Jar The Floor Creative & Production Team
Robert John Connor (Director) – is an award winning director/producer/writer and actor who has worked in the arts and entertainment industry for over 30 years as an actor, singer, writer, director and producer. A graduate of Morehouse College, Robert studied music, radio, film and television. At Morehouse, he studied acting under the renowned actor/director Lamar Alford and Joan Lewis. He studied voice with Dr. Uzee Brown and film and media with Dr. Herbert Eichleberger. Robert went on to pursue acting and music, and has appeared in a variety of stage productions including: Crowns, Urinetown, Queen of the Blues, Higher Ground, Come out of the Rain, Tyler Perry’s I Know I’ve Been Changed and Jezebel. Some of his film and television credits include: A Different World, The Cosby Show, the film Glory, and Showtime at the Apollo. As a musician Robert has recorded and arranged vocals for a variety of artists, jingles for national and international products and has sung with a variety of artists including: Michael Buble, Gladys Knight, Barry Mannilow, Byron Cage and Cassi Davis. Robert went on to earn a Masters of Fine Arts in Performance and Dramatic Media from the University of Georgia, and has directed productions including: Dreamgirls, The Amen Corner, Romeo & Juliet, Execution of Justice, Black Nativity, Hairspray, Miss Saigon and the world premiere of the amateur production of The Color Purple.
Salondia Aveni (Production Manager) - Salondia is a native of Ft. Gaines, GA and a graduate of Fort Valley State University with a B.S. in Animal Science. She began her artistic career at the tender age of nine as a dancer with Patti Rutland Simpson, a student of the legendary Gus Giordano and director of the critically acclaimed dance company Patti Rutland Jazz. Salondia relocated to Savannah, GA in 1997, began teaching dance, and became a member of Sankofa Dance Theatre. During her time with Sankofa, she served as a choreographer, Rehearsal Director and Assistant Artistic Director for the company. As a professional dancer she had the opportunity to work with world renowned choreographers, perform on national and international stages, and study traditional West African Dance in Senegal, West Africa. In 2006 she made Atlanta her home and began working in television as Director of Entertainment for Teen City Productions. In 2008 she transitioned back into theater and is currently the Production Manager for the Fulton County Department of Arts & Culture’s Southwest Arts Center Performance Theater and Gallery. She is proud to be a part of the Black Nativity 2012 production team and looks forward to continued service in this industry.
Lisa L. Watson (Stage Manager) an Atlanta native, received her undergraduate degree from Clark Atlanta University and went on to pursue graduate studies at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts in Scenic Design. While in NY she worked with the Negro Ensemble Company, New Federal Theatre, Crossroads Theatre and Diane McIntyre’s Sounds in Motions among others. Returning to Atlanta in 1992 she joined Jomandi Productions as Production Manager, a position she held for 10 years. Most recent projects – “90 Years-Birthday Celebration for Dr. Joseph E. Lowery” , “MLK – A Monumental Life” for Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for the unveiling of the King Memorial in Washington DC with Creative Eye Productions and “A Bluesman in the Life of the Mind” celebrating the retirement of Cornell West from Princeton University at the McCarter Theatre.
Seamus Bourne (Scenic Design) – is designing his debut show with Dominion Entertainment. His work may have been seen on the Metro Atlanta stages of Actors’ Express, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, Aurora Theatre, and (the late) Theatre in the Square. Outside of Georgia, two seasons at LOOK Musical Theatre (Tulsa, OK) and Henley Street Theatre (Richmond, VA). Seamus is a two time Suzi Bass Award nominee. He is also a newly minted member of United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, The Represented Voice of Designers and Scenic Artists in the US. Additionally he thanks his wife, Anna and kiddos, Madeleine and Holden for the love and support. Seamus’ work is dedicated to his Grandfather, Mel.
Mary Parker (Lighting Design) - Mary is thrilled to be part of such a talented group on this production. You may have seen her work out and about town over the ten years Mary has called Atlanta home.. She is very proud to have had the pleasure of designing for almost every professional theatre company in town, as well as several regional theatres throughout the Southeast. Throughout her 20 years in the business, she has lit everything from concerts to light installations to musicals to dance. Some of her favorite past productions include: Fly at Theatrical Outfit; Mary Poppins and Body of Water at Aurora Theatre; Ragtime, Chicago, and The Producers at Atlanta Lyric; Avenue Q, Detroit, Waffle Palace, and Every Tongue Confess at Horizon Theatre; Detroit 67 and Sty of the Blind Pig at True Colors; Les Liaisons, Venus in Fur, and Equus at Actor’s Express. Mary is currently the resident lighting designer at Horizon Theatre Company and Ballethnic Dance. “The purpose of art is washing the dust of our daily life off our souls.â€
Jarrod Barnes (Costume Design) -Â Jarrod is an Atlantan Fashion Designer, Tailor, Stylist and Costume Designer is a native of Thomasville, NC. He studied Fashion Design at Bauder College of Atlanta and completed the undergraduate part of his studies in Fashion Design in 2010 at American Intercontinental University. He has released 4 collections with his label, Jarrod’s, Est. 1977 and has also gained numerous theatrical credits through his work with Rob Jackson Presents, Juel Lane, Dominion Entertainment and his service over the past 2 years and 3 seasons of Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theatre as Wardrobe Master. His Costume Designer work for this year includes New Manchester High School’s production of “The Wiz”, directed by Robert Connor and The Weber School’s production of “Artfully Yours”, directed by Hilda Willis.
ADDITIONAL CREATIVE &Â PRODUCTION TEAM MEMBERS
Technical Director – Mike Young
Sound Design – Geno Hocker
Master Electrician РAndr̩ Allen
Hair & Make-up – Tamera Simmons
Wardrobe – Astral Hackshaw