Gianni Downs

RESUME

Education:

M.F.A. Scenic Design, Brandeis University, May 2003

B.S. Theatre Arts with a Fine Art minor, University of New Hampshire, May 1998

Academic Experience:

The University of Pittsburgh:

Director of Undergraduate Studies, Theatre Arts Department, September 2014-present

Lecturer in Scenic Design and Scene Painting, September 2013-present

Courses taught and developed:

Scene Design 1, Introduction to Theatre Design, Theatre Special Topics in Design: Computer Applications, Theatre Special Topics in Design: Introduction to Media Design for Performance

Visiting Lecturer of Lighting Design in the Theatre Department, September 2004- May 2006

Courses: Introduction to Lighting Design, Introduction to Stagecraft,

Introduction to Theatre Design, Theatre Production

Westminster College

Assistant Professor of Theatre, August 2009-May 2011

Courses: Introduction to Theatre, Theatrical Production, Theatre Practicum, and

Basic Theatrical Design

Carnegie Mellon University:

Special Faculty in the School of Drama, September 2006-May 2009

Courses: History of Architecture and Décor, Scene Design 1B, Business Practices for Designers, Computer Applications: Dreamweaver, 3D Scene Design Skills,

Introduction to Scene Design, Basic Design, Studiocraft 1, Studiocraft 2, and

Hand Drafting

Point Park University:

Adjunct Faculty in Scene Design, Fall Semester 2004

Course: Scene Design 1

Awards and Nominations:

2019 Recipient of the University of Pittsburgh's Provost's Personal Education Grant

2019 Nomination for the St. Louis Theatre Circle's Award for Best Set Design for The Humans

2018 Recipient of the Innovation in Education Award through the University of Pittsburgh

2017 Tina and David Bellet Teaching Excellence Award at the University of Pittsburgh

2017 Nominated for the Ampco-Pittsburgh Prize for Excellence in Advising Award

2015 Recipient of the Innovation in Education Award through the University of Pittsburgh, funding of $19,557 for instructional use

2012 Kevin Kline Award for Outstanding Scenic Design for St. Louis Repertory Theatre’s production of In the Next Room; or the vibrator play

2012 Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Best Play (3 way tie): Chekhov Festival

2011 Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Best Play(s): House and Garden

2010 River Front Times Best Set Design for St. Louis Repertory Theatre’s production of Crime and Punishment

2010 Kevin Kline Nomination for Outstanding Scenic Design for St. Louis Repertory Theatre’s production of Crime and Punishment

2009 Kevin Kline Nomination for Outstanding Scenic Design for St. Louis Repertory Theatre’s production of The Lieutenant of Inishmore

2005 Nomination for the Independent Reviewers of New England’s Award for Excellence in Scenic Design for Stoneham Theatre’s production of The Dazzle

Production Experience:

2019:

Scenic Designs for St. Michael's Playhouse productions of The 39 Steps and Laughter on the 32nd Floor

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages Production of Into the Woods

Scenic Design for Point Park Conservatory's production of Vinegar Tom

2018:

Scenic Design for UPitt Stage's production of Much Ado About Nothing

Scenic Design for City Theatre's production of Nomad Motel

Scenic Design for The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis's production of The Humans

Projection Design for UPitt Stage's production of Recoil

2017:

Scenic Design for UPitt Stage's production of Parade

Scenic Design for Front Porch Theatrical's production of Big Fish

Scenic Design for Kinetic Theatre's production of The Liar

Scenic Design for Resonance Works production of Falstaff

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages production of Peter and the Star Catcher

Scenic Design for Point Park Conservartory's production of Big Love

2016:

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages production of Intimate Apparel

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages production of Nine

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages production of Rhinoceros

Scenic Design for St. Louis Repertory Theatre’s production of Molly’s Hammer

Scenic Design for City Theatre’s production of  Some Brighter Distance

2015:

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages production of Good Kids

Scenic Design for Theatre Squared’s production of Water by the Spoonful

Scenic Design for Point Park University’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire

Scenic Design for City Theatre’s production of Oblivion

2014:

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages production of Love Letters

