Prior to training at The Academy, Eliza worked professionally in London. She has appeared at the Almeida Theatre, Southwark Playhouse, Camden People’s Theatre and on BBC Television. She earned her First Class Bachelor’s Degree in Writing, Directing and Performance from The University of York, whilst also training with The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. Her favorite roles include, Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion, Marianne in Constellations, and Mark Antony in Julius Caesar. Eliza graduated from The Academy with the Lawrence Langner Award for Voice and Speech, and is delighted to be joining the Company. She would like to thank her family and The Academy for their support and encouragement. Elizashea.com

Veronica is thrilled to be a part of the 2016-2017 Academy Company. Throughout her adolescence, she was dedicated to basketball, soccer, and studying over seven styles of dance. It wasn't until freshman year of college that she considered pursuing acting, after years of being a stagehand. She recently graduated from the joint Academy and St. John's college program with a B.S. in Dramatic Arts, Film & Television Production. Her favorite Academy roles have been Portia in Julius Caesar and Brenda in Four Dogs and a Bone. She enjoys traveling abroad, and takes wicked pride in the Boston Bruins and her Connecticut roots. Veronica thanks her family for their love and support and sends much love and appreciation to The Academy.

Born in Poughkeepsie, New York, Nick grew up between Sydney, Rome and Singapore. He found his passion for acting as a teenager, while in an (almost) all female production of The Crucible in which he played the character of Giles Corey. He trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts and the Australian Theatre for Young People in their respective youth programs. Nick is an award-winning public speaker and debater in the Australian youth circuit. Nick is incredibly thankful for the love and support of his friends and family and the guidance of his mentors both here and in Australia. He looks forward to the coming season and the continuation of his work at The Academy.

Ryan is very excited to be a member of this year's Company. He was born in Queens, New York and grew up in Westchester County in the hamlet of Millwood. He first realized that he wanted to act while he was the student body president of his high school. Ryan pursued this passion a few years later when he acted in numerous Westchester Community College Drama Club productions; however, he wanted to take his education to the next level, so he came to Manhattan to study at The Academy. He recently starred Off-Broadway in the New York premiere of Fabuloso by John Kolvenbach. Ryan thanks his inspiring teachers and colleagues for pushing him to be his best, and his loving family for their unconditional support.  

Ava is a recent graduate of St. John’s University with a B.S. in Dramatic Arts, Film & Television Production. Born and raised in Glenn Dale, Maryland, her passion for performance was sparked at an early age, performing in school productions since age nine. She spent six years as a member of Afromoda Dance Theatre Company. During her college career she has played roles ranging from Deena Jones in Dreamgirls: The Musical to Captain Arthur Phillip in Our Country's Good. The training she has received at The Academy thus far has had a tremendously positive impact on her artistic development. She is grateful for the ceaseless support from her family and is excited to be a part of this Company.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Quincie has had a passion for performing arts ever since she was young. She began performing in school productions and local theatre around her hometown. California was a great place to be, but the NYC hustle and bustle was calling her name. Quincie feels blessed and absolutely humbled to be a part of this year's talented Company and, most importantly, would like to thank her loving and extremely supportive mother for always believing in her dreams. Love you mom! May your loving soul rest in peace. I know you're in heaven smiling down. 

Since the age of two, Karen has been acting, singing and dancing. Born and raised in Birmingham, birthplace of Ozzy Osbourne and the BBC series, Peaky Blinders, Karen completed drama, theatre and fine art studies at Birmingham Metropolitan College. She then moved on to work for the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre, working on The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King and Wicked. The Academy has been incredibly generous in honoring her with a residence in this year’s eclectic Company. Karen credits the entire Johal and Aujla family for their support, especially Bally and Dave. As a negotiation for pursuing such a challenging career path, Karen has promised her grandparents that she will play a doctor or a lawyer ...eventually.

Alexia is delighted to be making her debut in The Academy’s 2016-17 Company. Her love for performing started at the age of three, performing dance numbers to Brittany Spears’ songs for her family. Growing up outside Buffalo, New York, she auditioned for every theatre opportunity that came her way. At 15, she won a TANYS (Theatre Assoc. of New York State) award for her role of Josephine Paris in The Valiant. Her favorite roles prior to training at The Academy are Adelaide in Guys and Dolls and ensemble work in Les Misérables. Alexia thanks her parents for their love, support, car rides, and reminding her to always stay true to who she is. She feels incredibly blessed to be surrounded by artists who inspire her every single day. 

