Skip to main content
Apply Request Info

John Amplas

Professor Emeritus
Associate Artistic Director, The REP

John AmplasContact Information

Education

  • B.F.A., Theatre Arts, Point Park University

Courses Taught

  • Acting
  • Directing
  • Audition Techniques
  • The Acting/Directing Process
  • Rehearsal and Performance Techniques
  • Stage Makeup

Background

John Amplas, professor emeritus, began teaching at Point Park University in 1982. He has taught all levels of acting and directing and has served both as an actor and director in countless productions. He is a founding member of The REP, Point Park University's professional theatre company, as well as its associate artistic director.

Amplas has worked Off-Off Broadway in productions of Look Back in Anger and Streamers. He is an accomplished film actor with more than 15 films to his credit, most notably the star in Romero's classic Martin, Tony Buba's No Pets, Brady Lewis' Daddy Cool and a featured role in Melissa Martin's The Bread My Sweet.

In collaboration with actor Bill Nunn, Amplas recently developed a Conservatory outreach program that brings theatre to underserved urban schools in and around Pittsburgh, as well as the establishment of the August Wilson Monologue Competition for high school students. The national finals for the competition are held in New York City at The August Wilson Theatre, sponsored by Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre in Atlanta. The top three national competitors' receive $10,000, $7,000 and $5,000 in scholarship to attend the acting program of Point Park University.

Curriculum Vitae


Professional Memberships and Affiliations

  • Actor's Equity Association
  • Screen Actor's Guild
  • August Wilson Monologue Competition, director of the Pittsburgh chapter
  • August Wilson Monologue Competition, coordinating advisor for national chapter in New York City

Selected Artistic Works

  • Antigone, Director, Pittsburgh Playhouse
  • No Place to be Somebody, Director, Pittsburgh Playhouse
  • The Vertical Hour, Director, Pittsburgh Playhouse
  • for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enough , Director, Pittsburgh Playhouse
  • The Rover , Director, Pittsburgh Playhouse
  • The Exonerated , Director, Pittsburgh Playhouse
  • Hair , Director, Pittsburgh Playhouse
  • Kimberly Akimbo , Director, Pittsburgh Playhouse
  • Le Liaisons Dangereuses , Director, Pittsburgh Playhouse
  • Hard Times , Director, Pittsburgh Playhouse

Selected Performances

  • Ah, Wilderness!
  • The FBI Girl
  • The Visit
  • Breaker Morant
  • Le Bete
  • Knights of the Round Table
  • The Colonel Bird
  • On the Beach
  • The Heiress
  • American Buffalo

Selected Award

  • The Exonerated, Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Outstanding Production, 2007