Associate Professor of Theatre
Northside Hall 118E
Office Phone: (574) 520-4676
Email: jamellio@iusb.edu
Area(s) of specialization:
Musical Theatre, Acting and Directing
Department Roles:
Assessment Coordinator
Production Auditions
Acting/ Directing
Musical Theatre/Choreography
Biography:
Justin Amellio-Ashbrook currently serves as Associate Professor of Theatre at Indiana University South Bend where he specializes in musical theatre performance, directing and acting. A proud graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University’s M.F.A. program in Theatre Pedagogy – Movement/Musical Theatre track - and an Associate Member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, his goal is to help students reach their full potential as performing artists. His pedagogy is led by the belief that a sound craft and technique of acting is the basis of all aspects of authentic performance. Utilizing a psycho-physical approach to the Stanislavski acting methodology, he teaches students to cultivate a keen awareness of their instrument that extends into a fully realized and unique modality of character creation and sustainability. His goal is to produce students known for their creative boldness, mastery of craft, positivity and professionalism.
Selected directing and/or directing/choreography credits include; A Chorus Line, Bare: A Pop Opera (2013 RTCC award for Best Musical and Direction), [title of show] (2011 RTCC award for Best Musical), and Boy From Oz at Richmond Triangle Players; A Chorus Line (Co-Director/Co-Choreographer) and Anything Goes (Director/Co-Choreographer) at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts; Lend Me a Tenor with One Theatre Co. in Chicago; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, 13, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Head Over Heels at the world famous theatre camp, Stagedoor Manor; Steel Pier, Legally Blonde, Oklahoma and the mid-Atlantic premiere of The Single Girl’s Guide at Christopher Newport University.
On the IUSB campus, Justin has directed and/or directed and choreographed the following: Mamma Mia!, Almost, Maine, Bare, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, …Forum, Opus, Musical of Musicals, A Grand Night for Singing, A Christmas Carol, It’s a Wonderful Life (Live!), The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Pippin, Kiss Me Kate, King Lear (co-director) and The 25th Annual Putnam…Spelling Bee with the IU South Bend Theatre and Dance Company.