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages production of Avenue Q

Scenic Design for St. Louis Repertory Theatre’s production of A Kid Like Jake

Scenic Design for Front Porch Theatrical’s production of Parade

Scenic Design for Kinetic Theatre’s production of Romance

Scenic Design for PICT Theatre’s production of Woman and Scarecrow

Scenic Design for Point Park Playhouse’s production of The Playboy of the Western World

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages’ production of In the Heights

2013:

Scenic Design for UPitt Stages’ production of Venus

Scenic Design for Point Park Playhouse’s production of Soldier’s Heart

Scenic Design for Off The Wall’s production of Well

Resident Scenic Designer for PICT Theatre’s 2013 Season.  Designs included Our Class, The Kreutzer Sonata, and A Skull in Connemara

Production Manager for PICT Theatre’s 2013 Season

Scenic Design for Guiding Star Dance Foundation’s production of Arranged Marriage

Scenic Design for Allegheny College’s production of Anna in the Tropics

Environmental Designer for Carnegie Mellon University’s New Works Festival 4-6

2012:

Production Manager for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s 2012 Season

Resident Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s 2012 season.  Designs included In the Next Room, or the vibrator play, Pitmen Painters, Three Sisters, Ivanov, After Play, Yalta Game, The Proposal, The Bear, Swan Song, Drama, The Evils of Tobacco, and  School for Lies.

Scenic Designer for Point Park University’s production of The Crucible

Environmental Designer for Carnegie Mellon University’s New Works Festival 1-3

Scenic Designer for Point Park Playhouse’s production of Rope

Environmental Designer for Carnegie Mellon University’s New Works Festival 4-6

2011:

Production Manager for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s 2011 Season

Resident Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s 2011 season.  Designs included House, Garden, Race, and The Mask of Moriarty

Associate Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest

Scenic Designer for Point Park University’s production of Twelfth Night

Scenic Designer for Point Park University’s production of Illyria

Environmental Designer for Carnegie Mellon University’s New Works Festival 1-3

Production Designer for Westminster College’s production of  The Children’s Hour

Scenic Designer for St. Louis Repertory Theatre’s production of In the Next Room; or the vibrator play

Production Designer for Westminster College’s production of Red Herring

2010:

Resident Scenic Designer for the Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre.  Productions included: Othello, The Hothouse, The Dumb Waiter, Betrayal, Celebration, The Room, No Man’s Land, and Hobson’s Choice

Production Designer for Westminster College’s production of A Little Night Music

Scenic and Lighting Designer for Stoneham Theatre’s production of The Turn of the Screw

Scenic Designer for St. Louis Repertory Theatre’s Crime and Punishment

Production  Designer for Westminster College’s production of The Misanthrope

2009:

Production Designer for Westminster College’s production of Rabbit Hole

Resident Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre. Productions included: What the Butler Saw, Doubt, The History Boys, Crime and Punishment, and Jane Eyre

Scenic Designer for Stoneham Theatre’s production of Strangers on a Train

Scenic Designer for Prime Stage Theatre’s production of Twelve Angry Men

Scenic Designer for Point Park Conservatory’s production of The Rocky Horror Show

Scenic Designer for Point Park Conservatory’s production of Hot L Baltimore

2008:

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s Production of Dublin Carol

Scenic Designer for Prime Stage’s production of The Hound of the Baskervilles

Scenic Designer for St. Louis Repertory’s production of The Lieutenant of Inishmore

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of The Synge Cycle

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of Playboy of the Western World

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of Salome

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of Wilde Tales

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of An Ideal Husband

Scenic Designer for Prime Stage Theatre’s production of The Outsiders

Scenic Designer for Stoneham Theatre’s production of The Cutting

Scenic Designer for Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s production of The Missionary Position

2007:

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of Pride and Prejudice

Scenic Designer for Prime Stage Theatre’s production of Inherit the Wind

Scenic Designer for Stoneham Theatre’s production of Gypsy

Scenic Designer for Point Park Conservatory’s production of Top Girls

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of Private Lives

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of The Lieutenant of Inishmore

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of Stuff Happens

Scenic Designer for The Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of Nine Parts of Desire

