50 Most Influential Latinos

Anthony P. Rodriguez

Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director

Aurora Theatre

Aurora Theatre opened in the summer of 1996 and Anthony Rodriguez and Ann-Carol Pence (Co-Founder and Associate Producer) established Aurora Theatre, Inc. as a non-profit organization in 1999. Under their leadership, the theatre grew from 120 season subscribers to the 5100 subscribers Aurora Theatre currently boasts. Mr. Rodriguez’s greatest accomplishment to date was the successful negotiation to relocate Aurora Theatre to downtown Lawrenceville Georgia where it serves as the cornerstone for their revitalization. Aurora’s accomplishments include: Learning Library an educational theatre program, Aurora’s Apprenticeship for recent college graduates, Aurora Academy and Conservatory where students learn from working professionals, and Teatro Aurora a professional Spanish-language theatre company that was created to highlight Latinx cultural heritage and to help build social bridges in our community. Anthony is the Immediate Past Chair of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, he was the first Latino and Arts leader to serve in that position and is also past Chair of Partnership Gwinnet. Mr. Rodriguez is a member of Screen Actor’s Guild, Theatre Communications Group, and the national steering committee for the Latinx Theatre Commons. Mr. Rodriguez is a graduate of Marist High School, the University of Georgia, the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Regional Leadership Institute and the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures’ Leadership Institute and Advocacy Institute.