KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 27, 2026

The Aurora Theatre recently recognized the Department of Theatre & Performance Studies, part of the Robert S Geer Family College of the Arts at Kennesaw State University, as an Educational Partner — an honor that reflects a longstanding collaboration dedicated to student opportunity, artistic excellence and community impact.

Professor Marlon Burnley accepted the award on behalf of the department, celebrating a partnership that continues to create meaningful pathways for students both during their time at KSU and as they transition into professional careers.

For decades, Aurora Theatre has served as one of the region’s leading professional theaters, with a deep commitment not only to performance but to community engagement and artist development. That mission has made KSU a natural partner.

“A lot of our apprentices have come from Kennesaw State,” noted Jacky Segui, Aurora’s Director of Community Engagement & External Affairs. She highlighted the strong pipeline of emerging artists who begin their professional journeys through the theater’s programs. 

That connection is evident onstage and behind the scenes this season alone. KSU students and alumni have contributed to major productions, including The Wiz, featuring student performer Maurice Clermont and Waitress, where Brayden Gailey served as Assistant Music Director.

KSU faculty are also shaping Aurora’s artistic output. This year, multiple productions were directed by KSU professors; productions that achieved both critical acclaim and record-breaking ticket sales, including extended runs due to audience demand. 

 

Learning Beyond the Classroom

At the heart of the partnership is Aurora Theatre’s acclaimed apprentice program, a professional training ground that has supported more than 100 alumni over the past decade.

This is something Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director Ann-Carol Pence is most proud of in the theater’s legacy.“Seeing how people start here and grow — whether as performers, administrators, or nonprofit leaders — is one of our biggest accomplishments,” she shared.

For KSU students, these experiences extend classroom learning into real-world practice, offering mentorship, professional credits and access to Atlanta’s thriving arts ecosystem.

Aurora Theatre’s recognition of KSU also speaks to shared values. As a nonprofit arts organization, Aurora emphasizes inclusion, access and connection — principles that align closely with the mission of the Geer College of the Arts.

“We want to create a space where people from all communities feel like they belong,” Segui explained. “The arts bring us together, and that’s what we want to continue fostering.” 

Through productions, outreach programs and collaborative projects, the partnership continues to strengthen ties across Metro Atlanta, connecting students, artists and audiences in meaningful ways.

For Chuck Meacham, chair of the Department of Theatre & Performance Studies, the recognition affirms both the impact of the department and the importance of continued collaboration.

“Partnerships like Aurora Theatre are essential to preparing our students for the realities of the professional world,” he shared. “They provide a bridge between training and practice, where our students can apply their craft, build relationships and begin meaningful careers in the arts.”

As Aurora Theatre celebrates more than three decades of artistic excellence and community engagement, its partnership with Kennesaw State University stands as a model for how educational institutions and professional arts organizations can work together to shape the next generation of artists.