JUNIOR ADVISORY BOARD (JAB)
JAB consists of Central Alabama's brightest and most talented young people who are selected through an application process to shadow our theater professionals and receive a FREE, hands-on education through on-the-job training in the theater...You must be a Junior in High School through 25 years old to apply. You do NOT have to be a performer, as there are MANY jobs in the Theater! It's FREE , so click the button below to apply!...
an opportunity you'll only find at Central Alabama Theater!
Interested in Joining the JAB? Click to apply!
Tiara Pennington
Tiara Pennington is a student at the University of Alabama, and is the first ever MISS ALABAMA to reign for 2 years (2019,2020)! She was MISS ALABAMA'S OUTSTANDING TEEN 2016 and a Top 8 Finalist, Top 5 Community Service Finalist, and Top 5 Interviewer at MISS AMERICA'S OUTSTANDING TEEN 2017. She has also held the MISS TENNESSEE VALLEY title. She has completed close to 700 hours of community service. Her platform is the National Psoriasis Foundation and Psoriasis Take Action Alabama. Pennington has received a Proclamation from former Governor Robert Bentley for Psoriasis Take Action Alabama. She spoke with the Food and Drug Administration to provide safer drugs for people suffering with psoriasis. As a performer, she has won numerous vocal competitions at the local, state, and regional level. She was the National Fine Arts Award Winner in 2015 from the United States of America Achievement Academy. Tiara has also been an extra in the movie WOODLAWN, judged the Alabama Vocal Competition, been in several local commercials, and recently modeled for Alabama Wedding Magazine 2017.
Alex Freeman
Alex Freeman is a senior at The University of Alabama majoring in Musical Theatre. He grew up in Tuscaloosa, getting involved in community theatre starting in middle school. Past credits include “Drew” in ROCK OF AGES, “Chad” in DISASTER! THE MUSICAL, “Fender” in HAIRSPRAY, and “Russian Soloist/Ensemble” in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (with Birmingham-Southern College). He has choreographed and directed children’s theatre camp productions including MULAN JR. and ARISTOCATS KIDS. In high school, he was National Beta Club president, TCHS Choral Department president and TCHS outstanding senior. He has also went on to choreograph numbers with the TCHS showchoir. He is thrilled to get started as a member of the JAB at CAT!
Darby Burgess
Darby Burgess is a native of Florence, AL, and graduated Cum Laude from Birmingham-Southern College with a BA in Theatre Arts and a minor in History. She has been a part of numerous community, college, and professional productions with some of her favorite credits including "Catherine" in PROOF, "Brooke Ashton" in NOISES OFF, "Chava" in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and "Evelyn Nesbit" in RAGTIME. Darby has also had experience in directing and choreography at both collegiate and professional levels. Aside from CAT Junior Advisory Board, Darby has been involved with different organizations around the Birmingham area such as The Dance Foundation, Birmingham Children's Theatre, Virginia-Samford Theatre, and Terrific New Theatre. Most recently, she has moved to Villa Rica, Georgia, to teach dance and choreograph.
Matthew Torbett
Matthew Torbett is a 2019 college graduate, receiving a degree in Musical Theatre from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, AL. He has also been a student of Ryan Scott Oliver and Tony Award-winner Lindsay Mendez’s Actor Therapy program, having completed two intensives in NYC. Aside from being onstage, he likes to choreograph and design/sew costumes. His passions include youth leadership education, arts advocacy, and audition technique/coaching. Recent productions at Birmingham-Southern include "Michael" in TICK, TICK... BOOM!, "Ensemble" in PIPPIN, "Poseidon" in THE TROJAN WOMEN, and "Avram" in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.
