Justin Anderson Joins Aurora Theatre as Associate Artistic Director

Aurora Theatre proudly announces Justin Anderson has been appointed the new Associate Artistic Director. One of Atlanta's busiest and most successful freelance stage directors has found an artistic home and Aurora Theatre could not be happier. Mr. Anderson will join the full-time staff at Aurora Theatre beginning January 6, 2014. Over the past two years he has made a significant impact on the theatre as the director of several successful productions including Tigers Be Still, Petite Rouge, Pater Pan and Wendy and LES MISERABLES. LES MISERABLES took home 5 Suzi Bass Awards including Best Musical and Best Director of Musical for Mr. Anderson.

Anthony Rodriguez, Aurora Theatre Producing Artistic Director, "As Aurora Theatre continues to grow, we need to expand the scope of our artistic possibilities. Justin is an amazingly talented theatre artist with tremendous passion. He will be responsible for maintaining artistic quality and helping to identify areas of artistic growth. Justin is that missing critical component we needed in the development of our New Musical Initiative. Expanding our staff will enhance our national profile, so that we may continue raising the bar as an arts organization."

Incoming Aurora Associate Artistic Director Justin Anderson explains why he is so excited join the team, "Aurora Theatre offers a level of tangible fearlessness, trust, and collaboration not seen at every regional theatre here in Atlanta or even across the country. What Anthony and Ann-Carol have created, along with their fantastic staff, is an organization that knows who their audience is and continuously seeks to deepen its roots in and commitment to the community it serves; it is an organization that supports and invests in growing local talent, while endeavoring to continue to partner with talent of national and international caliber. The only direction from here is up and I couldn't be happier to be making this my artistic home-base."

Based in Atlanta since 2009, Anderson has worked as a freelance professional director whose work has earned him both popular and critical praise. Theatre critic Brad Rudy says Anderson's work is a ... "quickly-becoming-overwhelming list of successful stagings" (AtlantaTheatreBuzz.com, April 15, 2012). And he shows no signs of slowing down any time soon. The current Atlanta professional theatre season has Justin running the gamut from new works to classics, plays to musicals, holiday shows to family-friendly fare.

Mr. Anderson also serves as the casting director for Theatrical Outfit, the third oldest professional theatre company in Atlanta, Georgia. Artistic associations include Theatrical Outfit, Synchronicity Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse and Pinch 'N' Ouch Theatre. While studying directing at Rutgers University, Justin had the privilege to work with Amy Saltz, Pam Berlin, William Carden, and Deborah Headwall. He holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Campbell University.

His work has been seen at regional theatres in the Atlanta area including ALLIANCE THEATRE, Theatrical Outfit, Aurora Theatre, Actor's Express, 7 Stages, Synchronicity Theatre, Serenbe Playhouse, Dad's Garage, Pinch 'N' Ouch Theatre, Stage Door Players and Working Title Playwrights. Justin is also a faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Kennesaw Stage University.

Currently Justin is in rehearsals for Aurora's production of Lombardi by Eric Simonson, based on the book When Pride Still Mattered - A Life of Vince Lombardi written by David Maraniss. The show runs January 16 through February 9, 2014 and features Bart Hansard in the title role. For more information visit www.auroratheatre.com .

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