Gary M. English

Education:

Northwestern University, Department of Theatre.  MFA in Stage Design awarded, Jan. 1979.

University of Arizona, Department of Dramatic Arts.   BFA in Drama, May, 1974.

Professional Directing Credits

Galileo, by Bertolt Brecht, with Dudley Knight.  Dec. 2009

A Man For All Seasons by Robert Bolt, Connecticut Repertory Theatre.  Oct. 2008

Pentecost, by David Edgar, Connecticut Repertory Theatre.  Oct. 2007

Jonah’s Dream, a world premiere of a new play by William Gibson.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre.  Oct. 2005

Side by Side by Sondheim, Berkshire Theatre Festival.   June 2005

Julius Caesar, by William Shakespeare

Connecticut Repertory Theatre.  Oct 2004

The Miracle Worker, by William Gibson,

Berkshire Theater Festival, Stockbridge, MA.   July 2004

A Cry of Players, by William Gibson,  CRT.   Mar. 2004

American Primitive, by William Gibson,

Berkshire Theater Festival, Stockbridge, MA. June 2003

Sweeney Todd, by Stephen Sondheim, CRT.   June 2002

Wings, based on the play by Arthur Kopit, Music by Jeffrey Lunden,

book and Lyrics by Arthur Perlman, CRT.  July 2001

Our Country’s Good, by Timberlake Watermaker, CRT.   April 2000

West Side Story, by Leonard Bernstein and Steven Sondheim, CRT.  June 2000

Jesus Christ Superstar, CRT.  Dec. 1999

A Little Night Music, starring Florence Lacey, CRT. June 1999

Carousel, with Michelle Ragusa. CRT.   June 1998

Iphigenia And Other Daughters, by Ellen McLaughlin, CRT.  April 1997

Man of La Mancha, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, with Howard Pinhasik   June 1997

and Deborah Tranelli, Nominated for Best Direction of a Musical and

Winner, Best Production of A Musical, Connecticut Drama Critics Circle, 1997-98 Season.

COMPANY, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, with Dorothy Stanley.    July 1996

Directed Readings of New Plays:

The Goatwoman of Memphis, by Christine Whitley, Shakespeare and Co. Sept. 2007

The Olive Grove, by Gary English, Shakespeare and Co.  Sept. 2006

Professional Activities and Awards:

• Immediate Past President, University Resident Theatre Association, (URTA), 2004 – 2010.
• President, University Resident Theatre Association, (URTA). Two, two year terms 2000-2002; 2002-2004.
• National Assoc. of Schools of Theatre, (NAST) and URTA accreditation and institutional site evaluator for numerous locations including the University of Wisconsin, Madison, University of Maryland, Northwestern University, University of Nebraska, Southern Methodist University, The American Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Emerson College, and special consultant to the Theater program at Louisiana State University.
• Elected to National Theatre Conference.  Fall 2000.
• Nominated for Best Direction of a Musical, Wings, Connecticut Drama Critics Circle, 2000-2001 season.
• Winner for Best Production of a Musical, Man of La Mancha, Connecticut Drama Critics Circle, 1996-97 season.
• Nomination for Best Direction of a Musical, Man of La Mancha, Connecticut Drama Critics Circle, 1996-97 season.
• Pittsburgh Drama Critics for Best Design 1986, for two different productions, Sunday in the Park with George, at The Pittsburgh Public Theatre, and The Odyssey, at Carnegie-Mellon University.
• Boston Drama Critics Award, best production of a Musical, A Little Night Music, Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lowell, MA, 1984.
• Paul Tsongas Award, Fifteenth Anniversary Award for most important contributing artist to the Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lowell, Massachusetts, Gala Fifteenth Anniversary Celebration, September, 1993.
• New England Theatre Conference Regional Achievement Award for Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s contribution to the region’s theatrical life.  November, 1998.
• Vice President University Resident Theatre Association, (U/RTA) Term 1996-98, 98-2000.  Elected to Board of Directors, University Resident Theatre Association, (U/RTA), July 1994.  CHAIR, Membership Committee, U/RTA, 1996-2000.
• Commissioner of Scene Design, United States Institute for Theatre Technology, 1989-1991.  Chiefly responsible for organization and planning of panels and programs for National Conventions held in Milwaukee, Boston, and Seattle.
• Presentation on 3-D Modeling and Computer Animation for Film and Theatre Milwaukee Conference, USITT, March 1990.
• Moderator for panel discussions at 1992 Design Symposium, on the impact of contemporary design on the performer.  New York University, January, 1992.  Panel members included Mark Lamos, John Conklin, Barbara Cook, and Rosemary Harris.
• Major Research Grant Competitions, University of Connecticut Research Foundation for new play development of several new plays including, Sockdology, by Jeffrey Hatcher; Eastville, a new play by Ellen Lewis about Harriet Tubman and the underground Railroad; Featherless Angels, a new play by Migdalia Cruz.

