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Behind the Scenes

Jeffry George
Behind the Scenes

Introduction to Jeffry George: 2:21 min. Photo & design: Raymond Elman

Jeffry George started his artistic life as a musician attending public schools in his hometown of Wautoma, Wisconsin. During high school, George attended The University of Wisconsin, Interlochen, and The Revelli International School of Music in Switzerland, where he received advanced training in theory, composition, trumpet and voice.

Upon graduating from high school, George continued his performing arts training at Ithaca College School of Music. Expanding beyond music, George spent summers as an actor at the Shakespeare Theatre of Monmouth, ME, at the Hamilton College Summer Theatre (Clinton, NY), and at Cornell University.

Prior to graduating from Ithaca, George was cast in the East Coast tour of Shenandoah and made his breakthrough as an actor/dancer in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, where he played a variety of featured roles. In 1981, he appeared on both Trapper John M.D. and on One Life to Live. George continues to perform at benefits raising money for non-profit theatres.

Having been brought up by parents who were highly organized and disciplined, with a very strong work ethic, and possessing similar characteristics himself, in 1983, George transitioned from professional performer to professional management.

After 10 years of being the resident production stage manager at the Paper Mill Playhouse, the State Theatre of New Jersey, he went on to become the production stage manager at the North Shore Music Theatre; the Nora Theatre Company; Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera; Ogunquit Playhouse; Darien Dinner Theatre, and Kansas City Starlight. It was at the Kansas City Starlight where George began to “climb the ladder” administratively, serving as their production manager.

In 2003, he became the general manager of the Caldwell Theatre Company in Boca Raton, FL, where he assisted in the planning of a new theatre facility and provided leadership spanning initial planning to ground breaking.

In 2007, George was asked by Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT) to become the organization’s first managing director and to oversee the construction of their new theater, The Julie Harris Stage.

After a move to Colorado, George served as the managing director of Theatre Aspen. Prior to that, for a brief period of time he was also the general manager of the Aspen International Film Festival.

With the opportunity to return to his first artistic love – music – George became the executive director of Cantata Singers in Cambridge, MA, where he served from 2010 to 2012. He oversaw all administrative, development, educational and production activities for a 60-member semi-professional classical choral organization with an endowment of $2.5 million.

In 2012, he was asked to return to Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater as the executive director, and subsequently its executive/artistic director. George was responsible for the artistic vision, administrative operation, staff utilization, fundraising, marketing, educational growth and community outreach of the organization.

With a seasonal staff of 45, a volunteer ambassador program of 120 and a post-secondary Professional Development Internship Program of 10 emerging artists – George provided leadership and support for all artistic, administrative, development, marketing, educational and production activities.

However, his true passion was a college internship program where he implemented weekly seminars, career workshops and rotational departmental training for over 50 emerging artists. He successfully launched an educational outreach program to the local middle schools and high schools, providing in-school workshops and producing productions that were based on each school’s curriculum. Having a passion for local issues, he also launched a commissioned works program addressing social, health and environmental issues relating directly to community challenges.

While continuing in an executive director career, he also worked with playwright Matthew Lombardo on his National Tours of Looped, originally starring Valerie Harper with Stefanie Powers taking over, and High starring Kathleen Turner.

He is currently working on the world premiere of the Off Broadway production of Who’s Holiday, starring Lesli Margherita, Olivier Awards winner, which continues his professional relationship with writer and producer, Matthew Lombardo.

George currently resides in New York City with his husband, Hunter O’Hanian, with seasonal time spent in their homes in Provincetown and Fort Lauderdale.

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RESPECTS OTHERS POINTS OF VIEW: 0:40 sec.