Theatre People

This week on Theatre People, we are proud to welcome beloved Atlanta theatre, film, and television actor Denise Arribas. Denise has had a long and accomplished career in the Atlanta theatre community, most recently starring in Aurora Theatre's 2026 production of In the Heights. Denise is also one of the founding performers of Unexpected Encores, an immersive performance that serves people with dementia and their caregivers.    Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People we are proud to sit down with Actor's Express' artistic director Freddie Ashley! Freddie is an award-winning director and actor with an long and esteemed career in the Atlanta theatre community. Since stepping into the role of artistic director of Actor's Express in 2007 Freddie has directed over 50 productions, and has earned three Suzi Bass awards for best director, and earned the Suzi Bass award for best actor in a play for his performance as Charlie in The Whale.    Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People we are proud to welcome award-winning Atlanta theatre veteran Cara Mantella. Cara has appeared in countless Atlanta theatre productions including Alliance Theatre's Doubt, A Parable, Stagedoor Theatre's Cry it Out, Actor's Express' Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train and most recently Theatrical Outfit's The Price. Cara also has a long and accomplished film and television career with some notable credits including I, Tonya and NBC's Grosse Pointe Garden Society. Cara Mantella is currently starring in Horizon Theatre's world premiere production of Holy Chicken Sandwich by Kira Rockwell running now through September 19, 2026.   Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People we are proud to welcome Atlanta theatre, film and television actor Terrence Smith! Terrence has appeared in a number of critically-acclaimed theatre productions including Horizon Theatre's Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Actor's Express' Cabaret and Theatrical Outfit's world premiere production of Young John Lewis. Terrence Smith also appeared in the 2023 film production of The Color Purple alongside Taraji P. Henson, Colman Domingo and Fantasia Barrino.    Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People we are proud to welcome the Managing Artistic Director of Working Title Playwrights, Amber Bradshaw! Amber is an Atlanta theatre practitioner with an extensive background in dramaturgy. Their passion for new play development has supported- and continues to support- countless Atlanta playwrights through their leadership at Working Title Playwrights. Amber also hosts their own podcast titled, TABLEWORK: How New Plays Get Made.    Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People we are proud to welcome one of Atlanta's most celebrated actors, Andrew Benator. Andrew has performed in countless Atlanta theatre productions, as well as nationwide including several Off-Broadway appearances. Among his most notable Atlanta credits are Theatrical Outfit's The Lehman Trilogy, Alliance Theatre's August: Osage County, Actor's Express' Seminar and Theatrical Outfit's Remember: The Lessons of Jan Karski, for which he received the Suzi Bass Award for Best Performance in a Leading Role.   Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People we are proud to sit down with multi-award-winning costume designer, Dr. L. Nyrobi Moss. L. Nyrobi Moss has costume designed countless productions in Atlanta including Horizon Theatre's Natasha Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812, Actor's Express' Doubt: A Parable and Aurora Theatre's The Color Purple. In addition to her work in Atlanta, L. Nyrobi Moss has designed theatre productions all across the country including shows in NYC, Dallas, Washington D.C., Orlando and internationally in Holland, West Africa, South Africa and Dubai.   Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People, we are proud to welcome actor, director, playwright, and producer Tom Key. Tom is a highly celebrated actor, having performed in over 100 productions throughout his career in Birmingham, New York, Atlanta and beyond. Tom wrote and starred in the off-Broadway musical, Cotton Patch Gospel, which had subsequent productions throughout the United States. Tom Key also served as the Artistic Director of Theatrical Outfit for 25 years (1995-2020).   Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People we are proud to welcome Atlanta actor and director, Candy McLellan! Candy has been working in the professional Atlanta theatre community for over a decade, and has appeared on countless Atlanta stages including Aurora Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Alliance Theatre and Actor's Express. In 2025, Candy was awarded the Kenny Leon Directing Fellowship at Alliance Theatre, and then went on to direct the world premiere of Dad's Garage's hit musical, Hot Jambalaya. Candy McLellan is also a successful film actor, and has appeared on a number of major television shows including The Resident, Will Trent and Netflix's Sweet Magnolias. Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People we are proud to welcome award-winning playwright Kira Rockwell. Kira's play, Oh, To Be Pure Again received its world premiere at Actor's Express in 2023 and received endless praise from audiences and critics alike, and earning Kira the Suzi Bass Awards' Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwrighting Award. Kira's play, Holy Chicken Sandwich will have its world premiere at Horizon Theatre in August 2026. Kira Rockwell was named "People to Watch" by American Theatre Magazine.   Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People we sat down with actor and playwright Jacob York. Jacob has had an extensive performing career in the Atlanta theatre community and has appeared on numerous Atlanta stages including the Shakespeare Tavern, Stagedoor Theatre, Aurora Theatre, and Actor's Express. Jacob is also an award-winning playwright whose play, Initiative, received its world premiere at Aurora Theatre in March 2026.

