Discover how community support becomes art, and how arts investment has a ripple effect in the community through a conversation with Managing Director Brandon Kahn, Jennings-Hertz Artistic Director Christopher Moses, and Director of Finance Valerie Thomas.
Come Curious. Leave Changed.
Join us for transformative theater that speaks to the heart of Atlanta.
Step inside the world of Covenant, the southern gothic thriller on the Hertz Stage now through Nov 9. Hear insight from director Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and playwright York Walker. Plus, the cast of Covenant share their own horror stories that prove theater is never short on surprises.
Performances of Covenant run on the Hertz Stage October 8 – November 9, 2025.
Come Curious. Leave Changed.
Join us for transformative theater that speaks to the heart of Atlanta.
On this episode of the Alliance Theatre Podcast, we chat with Jennings Hertz Co-Artistic Directors Tinashe Kajese-Bolden and Christopher Moses about how the 2025/26 season came to be, why these stories need to be told, and what it means for Alliance Theatre audiences looking ahead.
Come Curious. Leave Changed.
Join us for transformative theater that speaks to the heart of Atlanta.
Welcome to Season 3 of the Alliance Theatre Podcast: An exploration of theater and the people who make it happen.
Tomi Martin has worked with musicians including Madonna, Justin Bieber, T-Pain, and more. With Martin set to man the guitar for DARLIN’ CORY – the time seemed more than opportune to discuss his love of music and art, how that love can influence what matters, and what it means to be the cool guy.
TOMI MARTIN is a native of Louisville, KY, and grew up as a preacher’s kid listening to the radio and developing a love for the music as well as the artists. His exposure to gospel, rock, soul, and jazz made a lasting impression and made him certain that he wanted to be a professional musician. Tomi transitions easily from studio to stage, which helped develop his reputation as both a session guitarist and musical director for concert tours, television specials, and feature film projects. As a music director, Tomi blends rock, pop, R&B, and hard funk into solid tracks with musical hooks that help make hit records. His unique guitar work and creative support have been a huge part of successful records and world tours for such artists as: John Legend, OutKast, Justin Bieber, Madonna, TLC, Stevie Nicks, Miley Cyrus, and The Indigo Girls.
ANISKA TONGE is the social media manager and content producer at the Alliance Theatre, where she offers audiences an inside look at the who, how and why of the stories we tell. An artist at heart, her writing and photography highlights her endless love of the arts. And as she continues to fall in love with the culture created by the city of Atlanta she hopes that theatre is a way to highlight the inspiring people behind it.
DARLIN’ CORY
Set against the backdrop of 1920s Appalachia, DARLIN’ CORY is a haunting new musical by playwright & novelist Phillip DePoy (EDWARD FOOTE) and Sugarland’s Grammy-Award winning front man, Kristian Bush (TROUBADOUR). In a tiny mountain town with no road in – and no road out – a community carries secrets of all sizes. But when a young woman with ambition and intelligence collides with a pastor deeply committed to preserving the status quo, cracks begin to appear in the town’s well-constructed façade. And when a stranger appears with a mysterious backstory and the best moonshine anyone’s ever tasted – some of those secrets threaten to spill. With an original folk-country score, this modern-day myth inspired by local lore promises to leave audiences on the edge of their seats.
For tickets and to learn more about DARLIN’ CORY.
For more information about the Alliance Theatre Podcast please click here.
ALLIANCE THEATRE PODCAST: AN EXPLORATION OF THEATER AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
On this episode, author Rick Elice and director Jessica Stone share a hilariously authentic conversation on collaboration, creativity and how Water for Elephants came to be.