Hailing from the Philadelphia area, James started off his acting career by being forced to audition for a community theatre production of Oklahoma! in the third grade. After the final performance, hosted on the stage of the local Ukrainian center, he knew that acting would continue to be a passion in his life. James is immensely grateful that in the time that has followed, he has performed in venues ranging from drab church basements to Playwright Horizons. He is absolutely over the moon, as well as humbled and honored, to be working with such an outstanding ensemble this year.

Born and raised in Perth, Australia, Connor began acting at a young age and has continued to develop his craft into his young adult life. Connor has performed in venues across the world including, His Majesty’s Theatre in Perth and Theatre Royal in Bath, as well as other venues in the UK and US. Growing up in a professional sporting family, he balanced a multi-discipline lifestyle in theatre and competitive sports for many years. Some of Connor’s most notable roles include, The Creature (Frankenstein), Major Ross/Ketch (Our Country’s Good), Puck (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Colin (Clickshare). Connor is constantly grateful for the support of his loved ones who inspire him and keep his feet planted on the ground. Connordelves.com

Prior to delving into the world of acting, Alana was a classical soprano and flautist, performing at venues across the states from The Grand Ole Opry and Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee to Alice Tully Hall and Lincoln Center. Some of Alana's notable roles include, Mary Brenham in Our Country's Good, Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music, and Ashley in the New York premiere of Clickshare. Alana is beyond thankful for all of her family, friends and teachers who have been a tremendous part of her career, and she is honored to be able to work with such an exceptional company. 

Ziaphora was born and bred in Johannesburg, South Africa and is a Jozi girl at heart. At six, she played Mary in a nativity play and knew from that moment that she wanted to act. In high school, drama wasn’t a core subject so she took it upon herself to take Trinity College London drama and speech examinations, passing all with honors. She landed her first commercial shortly after high school. She went on to study drama at the University of Pretoria, but was hungry for more rigorous training, leading her to The Academy in New York. Ziaphora is eternally grateful to Mandlovana, her grandparents and parents for their enormous sacrifices. "The stage has always been my safe haven, a place of refuge, serenity and emancipation."

Born in the small town of Summerville, South Carolina, Zania still found ways to express her creativity through acting. She began traveling back and forth to New York for summer visits at a very young age and knew that this was where she belonged. Since being at The Academy, Zania has found inspiration through the amazing directors and instructors who have sparked her imagination and increased her growth. Some of her favorite roles at The Academy include, Esther in Intimate Apparel, Stephano in The Tempest and Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Zania is thankful for the growth that coming to New York has afforded her, not only as an actress, but as a human being. She is an avid advocate for self-love and body confidence.

Brett grew up in a small town in western Tennessee and was part of all the community theatre projects Dyersburg had to offer him. He attended the International Thespian Festival as a part of a state-winning competition show. Brett has also written, directed, and produced his own work in an award-winning theatre in West Virginia. Brett’s favorite roles at The Academy include, Orpheus in Polaroid Stories by Naomi Iizuka, Nikos in Charles Mee’s Big Love, and Thomas in Venus in Fur by David Ives. Brett has always enjoyed expressing himself and inspiring others and is excited to continue to do so in this year’s Academy Company. 

Julia grew up in a small village in Sweden and directed her first play at age 11. Since then, her love for the theatre has brought her to Stockholm, Los Angeles and now New York. She has worked in many aspects of theatre, as both a founding member of independent theatre companies, and with the National Touring Theatre of Sweden. In New York, Julia is Co-Artistic Director of Wildflowers Productions, and recently starred as Kate in their Off-Broadway production of John Kolvenbach’s Fabuloso. Her favorite Academy roles include Zofia in Tongue of a Bird and Prospera in The Tempest. Julia is extremely grateful to be a part of such an inspiring group of actors and thanks her family, both given and chosen, for their love and support.

Ever since his first performance as Hans Christian Andersen at age eight, Liam has been following his passion to be a storyteller. During his training in New York, his credits include the title role in Brendan, Ariel in the The Tempest, and Hjalmar Ekdal in the The Wild Duck. Intrigued by the limitlessness of the human body in theatre, he has expanded his training to include the exploration of acrobatics. Liam would like to thank his parents and sister for their unending support, as well as his loved ones and friends who have been with him every step of the way. He is excited and humbled to be able to share his love for theatre with the 2016-2017 Academy Company.