Adriano J. Gatto

As an internationally Certified Fight Director with Fight Directors Canada and a Certified Instructor with its Academy, Adriano teaches various stage combat courses in the department. Additionally, he serves as the Principal Recruiter for the Department of Theatre & Fine Arts, working directly with the Office of Admissions and Enrollment Marketing.

NU Theatre

For Niagara University Theatre, Adriano has served as the Fight Director for over 30 productions. Additionally, he has directed past productions of The Wolves, Taming of the Shrew, Eurydice, Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Comedy of Errors (Best Director of a Play – Broadway World Buffalo Theatre Awards).

Professional Experience

Adriano’s work as a Fight Director has been seen in over 140 productions including: the world premieres of Revival: The Resurrection of Son House and Heartland (Geva Theatre Center); The Diary of Anne Frank and Wait Until Dark (Arizona Theatre Company); One Man, Two Guvnors and Into the Breeches! (Chautauqua Theatre Company); Waiting for Godot, Stage Kiss and the world premiere of The Onion Game (Irish Classical Theatre Company); Equivocation and Lifespan of a Fact (Kavinoky Theatre); Carmen (RPO); Don Giovanni, Out of Darkness/Into the Fire (Eastman Opera Theatre), among others.

As an actor, Adriano’s acting credits include productions with the Shakespeare Theatre Company (DC), Folger Shakespeare Theatre, Round House Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, and Olney Theatre Center, among many other award winning companies here in Buffalo, such Irish Classical Theatre and the Kavinoky Theatre.

As a Certified Fight Instructor with the Academy of FDC, Adriano has taught stage combat for many professional and educational institutions, including: the Acting Conservatory for Chautauqua Theatre Company, the AFDC Certification Conference in Calgary, AB, the Eastman School of Opera and Geva Summer Academy.

Current Projects/Research

Adriano recently served as the Fight Director for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? at Chautauqua Theatre Company, Jane Eyre at Geva Theatre Center, and the upcoming rolling-world premiere of The Magnolia Ballet at Alleyway Theatre.

Professional Affiliations

• Actors’ Equity Association
• Fight Directors Canada (Academy and Registry)
• Society of Directors and Choreographers

Training

• Acting Fellowship. Shakespeare Theatre Company, DC.
• M.A.I.S. – Arts Administration, Drexel University & Niagara University
• B.F.A. – Theatre Studies, Performance. Niagara University