THED Talks is a podcast for theatre teachers and theatre education students. Dr. Jimmy Chrismon, Theatre Education professor at Illinois State University, brings you stories and interviews from experienced K-12 theatre teachers, current theatre education majors, and professors of theatre education that will warm your heart, renew your faith in teaching, and provide resources to better your practice in your theatre classroom. Pour the coffee, relax, and join us for heart-warming conversations and practical advice from practitioners making a difference in students' lives each and every day!
May 10, 2023
This week Jimmy talks with one of his senior theatre education majors, Ryan Renc. He talks about his experiences in college, his passion for young people, and taking care of your students during the production process.
May 3, 2023
This week Jimmy talks with first year middle school theatre teacher Jake Mouchawar. He discusses training to teach in quarantine, the outdatedness of theatre education, and using the theatre classroom for community and commu…
April 19, 2023
This week Jimmy talks with South African teaching artist Annalise Zaverdinos. She talks about her love of reading, her work with reader's theatre in South Africa, and taking care of yourself when you hear and see a lot of hu…
April 5, 2023
This week Jimmy talks with Season 5 guest Rachel Davis to follow up on the school year! She talks about a workshop she has developed for transgender inclusion in the theatre classroom, her life as a transgender teacher in Fl…
March 29, 2023
This week Jimmy talks with North Carolina theatre teacher Jenn Janus. She talks about coming into teaching later in life, her career in special effects makeup, and owning and operating her own haunted attraction!
March 22, 2023
This week Jimmy talks with teaching artist and entrepreneur Tim Malboeuf. He talks about starting his own theatre training center- T3 Studios, elevating theatre education for young performers, and college audition prep!
Creator and Host
Dr. Jimmy Chrismon is a theatre educator with 17 years of experience in the public schools of North and South Carolina. He currently teaches full time as an Assistant Professor of Theatre Teacher Education at Illinois State University. He was an adjunct theatre faculty member at Winthrop University and Central Piedmont Community College. He has acted, directed, designed, and produced professionally for 24 years. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre Education from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. He received his Master of Education Degree in Theatre Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He most recently completed his Doctor of Education Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Gardner-Webb University. His dissertation was entitled “A Study of Theatre Teacher and School Administrator Perceptions of Traits, Characteristics, and Instructional Practices and Their Possible Role in Teacher Evaluation.” He has also worked for The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and The Lake Norman School of the Arts. He currently resides in Bloomington, Illinois.
Dr. Chrismon’s acting credits include: Lonely Planet, Doubt: A Parable, Company, The History Boys, Godspell, Shadow Box, The Baltimore Waltz, Tick, tick..Boom!, The Little Shop of Horrors, The Odd Couple, Children of Eden, Candide, The Miser, The Good Woman of Setzuan, I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, The Altruists, The Crucible, Dracula, The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe, and others.
His directing credits include: Guys and Dolls, The Electric Baby, Seussical: The Musical, Godspell, Miss Nelson Is Missing, Rent, Spring Awakening, The Importance of Being Earnest, Children of Eden, Tarzan, Aida, All Shook Up, Grease, The Odd Couple, Lonely Planet, Interrupting Vanessa, Medea, the Wizard of Oz, A Raisin in the Sun, A Very Common Procedure, Geography Club, You’re a Good Man, Charlie, Brown, The Laramie Project, The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, and others.
His professional affiliations include The American Alliance for Theatre Education, The Illinois Theatre Association, The Southeastern Theatre Conference, and The Educational Theatre Association.