Milo Cramer // Milo is a writer and performer. Works include School Pictures ("best theater of 2023... absolutely wonderful" – New York Magazine), a one-person opera about the broken New York City school system, which premiered at Playwrights Horizons and was featured on NPR’s This American Life, and Cute Activist (“a brilliant match of material and theater… a fable for our times” – The New York Times), a fabulist satire of social media, at The Bushwick Starr in Brooklyn. With New Saloon Theater Company, Milo spent 5 years devising and touring Minor Character: Six Translations of Uncle Vanya at the Same Time, a kaleidoscopic riff on Chekhov’s greatest hit, ultimately seen at The Public Theater’s Under The Radar Festival in 2019 (“delightful… a spring-green forum on youth’s discontents” – The Village Voice).

Milo is overjoyed to be doing Business Ideas here at the Alliance, where it won the 2024 Kendeda Award. The play was previously developed by Clubbed Thumb in New York and Cygnet Theater in San Diego. Milo is a MacDowell Fellow, a recent graduate of Naomi Iizuka’s MFA playwriting program at UC San Diego, a grateful middle child, and an Aries. Milo is currently writing a musical about three old-fashioned sailors who are trying hard to have a meaningful life in their last 24 hours onshore before they’re shipped to die in an offstage war, but the Big Problem is these sailors Never Do Anything Right because they’re Just Too Silly. 

Matt Torney // Originally from Belfast, Matt worked as a freelance director in Ireland before moving to the United States in 2006 to complete an MFA in directing at Columbia University.  Matt has directed extensively in New York, regionally in the USA, and internationally, and his productions have been nominated for numerous awards.

Matt's work is grounded in the idea that theatre, and other live art forms, are a vital response to a world that is becoming increasingly displaced onto digital platforms and virtual communication. Artists and audience come together in the same space, united by stories that celebrate, console, and wrestle with the complexity of modern life.  Matt believes that the best work happens when a theatre connects deeply with its community, welcomes diverse voices, and fearlessly investigates the present moment.

Matt directs both new plays and dynamic productions of classics, with a focus on deep work with actors, and creating vivid imagery through design.  Recent work includes Doubt by John Patrick Shanley (nominated for three Helen Hayes Awards),  If I Forget by Steven Levenson (nominated for three Helen Hayes Awards), MotherStruck! by Staceyann Chin (nominated for 2 Helen Hayes Awards including ‘Best Production’), and The Hard Problem by Tom Stoppard.

Prior to joining Theatrical Outfit, Matt was the Associate Artistic Director of Studio Theatre, one of the leading contemporary theatre companies in DC.  Before that, Matt was the Director of Programming for Origin Theatre, an Off-Broadway company whose mission is to bring the best of European new writing to the USA.  Additionally, from 2007 to 2015, Matt was an Associate Director of Rough Magic in Dublin, one of Ireland’s leading independent theatre companies for over 30 years.

Courtenay Collins is delighted to be back on the Hertz Stage in this timely play. Previous Alliance shows include two seasons of Courtenay’s Cabaret: Home for the Holidays, Working, The Geller Girls (Suzi Award), Jacques Brel is Alive and Well (Suzi Award), Cinderella and Fella, Into the Woods, and Smart Cookie (another Kendeda winner). She originated the role of Mrs. Greene in The Prom Musical here at The Alliance Theatre then followed The Prom to New York for it’s Tony Nominated run on Broadway. Courtenay most recently played Eulalie in The Music Man and Yente in Fiddler on the Roof (City Springs Theatre Company). She made her directorial debut with two One Person Shows: Mitchell Anderson’s You Better Call Your Mother and Super Jenny Levison’s Soup, Songs, & Savory Stories. Since life is finite and short, she is cramming as much as she can into this one glorious Pass. She teaches/coaches private voice lessons, designs jewelry for her company Vintage Spirit Designs, is a devoted member of the volunteer organizations The Sandy Springs Society & The Magnolia Garden Club. Always grateful to her sweet family, friends, and neighbors for their loving support. For further financial advise, please follow her on Instagram@courtenay.collins, @ccvocalstudio, or cameo@courtenaycollins. 

