Staff
Benjamin Taylor Davis
Founder/Executive Director
Benjamin Davis graduated cum laude from The University of Georgia with a B.A. in Theatre and a B.S. in Psychology. He is also a graduate of Aurora Theatre's Apprentice Company. In addition to Aurora Theatre, Ben has appeared on stages at the Alliance Theatre, Actor’s Express, Theatrical Outfit, City Springs Theatre, Horizon Theatre, Arís Theatre, Dad’s Garage, Synchronicity Theatre, Stage Door Players, The Warehouse Theatre, and TheatreZone. Benjamin is a proud member of Actor's Equity. His Film & TV credits include The Fat Boy Chronicles, Fun World, The D.U.F.F., “Dream Writers,” and “Doom Patrol” now streaming on DC Universe. He has also appeared in commercials & industrials for the Georgia Lottery, North Carolina Education Lottery, Equifax, The DVI Group, Eli Inc., Ensign Studios, Top Flite, Zaxby’s, Home Depot, Harveys Supermarkets, and RaceTrac. For 7 years, Benjamin was involved with the Broadway Dreams Foundation as a production assistant, lead intern, performer, and student under the direction of Annette Tanner, Nicholas Rodriguez, Matt Lenz, and Stafford Arima among others. Benjamin serves as the Head of Theatre Division for Phoenix 4 Productions where his credits include Associate Producer for Breathe: The Prequel and The Run Saga: Breathe. He was also an Associate Producer for The Last Time We Were Here, an official selection of the 2015 New York Musical Festival.
Jeff McKerley
Artistic Director
Jeff has made Atlanta his artistic home for 33 years as an actor, singer, dancer, director, choreographer, and educator. He has had the honor of receiving 3 Suzi Bass Awards (Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical, Outstanding Choreography, and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play). He has performed at The Alliance Theatre, The Atlanta Lyric Theatre, Theatrical Outfit, Actor’s Express, The Shakespeare Tavern, The LaGrange Lyric Theatre, The Aurora Theatre, The Horizon Theatre, Theatre in the Square and many other local and regional community-based and semi-professional theatres. From 1988-1992, he served as a founder and Artistic Director of Southern Fried Productions, an Atlanta-based theatre company that focused on cultivating new Southern plays, musicals, and authors. Jeff wrote the lyrics and a portion of the music for The Fine Art of Forgetting, one of the musicals chosen during the AMTF’s inaugural year. He has also adapted several Native American and international folktales to the stage. He also teaches acting and musical theatre privately, and is involved with several after-school arts programs in the Atlanta area.
Casey Gardner
Managing Director
Casey Gardner is a photographer and actor in Atlanta. She has done quite a few head shots in the Atlanta area for local actors and does production photography work for Theatre Buford, Actor’s Express, Aurora Theatre, Catalyst, Atlanta Theatre Club, Found Stages, Georgia Ensamble Theatre, Horizon, Serenbe Playhouse, Theatrical Outfit, The Weird Sister’s Theatre Project, and more.
Her work has been featured in American Theatre Magazine, the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Edge Atlanta, Creative Loafing, Atlanta ShowGuide, Simply Buckhead, ArtsATL along with many other wonderful publications.
She has a degree in Performing Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design and lives with her cat Otis and fiancé Dan.
Elyse Moore
Creative Director
Elyse is an Atlanta based Graphic Designer and Mural Painter. She has a Bachelors Degree in Studio Art from Rollins College in Winter Park, FL. She has worked with local Atlanta breweries including Red Hare Brewing, Sweet Water Brewing and a handful of others. Additional clients include Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Old Forester, Herradura, El Jimador Tequila, United and Atlanta Beverage Distributers. When Elyse is not creating she enjoys travel, baking, and exploring Atlanta!
Caitlin Cain
Production Manager
Caitlin Cain is a stage manager and actress in the Atlanta area. After earning her B.A. in Theatre Arts at Furman University, she moved to Atlanta to join the 2015-2016 Actor's Express internship company as a stage management apprentice. Caitlin has worked with the Alliance Theatre, Actor's Express, Atlanta Shakespeare Company, Stage Door Players, Oglethorpe University and Theatrical Outfit, where she is currently on staff. Many thanks to the incredible AMTF team and their mission to bring new works to our lovely city!
Chelsea Brown
Social Media Manager
Chelsea Brown is a graduate of Brenau University and the Gainesville Theatre Alliance. She is an Atlanta born and bred actor, educator, and digital marketing specialist. You may have seen Chelsea around town on various stages, screens, and classrooms. She is an educator for Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Children’s Theatre, and Dreambox Theatre. Chelsea has been working and learning about the digital marketing landscape since 2014. She loves to bring her love for theatre (she LOVES new musicals) and the digital world together, which is why she is thrilled to be on the team at AMTF!
Ryan Oliveti
Marketing & PR Director
Ryan graduated from Rider University in Lawrenceville, NJ, spent one year as a Directing Apprentice at Actor’s Express, five years as Associate Artistic Director at Serenbe Playhouse, and is the current Marketing Director at Horizon Theatre. Director: A Nice Family Christmas(Stage Door Players), ART, Charlotte’s Web, The Secret Garden, The Sleepy Hollow Experience, The Snow Queen(Serenbe). Assistant Director: many at Serenbe; Candide, Warrior Class(Alliance Theatre); Hands On A Hardbody(Aurora Theatre), Detroit(Horizon Theatre); Dividing the Estate(Theatrical Outfit); Equus,Seminar(Actor’s Express); Picnic, Godspell(Stage Door Players). Thanks to my family, friends, mentors. @ryanoliveti.