Meet Ellie.

Bio

Ellie has spent her lifetime in love with storytelling, thriving in collaborative, dynamic, and creative spaces. Her first love is acting which has evolved into a multifaceted career that includes acting, teaching, directing, producing, devising, and entrepreneurship.

Born and raised in Lexington, KY, Ellie’s artistic journey has taken her from New York City to Atlanta, GA, and now, Athens, OH. She is an Assistant Professor in Ohio University’s School of Theater and serves as the Artistic Director of Tantrum Theater, the university’s resident professional theater company.

Beyond her work at Ohio University, Ellie is the Artistic Director of Arvold Warner Studio, founded by Emmy-nominated casting director Erica Arvold and master teacher Richard Warner, where she trains and consults actors and screen artists dedicated to advancing their craft. She served as the Head of Drama and the Movement Specialist for Kentucky’s Governor’s School for the Arts from 2020-2023 and remains a teaching artist with the program. With over 20 years of experience as a teaching artist specializing in acting and physical actor training, Ellie is dedicated to nurturing talent and creativity.

Ellie is co-founder of several creative enterprises, including Voices Amplified, Actors Room Atlanta, Project SEE Theatre, and the Kentucky Classical Theatre Conservatory. She has served as a visiting artist at various universities and acting studios, a grant reviewer for multiple arts foundations, and a moderator, summit guest speaker, and panelist discussing arts leadership, advocacy, and activism in the arts.

Ellie’s screen credits include roles in The Wonder Years (ABC), The First Wives Club (BET), Johnson (Bounce), and a recurring role in Seasons 5, 6, & 7 of Tyler Perry’s Sistas. She has appeared in numerous commercials and independent feature films and has performed throughout the United States and internationally at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Her most notable stage credits include Cleopatra in Antony & Cleopatra, Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice, Stella in A Streetcar Named Desire, Marie in Marie Antoinette, and Sheila in A Chorus Line.

She graduated with an MFA in performance from Ohio University's Professional Actor Training Program having received a fellowship for her "exceptional talent and dedication to the arts."