2022 Actors
Josh Brook (He/Him/His) is so excited to have the opportunity to bring new work to life. After graduating from Kennesaw State he worked with a group called The Collective that focused solely on devising new stories in interesting, authentic spaces. He has spent the better part of a decade amongst the Atlanta theatre community and has cherished every moment. Atlanta: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, The Bodyguard (Springer Opera House), The Importance of Being Earnest (Theatre Buford), Legacy of Light, Anne Boleyn, Lyle the Crocodile, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane (Synchronicity Theatre), August: Osage County (Greenlight Acting Studios), Tuck Everlasting (Alliance Theatre). When not acting he has spent the last decade teaching imagination and play to the wonderful students of the Georgia Ensemble Theatre Conservatory. Soon to be Dad, animal lover, nature lover and table top card playing nerd. All the love to you on your journey of creation and thank you for letting me be a part of it!
Lamar K. Cheston is a New York City native, spiritually grounded at New Life Cathedral under the leadership of ArchBishop Robert J. Rochford, and daily meditates on the scripture “the Lord will perfect that which concerneth me” (Psalm 138:8). He was last seen on the Atlanta stage in Horizon Theatre’s Pipeline. He thanks his family, mentor, and fraternity brothers for their continued support and leaves you with the statement, “if there is no struggle, there is no progress.” (Frederick Douglass, 1895) www.LamarKCheston.com
Patty de la Garza is a Mexican actor based in Atlanta. Recently seen as Desdemona and Diana on the Atlanta Shakespeare tavern’s mainstage, Winnie Foster in GET’s 2019-2020 TYA tour, and Mercutio and the Prince with Atlanta Shakespeare Company’s Education tour in 2018-2019. Starting her career at an early age, she continues to make the stage her playground, always remembering the words of her first theater teacher…”Keep your sparkle button on” and so she has. Knowing how much art impacts people’s lives Patty is also a teaching artist in programs such as Chopart that provides arts to teens experiencing homelessness and creates projects like “The Body Language Project” choreographing and dancing to spoken word poetry, music and video to create social justice pieces about race, sexual abuse and mental disorders. When not in the theater world she can be found with a nice cup of tea and her nose in a book…or flowers. She absolutely loves belugas and swimming. She also just adopted a cute dog named Sirius and together they are adventuring and exploring Atlanta.
Britny Horton is an art-ivist from Rochester, NY. Upon graduating from Spelman College and the British American Drama Academy, Britny began working for theaters and film and TV productions across the country. Britny worked as a Casting Associate for five years before pursuing her MFA at the University of Iowa (’21). Britny is dedicated to her training and considers it an honor to explore and refine her art. Her most recent credits include Hit the Wall (University of Iowa), Sweat (University of Iowa), Men on Boats (Riverside Theatre), and Too Heavy for Your Pocket (Pyramid Theatre), YesToday (film), Incensed (Film), and Lights On (Film). In 2020, she produced the first film under her production company Curvy Confidence. In 2019, Britny won the Best Actress in a Play Award from Broadway World Des Moines for her portrayal of Evelyn in Too Heavy for Your Pocket. She recently launched a podcast named Curvy Confidence. It is her goal to use her art to spread body-positive messages by playing and creating roles that challenge the standards of beauty and further incite the empowerment of black women.
Cara Mantella has appeared on stages in and around Atlanta including Alliance Theatre, Aurora Theatre, Theatre in the Square, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Actor’s Express, Horizon Theatre, Stage Door Players, Dominion Entertainment Group, and Théâtre du Rêve. Recent TV & Film credits: Lodge 49, Stranger Things, Bobcat Goldthwait’s Misfits & Monsters, American Soul, Nashville, The Oval, The Founder, The Good Lie, Noelle, I, Tonya, and more. BFA in Acting from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. imdb.me/caramantella
Brad Raymond has performed as an actor, singer or conductor at some of the art world’s most esteemed institutions including the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Light Opera Works of Chicago, the Ravinia Festival, Atlanta Opera, Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre, Theater Emory, The Arena Stage and Spivey Hall. Some of Brad’s favorite roles include: Homer in Lilies of the Field, Fetch in Fetch, Clay Make Man and his Suzi Bass Award-winning performance as Blue in Chasin’ Dem Blues. Be sure to get your DVD copy of the motion picture Joyful Noise to see Brad “bust-a-move” alongside Queen Latifah and Dolly Parton.