Devon Hales [she/her] was last on the Hertz Stage as a singing, dancing, bunny-loving baby, and she is excited to be back after so many years. Previous Alliance credits: Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Musical, Shakespeare in Love, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Other Atlanta credits include: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Light in the Piazza, Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley, The Dancing Handkerchief, and 110 In The Shade (Theatrical Outfit); Appropriate (Actor's Express); I and You (Aurora Theatre); The Nether (Theatre Emory); and As You Like It, The Frog Prince, One Man Two Guvnors (Georgia Shakespeare). TV/Film credits: April Stevens in Netflix's "Teenage Bounty Hunters," "Stan Against Evil," "The Resident," "Creepshow," "Your Worst Nightmare," "Swamp Murders," and Icon. For Mom, Xxoo. 

Courtney Patterson returns to the Alliance after appearing in several productions including Everybody, Small Mouth Sounds, Disgraced, Geller Girls, and A Christmas Carol. She has performed on various stages around the city throughout her career and in several films, tv episodes and commercials. Additionally, she has a thriving career as an audiobook narrator, having voiced over 300 titles to date. Thank you for supporting live theatre! Much love to Nick, Javier, Susan, Mom and Dad. courtneypatterson.net 

Michelle Pokopac [she/her] is happy to be back with the Alliance with this thoughtful story. She's an actor, producer, dramaturg, and activist. In 2017, Michelle co-founded East by Southeast with Amee Vyas, helping connect Asian artists in Atlanta. She is passionate about community building through DEI work and encouraging inclusivity and authentic representation. BFA Theatre Performance from Columbus State University, additional studies in Florence, Italy & Oxford, England. Much love to my family and Leo. Atlanta: Wait Until Dark, On the Verge, James and the Giant Peach (Georgia Ensemble); The Game, The Wolves (Horizon Theatre);  A Christmas Story (Theatrical Outfit); Fun Home, Hometown Boy (Actor's Express); Little Raindrop Songs, Alice Between, Slur, Play the Play with Cat the Cat (Alliance Theatre). Regional: Shoyu Tell, Señora Tortuga, A Thousand Paper Cranes (Lexington Children’s Theatre). Film/TV: FOX, Hulu, Lifetime, Marvel/Disney+, Netflix. Represented by People Store and Kreativ Media Partners. @pokopac @east_x_southeast 

Vicki Ellis Gray [she/her] is happy to be a part of Business Ideas at the Alliance Theatre! She moved to Atlanta in 1987 to join the Alliance Theatre's Acting Intern Program. She has been fortunate to perform at many of the great theaters around the city. Credits include Laurie in Pipeline, Lois in Wonder of the World,  Paige in The Genes of Beauty Queens, Gloria in Voir Dire (Horizon Theatre), Flo in Picnic (Stage Door Players), McKee/Michaelis in The Great Gatsby, Ruth in Calendar Girls (Georgia Ensemble Theatre), Sherry in When Something Wonderful Ends (Actor's Express), Grandman Gelman in Caroline, Or Change (Jennie T. Anderson Theatre). Vicki would like to thank her fabulous children and friends for their loving support. 

Katie Ivey [she/her] is thrilled to join the cast of Business Ideas at the Alliance Theatre! She graduated in 2021 from Brenau University with a BFA in Acting and studied at the Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio in LA. Favorite credits include Serena in Legally Blonde, Addie in The Bra and Panty Club (Gainesville Theatre Alliance), and Ensemble in Footloose (Theatre Buford). Katie would love to thank her friends, family, and Cole for their constant love and support. 

