George Contini is an Associate Professor in the University of Georgia's Theatre and Film Studies Department where he specializes in Characterization, Solo Performance, Acting on Camera and Queer Theatre and Film. In addition to teaching, George maintains a career in theatre and film. His original solo show Put It In the Scrapbook was recently performed at the New Orleans Fringe Festival. Prior to that he was seen locally in Shear Madness at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre and The Big Bang at the Horizon Theatre . Named Best Actor in Miami and a five time nominee for the South Florida Critic’s Carbonell Award--- Favorite Regional Theatre Credits include; Tony in Shear Madness (Kennedy Center, D.C.), Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar (Actor’s Playhouse, Miami), Buzz in Love! Valour! Compassion! (New Theatre, Miami), Gooper in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Actor’s Playhouse, Miami), Larry in Burn This (Florida Shakespeare, Miami), Otto in The Food Chain (Florida Shakespeare, Miami), Sterling in Jeffrey (Acme Theatre, Miami), Buddy Husband in Secret Lives of the Sexists (Celebration Theatre, LA), Rosa Buxembourg in Blame It on the Big Banana (Theatre Offensive, Boston), Milt in Laughter on the 23rd Floor (Actor’s Playhouse), and Lord Edgar/Jane in Mystery of Irma Vep (Worcester Forum). Also a playwright and filmmaker, his plays jumping through windows (Carbonell Nomination) and midnight scrabble were produced by New Theatre in Miami and his film adaptation of jumping through windows was screened at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. Last year he adapted and directed the first English translation of Augusto Boal's The Misadventures of Uncle McBuck. His script Portraits of W.H was awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship for New Forms in Theatre and Opening Doors was commissioned by the Pan American Games and toured throughout the Midwest to promote that event. Among the diverse shows George has directed are The 39 Steps, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Grapes of Wrath, Dangerous Liaisons, Iphigenia at Aulis/ Trojan Women, Children of an Idol Moon, Pippin, Laramie Project, Lion in Winter, Fifth of July, Psycho Beach Party, Company, Raft of the Medusa, and the original opera A Good Man is Hard to Find. TV/Film credits include featured roles in Lifetime’s Shame II, Pointman, and commercials for “White Castle”, “Motorola”, “LaBatt’s”, and "Toyota”. George provided the voice and motion capture for 19th century vaudevillian Frank Bush in the innovative Virtual Vaudeville Project (www.virtualvaudeville.com). While at UGA George has been honored to receive many university wide awards recognizing his outstanding teaching and research including the Richard Russell Award, Sandy Beaver Teaching Fellowship, M. G. Michael Award, Sandy Beaver Special Teaching Award, Willson Center for Humanities and Arts Jr. Faculty Fellowship Grant, Jr. Faculty Research Grant, as well as two separate artistic project grants through Ideas for Creative Exploration (ICE). He has used these grants and rewards in his continued study of Michael Chekhov's Acting Technique and for the research and creation of his solo show Put It In the Scrapbook based on the life and career of early 20th century female impersonator Julian Eltinge. Mr. Contini received his MFA from the University of Miami, Florida in Film Production. and received his B.A. from Baldwin-Wallace College with a double major in Theatre and English.

Check out George's website: georgecontini.weebly.com

Professionally, Professor Kundert-Gibbs has worked as a producer, director, vocal coach, and actress. In academia, she has taught in theatre programs across the country from Duke, to William and Mary to Indiana State University, where she headed the Graduate and Undergraduate Acting Programs, to Los Angeles and finally, happily embracing UGA. Ms. Kundert-Gibbs experiments in the integration of media and theatre and has directed many productions using varying forms of media including a production of Pinter’s New World Order which was presented at the International Pinter Festival in London, a production of Cabaret with Theatre X from Manheim, Germany, and Death of Salesman at The Warehouse Theatre. Her most recent acting work includes playing Emer in the world premiere of Sword Against the Sea, which toured to The International Yeats Festival in Sligo, Ireland. While in L.A, she was instrumental in founding the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival serving as vocal coach, pre-show director and actor. She has been extensively involved in KC/ACTF as a member of the Region III Executive Board. After spending a year acting and teaching with Karamu House Theatre, Ms. Kundert-Gibbs has been drawn to multicultural theatre work and has directed African American productions for The Warehouse Theatre, UNC-Asheville and Clemson University. When teaching, Ms. Kundert-Gibbs focuses both directing and acting on the work of Sanford Meisner. As a believer in the interaction of the breath, voice, body and emotions, she incorporates work such as Alba Emoting, Transactional Analysis and Bioenergetics into the classroom. Her voice classes focus on the work of Kristin Linklater and Edith Skinner. She is also interested in Eastern bodywork such as yoga and Tae Kwon Do, is a certified black belt and teaches kickboxing. In all disciplines, she hopes to teach students to value their instincts, trust their impulses, and celebrate their humanity.