Gabrielle Stephenson grew up in southwest Virginia and double majored in both Musical Theater and Technical Theater at Christopher Newport University. After living in Greensboro and working at various theaters in NC, she and her husband relocated to Atlanta. Gabby has been working as an actor in theater & film, a scenic artist and designer at a number of theaters and venues in the area. Most recently, she worked as the U/S Swing for the majority of the roles in Alliance Theatre’s production of Dream Hou$e, and designed the set for Synchronicity’s production of Legacy of Light. She is the scenic charge at Legacy Theatre and is currently painting for their production of Wizard of Oz. She is also in the midst of working on the designs for the Essential Theatre Play Festival which will take place later this summer. Thanks to Horizon for this neat opportunity!
Vivi Thai plays the ukulele, sword-fights, and flies (as an acroyogi). She has been acting since she was 12 when she debuted as Ebenezer Scrooge in a musical version of A Christmas Carol (yes, she’s THAT good at playing against “type”). Even when traveling across the world, her heart always led her to acting. After earning degrees in Film Production and Business at the University of Texas at Austin, she performed in Hong Kong and Atlanta before journeying to Los Angeles. In her work, she strives to get people say, “Wow, I never thought about it like that.” On Amazon Prime, you can see her play a botanist in Personal Space, a web series about astronauts who don’t know they are on a reality TV show, or Seed&Spark’s season 2 of F*ck Yes, a series that illustrates how #consentissexy. She’s also on stage a lot. When not acting or writing, she will probably try to feed you or point out an edible plant growing on your sidewalk. And then try to feed you.
Aminah Williams thrilled to join YPF for another year. Credits: The Bluest Eye Synchronicity Theatre. Educational: Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Servant of Two Masters, Hot L Baltimore(Georgia State University). Education: B.A. Film and Video, Theatre Georgia State University. Horizon Theatre: 2019-2020 Apprentice Company. Aside from acting, Aminah prides herself in being a mommy and tea maker. She gives thanks to her family for all their love and support.
Libby Williams is an Atlanta native and an alumna of the University of Alabama, roll tide. After getting a degree in theatre and digital art, she returned home to be an acting apprentice with Horizon Theatre Company. Most recently, she was a resident ensemble member at Stage Door Theatre. Some of her favorite theatre credits include She Kills Monsters (Agnes), Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), and Puffs (Hannah).
Markell Williams has been seen at Horizon in Waffle Palace Christmas and Sweet Water Taste, as well as previous New South Young Playwrights Festivals. He performed for Alliance Theater, 7 stages, Birmingham Children’s Theatre, Weird Sisters, The Object Group, Center for Puppetry Arts, Impulse Rep, and Theatre in the Square. Favorite roles include: Cassius Clay in And in this Corner Cassius Clay, Booth in Top Dog/ Under Dog, Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar, Peter in The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe where he and cast received a Suzi Bass Award for Best Performance and a guest star role on the FX TV series Atlanta. Follow him on instagram @Markell.Williams to see what he’s up to next!
Jacob York A native of Fairdealing, Kentucky, Jacob York has made Atlanta, Georgia his home for much of the last decade. He is an actor whose credits include Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell on Adult Swim, and TURN: Washington’s Spies on AMC. In addition to acting, he is an audiobook narrator (Audie Nominated for Certain, Dark Things by MJ Pack) and a writer whose credits include HOMERS (World Premiere, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Roswell, GA) and INITIATIVE (Winner, YES Festival at Northern Kentucky University – Workshop Production, Woven Theatre, Nashville, TN). Previously he served as Artistic Associate at Stage Door Players, where he was responsible for spearheading the WORKS IN PROGRESS WEDNESDAYS initiative, which provided readings and development for new works by Atlanta playwrights including Topher Payne, Jon Carr, and Dani Herd.