Hi! My name is Ava, and I’m an actor originally from Youngstown, Ohio. I’m a big fan of lattes (I make my own!) and I spend my free time ballroom dancing, playing guitar, and journaling. Currently, I’m a senior Musical Theatre major at American University in Washington, D.C.

I’m an actor because I’m ignited by learning. Acting lights a fire within my brain, body, soul, and spirit—it urges me to become a detective, constantly searching for clues and deciphering situations. I’ve fallen in love with analyzing my given circumstances and my scene partners’ reactions. Simply put, I love the work. There’s always a new detail to explore and a new discovery to make. Each time I step on stage, I learn something new and feel invigorated.

I believe the stories we, as actors, have the great privilege and responsibility to tell hold immense power in bringing people together. Acting helps me connect with characters and people I may not align with morally. It grants me the opportunity to look within myself to find empathy, however hard it may be. Through acting, I explore the beautiful, dark, scary, jealous, exciting, and compassionate parts of the human experience that I wouldn’t normally be free to tap into. Because of this exploration, I’ve learned (and am still learning) to lead my life in a more grounded, empathetic, and graceful way. Acting has encouraged me to open my mind and remain curious everywhere I go. Creating life on stage is a precious privilege, and I’m immensely grateful to continue learning and experiencing it.

Last October, I played Rosalind in Shaina Taub’s musical adaptation of As You Like It, directed by Aaron Posner. This past January January, I spent eighteen days in Spring Green, Wisconsin, at American Players Theatre, training with several of the theatre’s Core Company Members in APT’s new Shakespeare-focused program, The Language Project. Then in March, I played Judy in 9 to 5, my final show at AU, directed by Nikki Mirza. Most recently, I finished understudying both Mopsa and Ensemble in Head Over Heels at Constellation Theatre with the direction of Allison Stockman.