Rick Elice (Book) Jersey Boys, Rick’s first Broadway credit, co-authored with Marshall Brickman, won the Tony Award, the Grammy Award and the Olivier Award for Best Musical, and has entered the record books as the twelfth longest-running show in Broadway history. With Marshall Brickman and Andrew Lippa, he wrote The Addams Family, starring Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth. For the past eight years, The Addams Family has topped the list of the most-licensed musicals in North America. Rick’s first play, Peter and the Starcatcher, received nine Tony Award nominations, and won five 2012 Tony Awards. For the past seven years, the play has been among the top ten most-produced plays in North America. Rick also wrote The Cher Show for Broadway, directed by Jason Moore; the world premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse of a new musical, My Very Own British Invasion, directed by Jerry Mitchell; the world premiere at The Old Globe.
Jessica Stone (Director) worked as an actress on and off-Broadway, in television and in film for decades before transitioning to directing. Broadway credits included Anything Goes, Butley, The Odd Couple, The Smell of the Kill, Design for Living, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Grease. Her directing career began in earnest with her all-male 2010 production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum for the Williamstown Theatre Festival. She has since been directing all over the country at such theaters as The Old Globe, A.C.T, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Huntington Theatre Company, Two River Theatre Company, and the Williamstown Theatre Festival among others. Productions include As You Like It, Kate Hamill’s Vanity Fair, Barefoot in the Park, Dancing at Lughnasa, Bad Dates, Ken Ludwig’s Robin Hood! (world premiere), Ripcord, Bad Jews, Arms and the Man, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Charlotte’s Web, June Moon, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Absurd Person Singular, Kimberly Akimbo (off-Broadway premiere at the Atlantic). Most recently, Stone directed the original Broadway musical Kimberly Akimbo, which opened in November 2022. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two sons.
Learn more about the Alliance Theatre Podcast.
ALLIANCE THEATRE PODCAST: AN EXPLORATION OF THEATER AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
On this episode of the Alliance Theatre Podcast we chat with playwright and director Mark Valdez about Into the Burrow, grief, joy, and the many natural blessings we get to share with one another.
Mark Valdez (Director/Writer) is the artistic director of Mixed Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, where he partners with communities, organizations, civic institutions, and others, using theater and creative tools to address community needs and lift community voices and stories. His work has been seen at the Alliance Theatre, Cornerstone Theater Company, East West Players, La Peña Cultural Center, Mixed Blood, the Ricardo Montalban Theater/CTG, and Trinity Rep, among others. Recent projects include the animated short film The Curious Cardinal, Detained by France-Luce Benson, and The Most Beautiful Home…Maybe, an interactive performance about affordable housing that toured the U.S. With Mixed Blood, he commissioned 12 artists to create new performances with/for 12 Twin Cities communities. The project, 12×12, culminates in day long festival of all 12 performances. Mark was the founding Executive Director of the Network of Ensemble Theaters, a collective of artists committed to co-creation. He is the recipient of the Johnson Fellowship for Artists Transforming Communities, the Zelda Fichandler Award, and the California Arts Council’s Legacy Artist Fellowship.
Learn more about the Alliance Theatre Podcast.
ALLIANCE THEATRE PODCAST: AN EXPLORATION OF THEATER AND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
On this episode, co-musical composers Divinity Roxx and Eugene H. Russell IV share a conversation about their career trajectory, creative process, and experience working side-by-side on the world premiere musical, The Boy Who Kissed the Sky.
