variety of settings including an educational tour with the National Theatre for Children and a starring role in FML: How Carson McCullers Saved My Life, a piece that deals heavily with issues affecting teens and their loved ones. Most recently, James was a Teaching Artist Fellow with Metro Theater Company in St. Louis. In this fellowship, she taught theater in residencies and school-based classes, as well as developed and performed in a Theatre for the Very Young piece. Her work focused on using arts integration to address social justice issues and to build community work that she is excited to bring to Aurora.