Aliya Kraar [she/her] is honored to join the cast of Business Ideas at the Alliance Theatre! Previous credits include Chava in Fiddler on the Roof (City Springs Theatre Company), Molly in Prayer for the French Republic (Actor's Express), Rachel in Oh to be Pure Again (Actor's Express), Diane in The Wishing Place (Essential Theater Festival), and Jean Fordham in August: Osage County (Theatre Tallahassee). She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater from Florida State University and was a member of the Actor's Express Apprentice Company ('22).  She would like to dedicate her work to her mother, Sherry, her sister, Hannah, and her community of friends who have been constant beacons of support. Follow along for more: @aliya_rose914. 

April Andrew Carswell // Atlanta Design Credits: Alliance Theatre, Actor’s Express, Theatrical Outfit, Synchronicity, The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Horizon, Oglethorpe University, Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, Clayton State University, Emory University, The Walker School. Regional: Asolo Repertory Theatre, FSU Asolo Conservatory, Florida Studio Theatre, Urbanite Theatre, University of South Florida. Other: Adjunct Professor of Theatre at University of South Florida, Freelance Costume Designer & Technician, Former Asst. Costume Shop Manager at Alliance Theatre, Proud Mama, Avid Crocheter, Broadway World Atlanta Award Winner, Suzi Bass Award Nominee. 

Jimmy Garver is a sound designer and composer based in upstate New York. This is his Alliance Theatre debut. His work has been heard at or commissioned by Ballet Hispanico, Lincoln Center’s Dance On Camera festival, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, the Smithsonian Institute (Hirshhorn, American History, Natural History museums) Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Signature Theatre (DC), Studio Theatre Company (DC), A Contemporary Theatre, PS-122, Joyce SoHo, 92nd St. Y, Atlantic Theatre Company. Jimmy has also consulted on large, AI-powered, synthetic voice projects. (clients include Microsoft Research and Descript). The Brayver Concern - Jimmy's sound art collaboration with his partner Rebecca Bray - creates audio-based interactive art installations. Their work has been shown throughout the Northeast U.S. They also convene a monthly audio salon from their home in the Catskills. He performs regularly with the Conduction Series (broadcast monthly on WGXC FM) and the improvisational ensemble Music for Furniture. This is his 8th project with director Matthew Torney. Choreographers Will Rawls, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Ephrat Asherie, Peter Kyle, Diane Coburn-Bruning, and theatre directors Christopher Petit and Elizabeth Klob are frequent collaborators. More info on his website www.bigbee.org 

Chika Shimizu is a New York based scenic designer. REGIONAL: Soft Power, Pacific Overtures (Signature Theatre, DC), The Great Wave (Berkeley Rep), Sanctuary City (Pasadena Playhouse), Hamlet (DCPA), RENT (Paper Mill Playhouse), Moriarty (Cleveland Playhouse), Somewhere (Geva Theatre), The Great Leap (Portland Center Stage), Vietgone, Tiger Style! (TheatreSquared), The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Yale Rep, CT Critics Circle Award nom). OFF-BROADWAY:  Salesman之死 (Yangtze Rep, Henry Hewes Award nom), Bite Me (WP Theatre), Belfast Girls (Irish Rep), The Winning Side (Epic Theatre Ensemble), Awake (The Barrow Group). INSTALLATION: Un(re)solved AR installation (Ado Ato Pictures, SXSW Innovation Award, Emmy Award). MFA: Yale School of Drama.  chikashimizu.com 

Myah Harper [she/her] is very happy to be a team member of Business Ideas! Her previous credits include: The Chinese Lady, The Preacher’s Wife, Fat Ham, A Tale of Two Cities, Roob and Noob, Into the Burrow: A Peter Rabbit™ Tale, and Oodles of Doodles (Alliance Theatre). Myah has also been a Teaching Artist with Alliance Theatre Education since the Summer of 2023. She is a Mississippi native and attended The University of Mississippi, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting along with specialized classes in Theatrical Design and Production. Myah would like to thank her family and friends for their never-ending love and support.