Terri Kent

Professor Kent is the coordinator of the School of Theatre and Dance's B.F.A. Musical Theatre program and is the Producing Artistic Director of Porthouse Theatre, Kent State University's summer professional theatre. She is a member of Actors' Equity Association, SAG/AFTRA, the Society of Directors and Choreographers, and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. 

An accomplished director, actor and educator, Kent’s research focuses on the development of the Kent Movement Method, which combines the methods of Laban and Stanislavski, and its application to musical theatre performances. Currently, Kent is exploring the creation of two new musical theatre exercises called “The Split Song” and “Exchanged-Role Duets” and investigating the role of human mimicry in the performance of two actors working in collaboration. As a director, Kent maintains an interest in the reconceptualizing of classic musical theatre pieces to fit into contemporary budgets and non-traditional spaces.

She has performed regionally and internationally. Area credits include Cain Park, the Ensemble Theatre, Cleveland Play House and Great Lakes Theater. She has performed in a variety of roles ranging from Lady Macbeth in Macbeth to Dolly in the musical Hello Dolly!  

Ms. Kent has directed off-Broadway at the 13th Street Repertory Theatre and internationally where she directed Steel Magnolias in New Delhi, India; Macbeth in Maudera, India and a tour of an original multi-cultural play, Aesop’s Fables and Foibles. She has also served as Assistant Director and Movement Coach for a number of productions at Great Lakes Theater Festival. Ms. Kent has directed locally at Cain Park, the Halle Theatre, Weathervane Theatre and the Working Theatre. She directs regularly at the School of Theatre and Dance and at Porthouse Theatre. Her Porthouse directing credits include classics such as Brigadoon, West Side Story, Oklahoma!, Guys and Dolls, My Fair Lady, Oliver! and South Pacific as well as more contemporary pieces such as Urinetown, Rent, The Spitfire Grill, and Hairspray.