Robert Post's Biography


Two major influences sparked Post's childhood desire to go into show business: the sight of his grandmother, Assunta DiMenna, spontaneously dancing and singing at any family occasion (including funerals), and the classic vaudeville, juggling and specialty acts featured on the Ed Sullivan show in the 60's.


When Post was at a loss for a major as a freshman at Ohio State University, he signed up for classes in Absurdist Literature because he liked the sound of "absurd." After a year of devouring works by Beckett, Pinter, Ionesco, Genet and others, Post was enchanted and thought that all great literature was written this way. This was the second beginning of his warped sense of humor, the first developed throughout twelve years of Catholic school (during which he read nothing.)   In spite of the fact that he holds the record for the most discipline marks in St. Augustian Elementary School's history for "difficulties" with attention, conduct, tardiness, and obedience, he has turned out to be a dedicated student of life.











Robert's career as a performing artist would never have happened if he had been successful at his first love, golf. But — being half Italian— he struggled with his temper as a player. He did enjoy success as a caddy and carried the bags of some of the greatest players of all time including Byron Nelson, Tom Weiskoff, Lanny Watkins, Judy Rankin, and Chi Chi Rodriguez.


In 1978, in an obsessive quest to find a teacher who could help him blend his love of character work with the magical techniques of the movement arts, Post traveled to the woods of South Paris, Maine to take a workshop with the visionary theatre artist, Tony Montanaro. This began the foundation of Postís unique creative style and his artistic collaboration with Montanaro, which continued until Tony passed from "this" life on December 13, 2002. Tony is undoubtedly improvising daily with the likes of Chaplin and Keaton while imitating anything that captures his attention. Happy travels Maestro.


Over the past twenty-seven years Post has performed in almost every conceivable setting including street corners, dinner theaters, prisons, factories, schools, TV commercials, homeless shelters, festivals, river boats, and with symphony orchestras.   He has created over thirty works since 1973, for which he has received numerous awards and fellowships. Post is an alumnus of the Affiliate Artists program and has toured his one-man performance to forty-five US states, Canada, Mexico and Japan.


Since 1994, Post's work has been seen across the US and in Canada on national television (PBS) in a special award-winning special, Robert Post — In Performance and regionally in a variety of PBS educational programs for high school students.


Post Comedy Theatre was presented by Broadway’s internationally acclaimed New Victory Theater to rave reviews and sold out houses. In addition to his touring Post has helped direct various theatre and dance productions including Cinderella, Coppelia and The Nutcracker for BalletMet Columbus as well as theater productions of Noises Off and Urinetown. He currently guides students in the creation of original works as an adjunct professor in theater at The Ohio State University.