Full Time Administrative and Faculty Appointments:

Head, Department of Dramatic Arts.  School of Fine Arts, University of Connecticut, and  Artistic Director, Connecticut Repertory Theatre, 1993 to 2009,  providing administrative oversight and guidance to Department of 16 full time, 10 part time faculty and10 permanent production and management  staff serving 100 undergraduates and 40 graduate students, and  operating the Connecticut Repertory Theatre, a professional theatre in residence.

Interim Dean, School of Fine Arts, University of Connecticut, July 1, 1999 to August 1, 2000. Provided leadership and oversight to a professional school of fine  arts with 55 full time and over 80 part time faculty in three academic departments, Art  and Art History, Dramatic Arts, and Music.

University of Connecticut, Board of Trustees Distinguished Professorship, Spring 2003 to present. This is the highest academic award at the University of Connecticut, and is limited to 5% of the full professors within the University of Connecticut System.

Full Professor of Stage Design and Directing, Department of Dramatic Arts, University of  Connecticut, promoted Sept. 1992. Director of Scene Design Studies, 1988 - 1996. Coordinated under-graduate curriculum and supervised recruitment activities. Supervised graduate student designers in production on mainstage and studio theatres.

Associate Professor of Stage Design, Department of Dramatic Arts, University of  Connecticut, Sept. 1988 to promotion, Sept. 1992.

Assistant Professor of Stage Design, Department of Drama, Carnegie Mellon University.  Mel Shapiro, Department Head, 1982 - 1988.  Regularly taught script analysis in addition to broad range of graduate and undergraduate design courses.

Research Fellow, Center for Art and Technology, Carnegie-Mellon 1985-88.  Projects developed at the Center include a software textbook, Architectural Scrapbook used in teaching design research and The Odyssey Project, a methodology for creating computer generated imagery, including animation for projected special effects.

Assistant Professor of Design, Department of Drama and Dance.  State University of New York, Geneseo, 1977-79.  Designed 12 productions for college theatre and served as production coordinator.  In charge of all design and production curriculum, production scheduling and budget for Drama and Dance.  Coordinated production activities of department and led critiques of mainstage projects.

Art Director, Faculty Head of Design and Production, Theatre Arts Dept., Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI.  Summers, 1978-81.

Additional Educational Service Activity:

• Member - Presidential Search Committee, Spring 1996; Spring, 2007
• University Senate Executive Committee, 2003-2009; 1994-2000.
• Chair, Courses and Curricula Committee for General Education Review.  Proposal submitted and passed by University Senate after two year process:  2000-2002.
• Elected by Fine Arts Faculty to serve on search committee for Dean of School of Fine Arts, 1990.
• Appointed as Fine Arts representative to University Committee on Diversity in the General Education Requirements, spring 1990.
• Elected Chairman of “Diversity Committee”, fall 1990, wrote policy document on "Diversity in General Education", accepted by University Senate, spring 1992.  Two year project.
• Appointed to Steering Committee for Fine Arts Facility building expansion and renovation fall, 1990.
• Fine Arts Faculty University Senate Representative, 1992-94,
• Elected "At Large" member, University Senate. 1994-2000.
• Elected “At Large” member, University Senate, 2002-2009.
• University Strategic Planning Executive Committee, 1995 to 1999.
• Elected Faculty Representative to Univ. of Connecticut Board of Trustees, July 1997 – present.
• University wide Academic Plan Committee, 2002-2003.
• NEA, Architectural Competition Grant Selection Committee that selected finalists, Frank Gehry, Mack Scogin and Elaine Elam and Zaha Hadid. Spring 2003.

Affiliations:

• Full Member United Scenic Artists of America, Local 829.  Member in good standing since 1977.
• Member, National Theater Conference, since 2000.
• Full Member, Society of Stage Directors and Choreagraphers, SSDC.
• Associate Member, Dramatist’s Guild.