As the Jasper Project moves closer to celebrating the premiere staged reading of our 2025 Play Right Series winning play, Busted Open by Ryan Stevens, we invite you to meet and learn more about this exceptional cast of actors who will be performing for you. You’ve previously met Allison Allgood, Kristin Cobb, and Beth DeHart. Today we’d like you to meet Ella Riley and Zanna Mills.
And mark your calendars for Sunday afternoon, September 14th at 3 pm, at the Columbia Music Festival Association (914 Pulaski Street) and join us for the first ever staged reading of Ryan Jenkins’ Busted Open.
Tickets are on sale now!
Ella Riley
Ella Riley is 21 years old and is currently pursuing a degree in Special Education at UofSC. She is a teacher with the CAPA program at Chapin Theatre Company and serves on the CTC Board as Advertising and Social Media Manager. Ella has been acting in Columbia since the age of 7 and has an ever-increasing resume of stage productions, including Amorous Ambassador (Debbie), Into The Woods (The Baker’s Wife), and Descendants the Musical (Audrey). Ella has recently discovered a love for the backstage and front of house as well, recently working on Barefoot in the Park and Once Upon a Mattress at Chapin Theatre Company. In her free time (as if), she loves to take her younger brothers on adventures and watch local drag (shout out to Capital Club and The Venue)! Ella is so excited to be a part of Busted Open and so grateful for the opportunity to work with the Jasper Project to help create and push out original works of art!
Zanna Mills
Zanna Mills has been performing in the Columbia community theatre scene for the last 15 years. She also grew up dancing with her mother’s dance studio, SC Music and Dance Academy. Memorable roles include Izzy (Stilt Girl), Joy (Cinderella), Corie (Barefoot in the Park), Shelby (Steele Magnolias), Annie (The Play That Goes Wrong), Rumpleteazer (Cats), and Mary Ann (Gilligan’s Island: The Musical). Zanna is honored and grateful to be a part of the Jasper Project’s 2025 Play Right Series!