Without further ado:
Audrey Coleman, 14, is a freshman at Gilbert Classical Academy. She has been in theatre since age 7, and has performed with many companies across the East Valley. Some of her favorite roles include: Fiona in Shrek Jr. (NYA Award), Baker's Wife in Into The Woods Jr., and a Dynamite in Hairspray, all through Actor's Youth Theatre. Audrey enjoys dance, chocolate chip cookie dough, and memes.
Avery Strachan is 17 years old, and is currently a senior at Tempe Preparatory Academy in Tempe, Arizona. She was most recently seen as a Mersister and Princess in Valley Youth Theatre's June 2016 production of Disney's The Little Mermaid. Before that she graced the stage in many roles such as the Glow-Worm in VYT's James and the Giant Peach, a wife as well as a member of the female ensemble in VYT's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and ensemble in her high school production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel. Not only has Avery worked onstage, but offstage as well, most notably as the Assistant Stage Manager during the rehearsals and run of VYT's Into The Woods. She had also partaken in extracurriculars out side of theater, such as years of track and field, basketball, and golf. Aside from that, at school Avery is the president of HopeCrew, a member of Peer Mediation, and Vice President of Social Committee, just to name a few. She hopes that the experience of helping run the AYAA page will not only bring the wisdom that comes from experience, but also give her the opportunity to express to community her love for theatre and the arts!
Ethan Shanker is an actor who has performed at various theatres across the valley. Most recently, he was seen as Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde at MTA (AriZoni Nomination), Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at ASA (NYA Award), and the Bad Idea Bear in Avenue Q at DFT (NYA Nomination). He has performed in both AYAA Cabarets as Elder Cunningham ("You and Me But Mostly Me" from Book of Mormon), Will ("Give Me Novocaine" from American Idiot), and Mark Cohen ("What You Own" from RENT). He is thrilled to be on the AYAA team and will "raise the roof like his theoretical daughter" (He doesn't actually have a daughter, he's in high school. Not to judge anyone who has children in high school, just not the lifestyle he's chosen for himself).
Grace Napoletano is a young actress who has worked at a multitude of theaters around Arizona, notably Studio 3 Performing Arts Academye. Grace started performing around age 5 in dance with Scottsdale School of Ballet and then started doing musical theatre with Christian Youth Theatre at age 7. Recent credits: Demeter in Cats (Studio 3/Limelight), Alice Beineke in The Addams Family (Studio 3/Limelight), Marty in Grease (Studio 3/Limelight), Ensemble in A Christmas Carol (Fountain Hills), Narrator in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Studio 3/Limelight), and Ensemble in Big Fish (Actor's Youth Theatre). She also participated in the first AYAA Cabaret at the Tuscany Theatre. Grace will be helping out with interviews as well as providing additional content for AYAA!
Mark Munoz is so excited to be a part of the AYAA team! His most recent credits include Teddy in Chandler High's Arsenic and Old Lace, Chef Louis in VYT's Little Mermaid (NYA Nom) and Judge Turpin in AYT's Sweeney Todd (NYA Nom). A 2-time NATS competition winner, Mark is very dedicated to music theatre and the theatre community. As well as theatre, Mark is also publicity manager for three school clubs and runs his school's monthly news letter. Mark is member of the International Thespian Society, NHS, National Spanish Honors Society and the IB program.
Sophia Bavishi is currently a sophomore at Perry High School. She moved to Arizona almost 2 years ago and loves being here! Sophia loves performing around the Valley in Arizona. Some recent shows include Grease as Patty Simcox (VYT), Little Mermaid as Ensemble (VYT), and Elf the Musical as Emily Hobbs (AYT). Sophia is very excited to help participate with AYAA and can't wait to get started with more projects in it!So excited to bring all these diverse perspectives onto AYAA! Can't wait for this year here at AYAA.
