Justin Ball (Producing Artistic Director)
Justin Ball is an accomplished producer, educator, director, and theatre manager with over 20 years of leadership experience. He has produced shows and events for Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Horizons, the Writers Theatre, Penguin/Random House, and Google. For over a decade, Justin taught theatre management and directing at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Most recently, Justin served as Managing Director for the Sharon Playhouse helping to transform a local community theatre into a small professional summer stock theatre featuring the industries top talent including Tony Winners Bryce Pinkham, Lindsay Mendez, Karen Ziemba and Academy Award winner Glenn Close. He moved to Atlanta in 2017 where he was a stay-at-home Dad for his now 5-year old daughter Josephine. He holds a BFA in Theatre & Dance from Trinity College and an MFA in Directing from Brooklyn College.
Bridget McCarthy (Education and Engagement Director)
Bridget McCarthy (she/they) is a versatile artist and educator deeply embedded in the Stage Door community. With a decade-long background encompassing theater, therapy, and education, Bridget shines at the crossroads of mental health and the arts. Their transformative impact spans prestigious institutions like Shakespeare and Company, Alliance Theatre, and more. Bridget’s expertise flourishes in community applied theater, particularly with marginalized groups. Armed with degrees in theater and clinical counseling, they’re also a certifi
Bridget is a multi-hyphenate theatre maker and currently serves as the Engagement and Education Director at Stage Door Theatre. Previous favorite credits include: Peter and the Starcatcher, Circle Mirror Transformation, Midsummer…Dream (Stage Door Theatre), Henry V, Much Ado about Nothing, Hamlet (Atlanta Shakespeare Company), The Little Prince (Synchronicity Theatre), Matilda (OnStage Atlanta). As a therapist and trauma informed theatre maker, Bridget has worked at the intersection of theatre and mental health with dozens of institutions and universities, including Shakespeare and Company, Alliance Theatre, Ensemble Theatre, Shakespeare Behind Bars, and many more. She has also worked with transformative justice focused nonprofits like Recovery Rising, Justice Arts Coalition, Connecticut Department of Corrections, and New Haven Housing Authority as an applied theatre facilitator creating original pieces of community engagement theatre. Bridget has worked with Hulu, Disney, ABC, PassionFlix, Discovery, and many independent and student film projects as their inaugural Mental Health Coordinator, supporting responsible and compelling portrayal of mental health and challenging or traumatic themes.
Bridget holds a BA in Theatre and Spanish from Hope College, an MS in Clinical Counseling from New England College, and (as of summer 20204) is a candidate for the master’s in public administration at Augusta University. Additionally, Bridget holds certifications as a Trauma and Resilience Trainer (CTRT), a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist (CCTS), and is a Certified Mental Health First Aid instructor with the National Council for Behavioral Health. She is a Co-Founder of the Association of Mental Health Coordinators, and an assistant faculty member of Theatrical Intimacy Education. In 2020, they were recognized by Young Nonprofit Professionals of Atlanta as a member of their “30 Under 30” Cohort, and in 2024 named one of American Theatre Magazine’s “Theatre Workers to Watch”.
Outside of work, Bridget fills her life with hiking, stand up comedy, competitive powerlifting, farmers markets, and as a part-time personal assistant to her rescue pittie (Oberon). Connect at BridgetMcCarthy.net or @bridgetmccarthyishere on Instagram.
Lilly Baxley (Production Manager)
Lilly is a Georgia native and stage manager at heart with over ten years of experience leading productions. Lilly was the resident assistant stage manager with the Shakespeare Tavern Playhouse for six years before joining Stage Door and works as a freelance artist with the Aurora. Lilly loves stage managing as well as production managing, Intimacy direction, directing, and scenic painting. Her favorite recent project was assistant stage managing Mary Poppins at the Aurora.
Ali Bhamani (Box Office Manager)
Ali has joined the team as the new Box Office Manager. His first experience with Stage Door Theatre was performing in Season 49’s production of Peter and The Starcatcher and has since felt right at home with the company. He earned his BFA in acting from Brenau University with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance, and has been working as an actor in Atlanta, ranging from film and television to theatre. He looks forward to engaging with the Dunwoody community who have been supporting Stage Door Theatre for years.
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We’re always looking for more talented artists to work with.
