Children’s Theatre Company Announces Performing Apprentices

Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) proudly announces Tyler Susan Jennings and Davon Cochran as the Performing Apprentices for the 2024-2025 season.

Photo byCTC

“I am thrilled to extend a warm welcome to Tyler and Davon as our newest performing apprentices for the 2024-2025 season,” said CTC Casting Director Raiyon Hunter. “Their exceptional talent and passion for theater shine brightly, and I have every confidence that they will bring remarkable energy and creativity to our productions.”

CTC’s Performing Apprentice Program is the nation’s leading apprentice program for emerging actors. The program offers a comprehensive opportunity for gifted young actors aged 19 and older. PAs perform on CTC stages alongside resident Acting Company members, equity and non-equity actors, student actors, and renowned guest artists. PAs perform in named roles, understudy, and participate in readings and workshops of new works. They also gain experience in other departments at the theatre, contributing to their professional development. Many apprentices go on to prolific careers in major theatre regions, including Minneapolis-Saint Paul and New York.

Davon Cochran, an actor, singer, dancer, and recording artist from Philadelphia, discovered his love for theater while attending Penn Wood High School and participating in after-school programs at the Kimmel Center. He has portrayed roles such as Usnavi and James Brown, which solidified his passion for the craft. He later attended the University of The Arts pre-college program and the Institute of American Musical Theater on a full scholarship. Davon continues to produce music with talented artists and friends while advancing his acting career.

Brooklyn-born and Georgia-raised, Tyler Susan Jennings is an up-and-coming actress eager to make her mark in the theater world. Her theater journey began in sixth grade with an ensemble role in "Thoroughly Modern Millie." She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Theater Performance from Spelman College in 2021 and studied the Meisner Technique at the Maggie Flanigan Studio in NYC. Tyler has appeared in student films and stage productions, including Nilo Cruz’s "Anna in the Tropics." She also worked as an extra in the movie adaptation of "Dear Evan Hansen." Outside the theater, Tyler enjoys baking, reading, and playing with her cat, Simon.

CTC’s 2024-2025 Season
CTC’s upcoming season includes six exciting productions:

• Drawing Lessons (world premiere play)
• Milo Imagines the World (new musical)
• MOYA by Zip Zap Circus from Cape Town, South Africa
• Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (holiday favorite)
• Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster by Manual Cinema, based on Mo Willems' beloved books
• Disney’s Frozen (three-time Tony Award-nominated musical phenomenon)