Scenic Designer for The City Theatre’s production of The Missionary Position

Scenic Designer for Prime Stage Theatre’s production of The Diary of Anne Frank

Scenic Designer for Stoneham Theatre’s production of The Grapes of Wrath

Scenic Designer for Point Park Conservatory’s production of The Skin of Our Teeth

2006:

Scenic Consultant for Carnegie Mellon School of Drama production of Man is Man

Scene Design for Point Park Conservatory’s production of The Rover

Scene Design for Pittsburgh Irish and Classical’s production of Boston Marriage

Scenic Design for Klasikos Theatre’s production of Oedipus the King

Scenic Design for Klasikos Theatre’s production of Ubu the King

Light baffle design for Staging Productions

Drop Design for the McKeesport First Methodist Church,  Producing company: Staging Productions

Lighting Design for The Stoneham Theatre’s production of Owen Meany

2005:

Scenic Design for UPitt Repertory’s production of Lie of the Mind

Lighting Design for UPitt Repertory’s production of Pericles

Lighting and Scenic Designs for UPitt Repertory’s production of Old Times

Scenic Design for Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama’s production of Lysistrata

Master Electrician for Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of Heartbreak House

Projection images for Saints and Poets Society reading of Saffronia

Scenic Design for the Prime Stage production of The Cay

Scenic Design for Point Park University’s production of A Flea in Her Ear

Lighting Design for UPitt Repertory’s production of Rashomon

Scenic Design for Carnegie Mellon University’s Music Department production of  L’Italiana in Algieri

Scenic Design for Shakespeare in the Schools’ production of Rachel Carson Saves the Day

2004:

Williamstown Theatre Festival:

Assistant Scenic Designer to Allen Moyer, The Cherry Orchard

Assistant Scenic Designer to Susan Hillferty, Rodney’s Wife

Scenic Design for Sagal Fellowship, Eurydice, Directed by Meredith McDonough

Studio Assistant for Anne Mundell, Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre’s production of Travesties

Furniture finisher for Serbin Furniture

Exhibit Finisher for Labyrinth Designs

Scenic Design for Stoneham Theatre’s production of The Dazzle

2003:

Williamstown Theatre Festival:

Assistant Scenic Designer to Allen Moyer, Landscape of the Body

Assistant Scenic Designer to Michael Carnahan, The Chekov Cycle

Act I  Scenic Design, The Burden of Sunflowers, Directed by Ted Sluberski

Director’s Project Scenic Design, Disco Pigs, Directed by Susanne Agins

A Raft of Grass, Property Design, Boston Theatre Marathon

2002:

Lighting Designer for Brandeis University acting program’s movement project

Scenic Designer for Brandeis University’s production of Love for Love

Electrician and Board Operator for Paulette Dance School’s year end production

Scenic Design for Brandeis University’s production of Trigger

2001:

Lighting Designer for Brandeis University’s production of The Wake of Jamie Foster

Lighting Designer for Brandeis University acting program’s movement project

Assistant Scenic Designer to Milla Pavelka, Brandeis University production of Summerfolk

Scenic Designer for Brandeis University’s production of The Psychic Life of Savages

Over-hire electrician for Limelight Productions

Electrician and Board Operator for Paulette Dance School year end production

Over-hire electrician for ART

Assistant Scenic Designer to Milla Pavelka, ART institute production of The Water Pail

Assistant Scenic Designer to Milla Pavelka, Brandeis University production of Professional Skepticism

Over-hire electrician and carpenter for New Repertory Theatre

Assistant Scenic Designer to Angie Dufresne, Brandeis University production of The Diviners

2000:

Graduate assistantship in Brandeis University electric shop

Assistant Scenic Designer to Margaret Cho, Brandeis University production of Merrily We Roll Along

Scenic Designer for Annie Warbucks, Lakes Region Summer Theatre

Scenic Designer for Fiddler on the Roof, Lakes Region Summer Theatre

Scenic Designer for Singing in the Rain, Lakes Region Summer Theatre

Studio Assistant Scenic Designer to Timothy Amrhein

Lighting Designer for UPitt Repertory’s production of The Adding Machine

Assistant Scenic Artist to Stephanie Miller, Carnegie Library installation

Lighting Designer for The Dark Part of the Forest, Lester Hamburgh Theatre

University of Pittsburgh Master Electrician and Shop Foreman