participating in productions for a community theatre because he had so much fun.

 

“I just discovered that theater was something that I loved. All the way through high school, I was in the drama club, as well as the International Thespian Society. My parents asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said, ‘I want to be an actor,’” he said.

 

However, there weren’t many opportunities to pursue his dreams in Iowa, so after graduating high school, he attended Millikin University in Decatur, Il., where he earned a bachelors in Fine Arts and Musical Theatre with an emphasis on directing and a minor in dance.

 

“During college, I spent my summers doing shows at different theme parks. I did a show at Six Flags one summer. Right after college, I went to a regional theatre in Wichita, Kansas, where I did five shows in eleven weeks,” he said.

 

He then continued to perform in many other productions, including the musical “Chicago” for more than a couple years. His performances took him all over the world - Canada, Japan, and Portugal.  

 

“Eventually, I started taking up teaching, because I liked it. And after teaching in New Jersey for four years, this job became available to me, so I came out to see Clark and spent a day with Ms. Pendleton, and they convinced me that I would love it here. So I sold my house, almost everything I owned, and here I am,” he said.

 

Before becoming a performer and a teacher, he also made a living being a choreographer, director and designer. Mr. Kilmer never really wanted to be a surgeon or an architect; he knew that his heart belonged to the arts.

 

Obviously, Clark is very fortunate to have a teacher with so much experience and as well as a teacher that really loves and is dedicated to the theater program.

 

“I love opening students’ eyes to the art of theatre in a way that they haven’t thought about before. I love when the students who used to laugh at theatre realize that it’s a tool. Sometimes it’s kind of fun to set your own life aside and pretend you’re someone else, especially when your own life isn’t so great at the moment,” Mr. Kilmer said.

 

Mr. Kilmer strongly believes that every student should be exposed to performing – as in public speaking and improvisation like theater students learn in class. Those skills are going to be crucial when going out into the workforce. He believes that in order to succeed, students must be able to present themselves in a way that students didn’t have to before.

 

As advice to students on pursuing their dreams, he says, “Be realistic with yourself. Know that it’s going to be really, really difficult. The second thing is, you have to do your part. Success is when preparation meets opportunity. You have to be ready to sacrifice. I ate a lot of ramen noodles and street food, but I knew what I wanted.”

 

Though teaching at Clark is nowhere near similar to singing and dancing on Broadway, Mr. Kilmer is definitely enjoying his experience here. However, that doesn’t mean that he wasn’t surprised at his arrival.

 

“I did not expect there to be such an amazing diversity in the students. I am so impressed and I love the different socioeconomic, religious, cultural, and racial diversity. It reminds me a lot of the diversity in New York City, and Clark is the perfect example of that,” Mr. Kilmer said.

 

Mr. Kilmer’s favorite part about the students at Clark is the acceptance and love within the student body. He loves how well the people get along and it’s something that he’d teach in his classes.

 

When describing the environment he strives to create in his program, he uses the words loving, safe, and accepting.

 

“I’m all about making my classroom a safe space where students can feel free to take risks. If a student doesn’t feel safe to fail, they’re not going to learn nearly as much,” he said.

 

Ultimately, Mr. Kilmer has a vision for the program at Clark and doesn’t plan on abandoning his vision anytime soon.

 

“My big goal is that I want Clark Theater to be known in the area as a worthy and valuable thing for both the school and the community. I want everyone to recognize that even though the subject is theater, the skills learned apply to other aspects of life,” said Mr. Kilmer.