Welcome
Robert John Connor
Arts & Entertainment Executive | Performing Arts Leader | Theatre Producer & Director
Robert In The News
“Mr. Connor’s guidance and vision had as indelible impact on my career as a film, television, and stage actor.”
— Joaquina Kalukango, Tony Award Winner
“Training, mentorship, and access to careers in the arts are few and far in between. We intend to change that.” — Robert John Connor
About
With over four decades of groundbreaking contributions to the performing arts, Robert John Connor stands as a powerhouse actor, writer, director, singer, and visionary producer whose transformative work has indelibly shaped the cultural landscape of Atlanta and beyond. A true titan of the industry, Connor has seamlessly bridged the worlds of elite performance, high-impact commercial production, and visionary arts education ~ Yielding him a 2021 proclamation from the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.
Connor’s illustrious journey began at the prestigious Morehouse College, where he honed his craft in music, radio, film, and television. His early career quickly established him as a formidable force on stage and screen. As an actor and vocalist, his dazzling versatility earned him roles in iconic stage productions ranging from Once on this Island, 110 Degrees in the Shade, Camelot, A Crowns, The Club, A Urinetown, Queen of the Blues, Higher Ground, Come out of the Rain, Tyler Perry’s I Know I’ve Been Changed and Jezebel. Some of his film and television credits include: Greenleaf, A Different World, The Cosby Show, the film Glory, and Showtime at the Apollo. As a musician Robert has recorded and arranged vocals for a variety of artists, jingles for national and international products and has sung with a variety of artists including: Michael Buble, Gladys Knight, Barry Manilow, Byron Cage and Cassi Davis. On screen, his commanding presence graced timeless classics and modern hits alike, including the Oscar-winning film Glory, The Cosby Show, A Different World, Greenleaf, and Showtime at the Apollo. In January 2024, Robert was honored to serve as the producer of the celebration for Dexter Scott King (son of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) and humbled that the King family would entrust in him this musical experience to celebrate Dexter’s life.
Awards:
- Winner of 16 Shuler Awards
- 4 Suzi Bass Award wins
- At least 8 Suzi Bass nominations
- Received Arts Leadership Award from Douglas County City Council
- The Diamond Award for Transformative Leadership
- The Diamond Award Dr. Anne Wimbush Watts “Mother Morehouse” Honor for Excellence in Leadership, Community, Philanthropy, and Humanitarian Engagement
Projects In The News
Driven by an insatiable desire to innovate, Connor earned a Master of Fine Arts in Performance and Dramatic Media from the University of Georgia, a milestone that catalyzed his evolution into a master director and trailblazing producer. When Connor stepped into the producer’s chair, his career soared to unprecedented heights. Turning a modest $500 investment into a multi-decade empire, he took the reins of Dominion Entertainment and launched the holiday classic Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Musical in Atlanta in 2012. Under his golden touch, Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Musical has evolved into the most popular, highly sought-after, and critically acclaimed holiday tradition in the region.
Connor’s reputation as a premium hitmaker is cemented by a stellar catalog of definitive theatrical masterworks, including Mahalia, A Lesson Before Dying, Jar the Floor, and the historic achievement of securing the Atlanta premiere of the Broadway hit comedy Chicken & Biscuits. He has also directed productions including: Dreamgirls, The Amen Corner, Romeo & Juliet, Execution of Justice, Black Nativity, A Hairspray, Miss Saigon and the world premiere of the amateur production of The Color Purple. His productions have become a magnet for elite industry talent, attracting celebrated stars such as Latrice Pace (The P2X Stellar Nominated, Billboard charting, Grammy-nominated gospel group, The Anointed Pace Sisters, Suzi Bass Award, What’s Done in the Dark, Scissors, I Know I’ve Been Changed) The Pace Sisters), Q Parker (112), Dathan Thigpen (Beyoncés Black Is King, Scary Movie 5, Sunday Best All Stars, The Haves and the Have Nots, Madea’s Neighbors from Hell) and Zebulon Ellis, Donna Biscoe (Saints & Sinners), Elizabeth Omilami (Ray), Simeon Daise (All American), and Enoch King (The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey).
Impact
Robert has impacted the artistic careers of over 21,000 youth through Dominion Arts Foundation, his nonprofit organization; 1,500 through his stage productions and; almost 8,000 high school students during his era at the award-winning Tri-Cities High School Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Program (Andre 300, Big Boi, Kandi Burruss, Tamika Scott, LaTocha Scott), Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and the Fine Arts Magnet Education program at New Manchester High School (Ne-Yo, Rutina Wesley of Queen Sugar), and Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts at Pebblebrook High School (Lil Yachty, Carlos Valdes,).
Others whose careers he has impacted include:
- Y’Anna Crawley (Jennifer Lopez, Ledisi, Chrisette Michele, Coming 2 America, Greenleaf)
- Tony Hightower (Money Train w/Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Lopez, If Loving You Is Wrong, Madea Gets a Job, Hello, Madea on the Run, The Haves and the Have Nots)
- Enoch Armando King (Till, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey w/Samuel L. Jackson, Drumline, Madea’s Family Reunion, I Had a Dream)
- Kiandra Richardson (Tyler, The Creator, Beyonce, Kanye West, Empire, Kingdom Business)
- Brittany Inge (Atlanta, The Passage, Dynasty, The Resident, Survivor’s Remorse, Love Is, The Hate U Give, BET’s Boomerang, & The Ms. Pat Show)
- Brittany L. Smith (Sweet Magnolias, TO Her, With Love, Venom w/Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed; Creepshow
- Devere Rogers (Grey’s Anatomy, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Will & Grace, My Spy)
- Tiffany Oglesby (Chicago Med, The Neighborhood, Empire)
- Simeon Daise (Cheaper by the Dozen w/Gabrielle Union, Zach Braff, Erika Christensen)
- Carlos Simon – Grammy nominated for Requiem for the Enslaved (2022)
- Celina Chisolm-Igwe – Her films have won a combined total of 30 awards at varying film festivals across the globe, including Best Director and Best Short Film
- Lawrence Flowers, Billboard chart-topping Gospel artist
- Latrice Pace (The Anointed Pace Sisters)
- Naomi Lavette (Are You Here with Owen Wilson and Zack Galifinikis, ABC’s Resurrection, House of Payne)
- Tequila Whitfield (Hidden Figures, Atlanta, Teenage Bounty Hunters, The Resident)
- Tonia Jackson (Atlanta, Black Lightning, Greenleaf, The Resident, Meet the Browns)
Projects
Connor’s immense influence extends far beyond commercial success. He produced the poignant short film Missing for the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church under the leadership of Senator Raphael Warnock. Committed to lifting as he climbs, he founded the Dominion Arts Foundation, a champion non-profit dedicated to creating elite training, employment, and internship pipelines for underserved communities.
Furthermore, as the chief vision, voice, and Director of the Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts (CCCEPA)—a premier public magnet school housed at Pebblebrook High School—Connor actively molds the next generation of industry leaders. Offering unparalleled world-class training in Dance, Vocal Music, Drama, and Technical Theatre, Robert John Connor continues to reign as an unstoppable cultural architect, leaving an undeniable legacy of artistic excellence and institutional empowerment.
Let’s Interact
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