Rachel Lockhart
Rachel Lockhart is a recent graduate of the Alabama School of Fine Arts with a focus in dance. Currently, she is a sophomore dance major at The Julliard School! She began training at the age of 2 at the J. Lockhart Performing Arts Institute. Since that time she has received formal training in ballet, jazz, modern, tap, contemporary, pointe, African, Hip Hop, and theatre. Rachel is no stranger to the stage. She has performed throughout Birmingham and Atlanta. Her list of credits include performing the role of "Marie" in the Alabama Ballet NUTCRACKER(2010 & 2011) and "Young Nettie" in the Red Mountain Theatre's 2012 production of THE COLOR PURPLE. She has received numerous summer scholarships in dance at prestigious institutions. In 2014, she received a scholarship to study at the International Ballet Intensive with Danita Emma, Momchil Mladenov, Darina Bedeva, Stevan Novakovich, John Gardner, Amanda McKerrow, Lisa Lock and Julie Long. In 2015 she received a summer scholarship with the Atlanta Dance Connection. In 2016, she received scholarships from Joffrey Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Summer of 2018, Rachel attended Juilliard’s summer dance intensive in New York. Rachel has performed in numerous dance concerts and countless community-service events which include, but are not limited to, the Sixth Avenue Baptist Annual Black History Musical Dance Dramas, Councilor Lashunda Scales Annual Christmas Celebration, Butterfly Confessions starring Roz Ryan and Anna Maria Horsford , and The Next Big Thing sponsored by the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham. Continuing to build upon her dance experience, Rachel has studied with Jenna McKerrow Wilson, David Keener, Martha Faesi, Terri Weksler, Germaul Barnes, Lorraine Graves, and Wes Chapman. She has work with several companies in Atlanta including Kiki Ely and Sakinah LeStage with ATLA and Allyne Gartrell, Artistic Director of the Atlanta Dance Connection (formerly the Founder and Executive Artistic Director of Dallas Black Dance Company II) and LeVon Campbell, ADC Company Manager. Rachel has also studied with a host of nationally recognized choreographers such as Christopher Robbins, Carlos Garland, Brian Friedman, Gil Duldulao, Chris Judd, Ian Eastwood, Dave Scott, and Tessandra Chavez. Rachel enjoys singing, modeling, choreographing and shopping. Although she keeps a busy schedule, she maintains an A average. In 2010, she won the Birmingham City District Math Derby over first place candidates from 33 schools and maintains a GPA of 3.6 today.
Jackson Massey
Jackson Massey is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, receiving a BA in Theatre Arts. He grew up in Montgomery, AL, but has grown to call Birmingham his home since beginning college. Jackson's credits include "Will" in AMERICAN IDIOT, "Mordcha" in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, "Selsdon Mowbray" in NOISES OFF, and "Jon" in TICK TICK BOOM. In addition to acting roles at BSC, he has also had the opportunity to serve as stage manager for both THE TROJAN WOMEN and THE TEMPEST. When not immersed in the theatre world, Jackson writes original music. He was recently the opener for the band Coin in August 2017. Jackson's 2016 album, Bruises & Scars, can be found on all digital music retailers. He is excited to work with the Junior Advisory Board!
Ryan Key
Ryan Key is a graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, receiving a degree in Theater Arts. Ryan is from Atlanta, GA by way of Sandy Springs. His past credits include "Alonso" in THE TEMPEST, "Fredrick Fellowes" in NOISES OFF, and the "Representative of Jingletown" in AMERICAN IDIOT. In addition to acting, Ryan has extensive experience in lighting, often running lights for theatres in the community such as Virginia Samford Theatre and CAT. In his free time Ryan loves to read. He is so excited to be working with Central Alabama Theater!
Jada Cato
Jada Cato is a Birmingham, Alabama based singer-songwriter, actor, and designer. Jada majored in Theatre at Birmingham-Southern College and has since been seen across the southeast as "The Witch" in INTO THE WOODS, "Extraordinary Girl" in AMERICAN IDIOT, "Gary Coleman" in AVENUE Q, "Diana" in NEXT TO NORMAL, "Joan" in FUN HOME, "Isle" in SPRING AWAKENING, and "Serena" in LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL. Jada recently completed a contract as a featured singer with Royal Caribbean and now she has immersed herself in leading worship, songwriting, and advocacy work, earning herself the title of ‘2019 GLAAD Rising Star,’ landing her a spot in Alabama News Center Singer Songwriter Series, and crowning her the Five Points Star in the 2019 songwriting competition. Jada and her band have recently played events in connection to Avondale Brewery, Ryktor, and Sofar Sounds. She will be directing Niceties by Eleanor Burgess at Samford University this spring. Jada can be found on all social media platforms and music streaming services. She thanks her loved ones for their endless support. You are loved!
Zoe Wirt
Zoe Wirt is a recent graduate of the Music Department at Birmingham-Southern College. She has recently been seen on stage in Central Alabama Theater’s A NOT SO SILENT NIGHT and Birmingham Children’s Theatre’s RUMPELSTILTSKIN and THE HUNDRED DRESSES, as well as Homewood Theatre’s THE UNDERPANTS. In her hometown of Columbus, GA, she trained at the Springer Theatre Academy for ten years. She has studied at summer programs such as the musical theatre intensive, Open Jar, in NYC, and the College-Conservatory of Music Summer Opera Studio in Cincinnati. Currently, Zoe holds positions as the soprano section leader and as a voice and acting teacher at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church.
