Jayme Tinti, one of the inaugural graduates from the 2005 Professional Actor Training Program at Chattanooga State, was recently named Best Local Director by Connect Savannah, an arts, news and entertainment weekly newspaper in their “Best of Savannah 2017” edition. Her passion for stage-managing became apparent while assisting the Equity stage manager on the set of “That Other Woman’s Child,” presented at Chattanooga State in 2004.  

She credits Chattanooga State about teaching her the concept of learning how to be a working artist. “The goal is to be working, not to be a star,” states Tinti.  

Following graduation, she stayed at Chattanooga State in order to further her understanding of arts administration by working in the office of the theatre department. Soon after, the Barter Theatre in Abington, Virginia, the nation’s longest running professional theatre, hired Tinti as an intern. While residing at the Barter, she became immersed in the world of theatre and was able to earn her Equity card, (the union for actors and stage managers) and work her way up to Equity stage manager.  

In 2012, Tinti and her four former Barter colleagues moved to Savannah, Georgia to open The Savannah Stage Company. The company strives to live by five core values: accessibility, action-driven storytelling, growth, imagination, and bravery. Their mission is to provide the underserved citizens of the community through implementing a pay-what-you-can ticket admission. The Savannah Stage Company started with humble beginnings, but over time they have received positive recognition for their work in such productions as “The Wizard Of Oz” and “The Scarlet Letter.”

Tinti explained that she is not the only one from the Company to also receive accolades from the aforementioned weekly local arts, news and entertainment newspaper. Wesley Pridgen won Best Local Actor and Ashley Cook won Best Local Actress.

---story by Hannah Baker, 2017 ChattState graduate