Divinity Roxx (Composer) is a Grammy-nominated American recording artist, composer, and musician, with four solo albums (Ain’t No Other Way, 2003, The Roxx Boxx Experience, 2012, ImPossible, 2016, Ready Set Go!, 2021). In addition to her own work, she is well known for touring and performing with Beyoncé Knowles (2006–2011) as her bassist and Musical Director. Her career as a bass-player skyrocketed after attending a bass camp led by the legendary five time Grammy award winning bass virtuoso Victor Wooten where she was invited to join him on tour. Divinity has appeared on countless television shows including The Grammys, SNL, Good Morning America, The World Music Awards and more, with personal highlights including a special performance at The White House and an appearance on the hit TV show “Soul Man.” Her 2021 Family Music Album release, Ready Set Go! received critical acclaim and Scholastic Inc. published two songs from the album as full-color picture books. Her original compositions can be heard on television shows like “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta,” “Black Monday,” “The Bold Type,” and others. Divinity is currently performing around the world, teaching master classes and writing multiple projects including a new family music album, a solo stage play, and a series of children’s books with accompanying music
Eugene H. Russell IV (Composer / Music Director) is an Atlanta native, Tennessee State University alumnus, and proud Girl Dad. An accomplished musician/composer whose single “Brand New Day” can be found on all streaming platforms, Eugene IV wrote the music for the Alliance Theatre’s animated films Sit-In and Curious Cardinal as well as their stage production of Beautiful Blackbird. He recently composed the music for Turn-Up, a play co-written with his wife for St. Louis Black Rep. As both a vocalist and saxophonist for countless bands, Eugene has opened for the likes of George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Boyz II Men, KC & the Sunshine Brand, Brand New Heavies, and Mother’s Finest. His regional theatre acting credits include East Texas Hotlinks (True Colors Theatre Company); Dutchman (Nebraska Repertory Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Alliance Theatre); and Before It Hits Home (St. Louis Black Rep), for which he received the prestigious Woodie King, Jr. Award. Film/TV appearances include Disney’s “Secrets of Sulphur Springs” and Bounce TV’s “Saints & Sinners.” @theeugeneiv www.eugeneiv.com
Learn more about the Alliance Theatre Podcast.
Welcome to Season 2 of the Alliance Theatre Podcast: An exploration of theater and the people who make it happen.
Join Alexis Woodard and Tamilla Woodard (Co-Artistic Director of Working Theater in NYC, and Director of WORKING: A Musical, which will premiere as part of the Under the Tent Series later this spring,) in conversation as they discuss the whats, whys, and hows of doing this musical at this time.
TAMILLA WOODARD is the co-Artistic Director of Working Theater, former BOLD Associate Artistic Director at WP Theater, and the co-founder of PopUP Theatrics. She also served as the associate director of Hadestown on Broadway. This very digital season, her work includes American Dreams by Leila Buck for Working Theater, Theater for One’s Here We Are series with plays by Nikole Salter and Delanna Studdi, PopUP Theatrics Long Distance Affair, Parsnip Ship and MCC’s This Is Where We Go and the Lucille Lortel nominated, Where We Stand by Donnetta Lavinia Grays for WP Theater, Baltimore Center Stage and Steppenwolf. Recently named one of 50 Women to Watch on Broadway, Tamilla is a graduate of Yale School of Drama, where she currently teaches. She is also a recipient of the Josephine Abady Award from the League of Professional Theatre Women.
ALEXIS WOODARD is an Atlanta-based Director, proud Spelman College Alumna and current Spelman Leadership Fellow at the Alliance Theatre. Her Directing Credits include: Romeo + Juliet, Eurydice (Spelman College), Finished What We Started (Morehouse College), Hamlet (The Tiny Theatre Company), as well as assistant directing for the Suzi Award winning play, Hands of Color (Synchronicity Theatre), A Kids Play About Racism (Bay Area Children’s Theatre), and Associate Director for A Christmas Carol: The Live Radio Play (Alliance Theatre). Upcoming Credits include: Co-Director for Hands Up (Alliance Theatre), and Co-Director for Othello (The Tiny Theatre Company). She has also worked backstage on several productions such as Holler If You Hear Me (True Colors Theatre) and Hospice + Pointing At The Moon (Alliance Theatre). Film Credits include: Hands Up Teasers (Co-Director) and When Morning Comes (Writer). She also wrote and shot her first short film, When Morning Comes, which discusses sexual assault on college campuses.
Learn more about WORKING: A Musical, premiering next month as part of the Under the Tent Series.
For more information about the Alliance Theatre Podcast please click here.