One of the most frequent winners at Atlanta’s esteemed Suzi Bass Awards, Aurora Theatre stages many of their impressive shows in a historically reclaimed church in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The only professional theater in Gwinnett County has delighted audiences with three hits in its 2015–16 season: “Memphis” (a co-production with Theatrical Outfit), “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” (co-produced with Horizon Theatre), and “Wit.”
Justin Anderson, who helmed “Vanya,” serves as not only the associate artistic director of Aurora Theatre, but also as one of the most prolific and hard-working independent directors in the Southeast. After getting his start regionally with Synchronicity Theater, it took two years of persistence to connect professionally with Aurora. Anderson casts and organizes each season’s shows, teaches acting at Georgia’s Kennesaw State University, and has more than 34 directing credits under his belt. He chats with Backstage about what he looks for in actors and how he stumbled into directing by accident.
What is it about directing that speaks to you?
Directing allows one to cast and craft vision, lean into the text for clues and ultimate guidance, harness the genius and impulses of his or her design team and actors, and arrive at something—ideally—that is clear, specific and visceral for an audience. It is my hope that I do that well on a consistent basis in a truly collaborative way.
What is it like working with Aurora?
Working with Aurora Theatre is nothing short of a blessing, a true gift! I couldn’t be more proud of our efforts to expand our programming horizon to reflect the spectrum of our community, both in playwrights, members of our design team, and our casts. We attempt to be as conscious [of diversity] as possible when casting our shows.
Mary Lynn Owen and Tiffany Mitchenor in “Wit.” Photo by Chris Bartelski.
What shows do we have to look forward to this year?
The remainder of our 2015–16 season includes the Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine seminal classic, “Into the Woods,” conceived and staged with a fresh twist as part of our Signature Series on our main stage. That is followed by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Nilo Cruz’s mercurial, lyrical play “Sotto Voce,” closing out our Harvel Lab Series in the Studio Theatre. We round the Signature Series out with a revival of Herb Gardner’s “I’m Not Rappaport,” reuniting actors Rob Cleveland and Kenny Raskin, who originally starred in the Atlanta production at Theatrical Outfit nearly 30 years ago.
While we are still putting the finishing touches on our 2016–17 season, I can tell you that we are opening with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes’ “In the Heights,” a co-production with Theatrical Outfit.
What is it you most look for in an actor?
More than talent, I want an actor who is able to take direction and make an adjustment, someone who is nimble when it comes to process-oriented work. Couple that with specific, personalized point of view and clear, active choices and you’ve got a match made in heaven!
Inspired by this post? Check out our Atlanta audition listings!