Derion Felton is ecstatic to join the USC acting MFA program. He recently received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Drama in Theatre at Norfolk State University. Originally from Waldorf, Maryland, Derion has relocated multiple times throughout grade school and attributes his transient roots as a military brat to his open-mindedness and ability to adapt as a performer. His recent credits include Clay from Primary Trust (Norfolk Theatre Festival), Duke of Buckingham/Septime from The Three Musketeers (Virginia Stage Company) and Anger from Thoughts of A Colored Man (The Black Theatre Festival). When Derion is not acting he enjoys writing poetry, watching stand-up comedy and traveling the world with his friends and family.
Eleana Jenkins is an actor, director, and theatre educator from Indiana. She graduated in 2023 with a BFA in Musical Theatre from Taylor University after which she moved to Western Illinois where she has worked as a florist as well as a freelance hair, makeup, and wig designer and social media marketing consultant. She has spent several summers directing and performing at Schoolhouse Arts Center in Maine, most recently directing a teen production of The Sound of Music. She has performed with Schoolhouse Arts Center, Minnetrista Cultural Center, and more, playing roles ranging from Lady Macbeth to Judy Hayes in White Christmas. While at Taylor, Eleana studied acting under Tracy Manning and voice under Dr. Conor Angell. Keep up with her on Instagram @elle_j_jenkins
George Kinley is a recent graduate from Marshall University with a BFA in Theatre Performance who's very grateful to have played many roles throughout his career with Alchemy Theatre Troupe, Theatre West Virginia, Greenbrier Valley Theatre, and Marshall University; most recently as Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing. He has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He was awarded the Irene Ryan Outstanding Technique and Craft at ACTF Region 2 and he is an ACTF 2025 recipient of a Distinguished Performance in a Play or Musical Award. When he isn’t acting, he’s writing music, short stories, plays, and watching lots of movies. George is very excited to begin his study with the University of South Carolina and start the next segment of his life!
Emma Miles is an actor, poet, and interdisciplinary artist from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She holds a BA from Green Mountain College and has worked extensively within community theater and arts education spaces, including teaching mindfulness to youth through puppetry and performance, as well as supporting young people experiencing housing instability. Recent credits include Our Town (Emily Webb), The Importance of Being Earnest (Cecily Cardew), Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Carol Wyman), and Almost, Maine (Shelly/Sandrine). She is drawn to acting as a practice of attention and empathy, and to storytelling that advocates for the complexity of the human experience. She is thrilled for the opportunity to join the University of South Carolina’s MFA cohort and immensely grateful for the support she’s received along the way.
Yazmine Moore (she/her) is a performer from Newport News, Virginia. She recently earned her BFA in Musical Theatre from Emory and Henry University and has been acting since the third grade. Yazmine has had the opportunity to work professionally with companies such as Barter Theatre, where she performed as a Barter Player and appeared in the Mainstage production of Frozen. She is also currently working with Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre in Colorado, where she is performing in Shrek and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Yazmine is passionate about storytelling, collaboration, and continuing to grow as an artist. She is beyond excited to join the University of South Carolina MFA Acting program and cannot wait to train, create, and connect with her new community.
Paxton Rodriguez is an actor from Ottawa, Canada. He earned a BA in Theatre and Political Science from McGill University in 2022. During his undergraduate degree he worked on shows as both an actor and director, and completed an internship at Montreal’s Teesri Duniya Theatre which culminated in a published research project for The Canadian Theatre Review. Since graduating he has worked on some shows for the Kanata Theatre, recent credits being Marcus in Home, I’m Darling, and Earl in The Third Life of Eddie Mann. He is excited for the opportunity to continue to hone his craft at the University of South Carolina, and is extraordinarily grateful to his family and friends who have supported his journey thus far.