This week on Theatre People we are proud to sit down with the talented and hilarious Jon Carr. Jon is the Artistic Director of Dad's Garage, and an award-winning improviser and sketch comic that has worked in the Atlanta arts community for over 20 years. Jon also previously served as the Executive Director of The Second City in Chicago.   Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People we are proud to welcome actor and director, Lauren Morris. Lauren has directed a number of productions in Atlanta including In Spite of My Ambivalence at Synchronicity Theatre, A Third Way at Actor's Express, The Cake at Horizon Theatre and Cry it Out at Stage Door Theatre. Lauren specializes in physical theatre, devised theatre and new play development.   Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week on Theatre People, we are proud to sit down with Actor's Express Associate Artistic Director Amanda Washington. Amanda is an award-winning director whose creative vision has brought unforgettable productions to the AE stage, including cullud wattah, Blues for an Alabama Sky, and A Strange Loop. She received the Suzi Bass Award for Outstanding Direction of a Play for her direction of cullud wattah by Erika Dickerson-Despenza.   Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Kelundra Smith is an award-winning arts and culture journalist, critic and playwright. Kelundra's work has appeared in countless publications including The New York Times, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, American Theatre Magazine and ArtsATL. Kelundra's play "The Wash" received its NNPN Rolling World Premiere in 2024, and won five Suzi Bass Awards including "The Gene-Gabriel Moore Playwrighting Award". In October 2026, Kelundra Smith's play "Other Paths to God" will receive its world premiere at Horizon Theatre.   Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

This week we are proud to sit down with award-winning playwright, screenwriter and producer Steve Yockey. Steve has written countless plays that have appeared on Atlanta stages including Pluto, Mercury, Bleeding Hearts and Venus. Steve Yockey was also the Executive Producer on the TV show Flight Attendant, for which he received an Emmy nomination for "Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series".     Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Michelle Pokopac is a theatre and film actor, producer, dramaturg, and activist with a BFA from Columbus State University. In 2018, she co-founded East by Southeast to support Asian artists and promote authentic representation in Atlanta. She has also been actively involved in social justice efforts, collaborating with artist-activist groups since 2020. Michelle has appeared in countless Atlanta theatre productions including Horizon Theatre's The Heart Sellers, Georgia Ensemble Theatre's Wait Until Dark and Actor's Express' Hometown Boy.   Music is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au

Eric J. Little is an award-winning, Atlanta based actor, director and professor at Clark University Atlanta. Eric has appeared on countless Atlanta stages including Theatrical Outfit, Horizon Theatre, Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre, Alliance Theatre and Actor's Express. Eric has won three Suzi Bass Awards, including "Best Leading Actor". Music for this episode is 'Wonderful' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au 

Mary Lynn Owen is an award-winning playwright and actor whose solo play KNEAD premiered at The Alliance Theatre and later at Aurora Theatre, earning the 2019 Gene Gabriel Moore Playwriting Award and the Alliance's Reiser Grant for New Work, with additional plays developed by major regional theaters and recognition, including the 2025 Tennessee Williams Scholarship and a Blue Ink Award finalist spot for her play, SALVAGE. A three-time Suzi Award- winning performer with over 75 professional productions and a nearly 50-year tenure in the Atlanta theatre community, she also teaches a course titled Taller de Teatro en Español at Emory University.