Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professor Performance Area Head Director of London Study Abroad Affiliate Faculty, Institute for Women's Studies Please visit George's website www.georgecontini.com. George Contini is a Professor in the University of Georgia's Theatre and Film Studies Department where he specializes in Characterization, Acting on Camera, Queer Theatre and Film, Broadway Musical Theatre, and Solo Performance. George serves as the Head of Performance. In addition to teaching, George maintains a career as an actor, director, and playwright. Most recently he appeared in the final two seasons of "Legacies" as Mr. Springthorpe, the drama teacher; and in the final episodes of "Black Lightning". In the Atlanta area he appeared in "The Explorer's Club" at Aurora Theatre (Nominated for Suzi Bass Award , Best Ensemble, 2015) Prior to that he directed "Don't Dress for Dinner" at the Aurora Theatre. His original solo show "Put It In the Scrapbook" has toured to the Chicago Fringe Festival and the New Orleans Fringe Festival. Other directing credits include the South Regional Premiere of “Assistance” at Pinch N Ouch Theatre in ATL, and the ATL One Minute Play Festival. He was seen as “Reverend Howard Finster” in the world premiere of Hidden Man at Atlanta’s 7Stages. Prior to that he was seen in Shear Madness at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre and The Big Bang at the Horizon Theatre . Among the diverse shows George has directed are A Lesson Before Dying, Pride and Prejudice, 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). 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. George is a proud union member of both Actor's Equity and SAG/AFTRA. Education Education: M.F.A., University of Miami B.A. Baldwin Wallace University Research Research Areas: Directing Acting for Camera Dramatic Writing Voice for the Actor Film History, Criticism, and Production Research Interests: Queer Theatre and Film Early 20th Century Drag Performance Grants Grants: While at UGA George has been honored to receive many university wide awards recognizing his outstanding teaching and research including the prestigious Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship, Richard Russell Award, Sandy Beaver Teaching Fellowship, M. G. Michael Award (twice), Sandy Beaver Special Teaching Award, Willson Center for Humanities and Arts Jr. Faculty Fellowship Grant, WCHA Sr. Faculty Fellowship, 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. His most recent grants will allow him to travel to archives in NY and LA to complete his work in recreating the forgotten musical "The Crinoline Girl". Courses Regularly Taught Courses Regularly Taught: THEA 3500 THEA 3600 THEA 5010 THEA 5570 THEA 4300 THEA 6300 Awards, Honors, and Recognition Of note: Josiah Meigs Distinguished Teaching Professorship Richard Russell Award for Excellence in Teaching Sandy Beaver Award for Excellence in Teaching M.G. Michael Award for Excellence in Research Sandy Beaver Fellowship
