Fall semester, Walters State Community College’s music and drama department debuts a new theatrical director, T. J. Kent, and acting and stagecraft classes on the college’s Greeneville/Greene County and Sevier County campuses. An evening class is also among the options available for individuals wanting to participate in theatre.
Kent holds a bachelors of arts in theatre from East Tennessee State University and a master of fine arts in directing from the University of Southern Mississippi. His acting and directing credits range from “A Streetcar Named Desire” to “The Laramie Project.” Kent received Region IV Kennedy Center Award nominations in 2011 (directing) and 2008 (stage management). His theatrical talents are aided by a variety of tools and Kent also has an actor/combatant certification through Dueling Arts International.
Walters State’s Division of Humanities administration and faculty have not chosen a fall production, but the actors for that production will be chosen from these theatre classes. The following are taught by Kent: Introduction to Theatre (10:10-11:05 a.m. MWF in Morristown); Acting I (2:20-3:45 p.m. in Morristown); Stagecraft (times TBA, Morristown campus); and Major Production (times TBA, Morristown).
Kent will also teach Introduction to Theatre at the Walters State Greeneville/Greene County Campus (2:20-3:45 p.m., MW). An evening Introduction to Theatre class is also available in Greeneville on Monday nights.
An Introduction to Theatre class will also be taught from 2:20-3:45 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday at the Walters State Sevier County Campus. The instructor for that class will be Robin Ringer, associate professor of speech. Ringer is associate professor of communications and a member of Voice of Mercy, a gospel work. She has spent many years on stage as an entertainer and host.
See the fall schedule of classes for more information or contact T.J. Kent at (865) 617-0343 or tj.kent.theatre@gmail.com. Interested individuals may also contact the Division of Humanities at (423) 585-6922.