DENNIS TRAINOR JR.
CURRICULUM VITA
Associate Professor of Theater
Boston Conservatory at Berklee
Email: DennisTrainorJr@gmail.com

EDUCATION

• Master of Fine Arts in Acting – American Conservatory Theater

• B.A. in Liberal Arts – State University of New York at Stony Brook

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Actors' Equity Association

• The Dramatists Guild

ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Boston, MA

• Associate Professor of Theater (2021–Present)

• Assistant Professor of Theater (2017–2021)

Courses Taught:

• Acting I & II

• Viewpoints (Sophomores)

• Contemporary Scene Study (Juniors and Seniors)

• Acting Emphasis: Contemporary Text (Seniors)

Service and Committees:

• Audition Team (2020–Present)

  • Adjudicated auditions nationwide, shaping the incoming class.

• Recruitment Committee (2023–Present)

  • Identified and evaluated prospective students demonstrating exceptional talent and creativity.

• Dean's Advisory Committee (2021–22)

  • Advised on policy, curricular development, and new faculty hires.

• Department Chair Search Committee (2023)

  • Participated in a national search to hire a new Chair for the Theater Division.

• Advisor, New Ground (2020–Present)

  • Mentored student-led productions of new plays on campus.

• Faculty, Musical Theater Acting Intensive (Pre-College Program) – 2020–Present

  • Taught “Playing Shakespeare” and directed portions of the final show for this pre-college summer intensive.

ADDITIONAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Southeastern Summer Theatre Institute, Hilton Head, SC – 2023

• Acting Teacher, SSTI Essentials Program

  • Prepared high school students for BFA program auditions.

Stonehill College, Easton, MA – 2009

• Guest Artist in Residence

  • Directed Trojan Women: A Love Story, which earned a "Striking Ensemble Award" at the Northeast Regional Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival.

Lawrence Academy, Groton, MA – 2006–2007

• Director of Theater/Instructor of Theater

  • Taught a full course load and served as Producing Artistic Director for two main stage productions.

  • Taught courses in Acting and Playwrighting

Peddie School, Hightstown, NJ – 2003–2006

• Director of Theater/Instructor of Theater

  • Directed and produced five main stage productions annually.

  • Taught courses in Acting and Playwrighting

Suitland High School for the Visual and Performing Arts, Forestville, MD – 2001–2003

• Theater Teacher and Director

  • Directed main stage shows and advised students on college admissions and auditions.

Shakespeare Theatre Company, Washington, D.C. – 2003

• Acting Teacher and Director

  • Taught acting and text in “Camp Shakespeare” for high school students.

RELATED EXPERIENCE

Rude Mechanicals Theater Company, New York, NY

• Founding Co-Artistic Director (1997–2000)

  • Created a critically acclaimed, financially stable company from the ground up.

  • Provided artistic vision and leadership, overseeing three-show seasons and the annual "New Works" staged reading series.

  • Supervised casting, hiring of artistic and technical personnel, and budget management.

  • Directed full-scale productions including A Midsummer Night’s Dream and PLUG, and produced six major productions along with numerous public readings and workshops.

  • Developed partnerships with local artists and institutions, establishing the company as a vibrant part of New York’s off-off-Broadway scene.

ACTING CREDITS

Regional Stage:

• The Comedy of Errors – Egeon/Pinch, Shakespeare and Company (Dir: Kate Kohler Amory) 2024

• How I Learned To Drive – Uncle Peck, Actors’ Shakespeare Project (Dir: Elaine Vaan Houge) 2023

• Manifest Destiny’s Child – Myself, Edinburgh Fringe Festival (Dir: David Esbjornson) 2023

• The Inheritance – Henry Wilcox, SpeakEasy Stage (Dir: Paul Daigneault) 2022

• Let The Right One In – Mr. Avila, Actors’ Shakespeare Project (Dir: Igor Chris Edwards) 2022

• The Merchant of Venice – Antonio, Actors’ Shakespeare Project (Dir: Igor Golyak) 2021

• Straight White Men – Jake, New Repertory Theatre (Dir: Elaine Vaan Houge) 2019

• In the Next Room; or the Vibrator Play – Mr. Daldry, SpeakEasy Stage (Dir: Scott Edmiston) 2010

• The Goat or Who Is Sylvia? – Ross, Gloucester Stage (Dir: Eric Engel) 2009

• Picasso at the Lapin Agile – Schmendiman, New Repertory Theatre (Dir: Daniel Gidron) 2009

• The Pain and the Itch – Cash, Company One (Dir: Bevin O’Gara) 2009

• The Rainmaker – File, Foothills Theatre (Dir: Chris Webb) 2009

• November – Dwight Grackle, The Lyric Stage (Dir: Daniel Gidron) 2008

• The Seagull – Shamraev, The Publick (Dir: Diego Arciniegas) 2007

• Macbeth – Lennox, North Shore Music Theatre (Dir: Craig Foley) 1999

New York Stage:

• The Winter’s Tale – Clown, Rude Mechanicals (SoHo Rep) 1999

• Loose Ends – Paul Baumer, Looking Glass Theatre (Dir: Marc Wietz) 1997

• Cellophane – The Martian, The Flea (Dir: Jim Simpson) 1997

• Waiting for Godot – Vladimir, Expanded Arts (Dir: Jennifer Pias) 1995

• Julius Caesar – Octavius/Ensemble, Kraine Theatre (Dir: Jennifer Pias) 1994

DIRECTING CREDITS

New York Stage:

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Rude Mechanicals (1999)

• PLUG – Rude Mechanicals (1998)

Academic Stage:

• Dance Nation – Boston Conservatory Black Box production (2024)

• Antigone or And Still She Must Rise Up – Boston Conservatory (2022)

• The Trojan Women: A Love Story – Stonehill College (2009)

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Lawrence Academy (2007)

• Valparaiso – Lawrence Academy (2006)

• The Wonder of the World – Peddie School (2006)

• Urinetown: The Musical – Peddie School (2006)

• Romeo and Juliet – Peddie School (2005)

• The Laramie Project – Peddie School (2005)

• The Wiz – Peddie School (2005)

• As You Like It – Peddie School (2005)

• Twelfth Night – Peddie School (2004)

• Footloose – Peddie School (2004)

• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead – Peddie School (2003)

• A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Suitland High School (2003)

• Twelfth Night – Suitland High School (2002)

• Big Love – Suitland High School (2002)

• The Importance of Being Earnest – Suitland High School (2001)

DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKING

Legalize Democracy – Director, Writer, Producer, Editor (2014)

• Directed a documentary on the Democracy movement in the U.S.

American Autumn – Director, Writer, Producer, Editor (2011–2012)

• Directed the first feature-length documentary on Occupy Wall Street to achieve theatrical release.

TELEVISION & MEDIA

Jill Stein for President Campaign – Communications Director (2015–2016)

• Led media operations for Dr. Jill Stein’s campaign for President of the United States, overseeing messaging, press relations, and media strategy.

• Produced and directed over 65 campaign videos and television commercials.

Acronym TV – Creator, Host, Producer (2007–2014)

• Hosted and produced a political talk show on The Young Turks Network.