Focus on the Faculty: George Contini

2019 Josiah Meigs Teaching Professor George Contini is a creative inspiration to the students engaged in performance at all levels, exemplifying the scholarship of artistic training and the pursuit of excellence that sends so many on to professional careers on stage and screen:

“Whether I am working with undergrads on fundamental technique or graduates on advanced theory, I consider each student encounter a creative collaboration,” Contini said. “Blending theory into practice, I strive to be a model of the scholar/artist who engages in applied artistic research by building upon traditional performance history and techniques. 

“As often as possible, I seek to involve students with my creative research as collaborators,” he added. “Throughout our shared experience, they also are learning the art of forming a detailed process, documentation and allowing for clear moments of reflection, adjustment and growth.”

He involves students in a range of applied artistic research: using archives to create original plays, developing performances based on personal narratives from marginalized communities, developing characters through historical and embodied research, community-based international collaborations and the reimagining of canonical dramatic work.

Contini enlists his specializations in acting, directing and writing in pursuit of meeting the production, academic and personal goals of burgeoning theater and film artists.

Truly one of our best who imparts the special skills of a hardworking artist with an unquenchable enthusiasm for student achievement. See also the nice video on Professor Contini that accompanies the article.