Blue Mountain Christian University is spotlighting BMCU theatre professor Christi Mitchell, who has spent nearly a decade teaching speech and drama students in Blue Mountain that their talents carry a purpose beyond the spotlight. In a feature shared by the university on Saturday, Oct. 10, Mitchell explained why she believes Christian higher education gives young performers a lasting foundation.
Mitchell, an assistant professor of speech and drama, joined the Tippah County university in 2017. The feature describes a classroom built around a biblical worldview, where performance training and faith go hand in hand.
How the BMCU theatre professor runs her classroom
According to the university, every course Mitchell teaches opens with a short devotion and prayer. She said she reminds students often that their abilities are “a gift from God” meant to be used for His glory, and she contrasted that approach with programs that prepare performers mainly for individual fame and success.
When she chooses shows to direct, Mitchell said she looks for productions that honor her faith while also giving the cast and crew a first-rate educational experience. She added that she is always eager to partner with community organizations.
“Putting the Lord first calibrates our thinking, desires and pursuits with His,” Mitchell said in the university’s feature, adding that students who understand their gifts have a purpose gain hope and a vision for serving others.
Students describe a mentor
Two students quoted by BMCU described Mitchell as both demanding and caring:
Jonathan Hitt said Mitchell is kind and loving but “will push you to be your best,” and called her “a second mom” to him.
Giana Curasi said Mitchell keeps faith at the center of each lesson and goes well beyond simply praying before and after class.
A busy decade at Blue Mountain
Since arriving in 2017, Mitchell has taught in the university’s speech and theatre program and directs two full-stage productions each year. Her other campus roles, according to BMCU, include:
Coaching the IMPACT Drama Team
Overseeing the Literacy on the Lawn children’s theatre productions from 2017 through 2024, which have brought local schoolchildren to campus
Serving as a respondent for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival
Supporting campus and community partnerships
From Los Angeles stages to the newsroom
Mitchell’s background stretches well beyond the classroom. The university notes she has worked as an actor in Los Angeles, as a historical interpreter at the Historic Daniel Boone Home and Heritage Center, and with the Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education to bring the arts into classrooms. She also reported on the arts, community events and children’s achievements for the Smoky Mountain News and the Casper Journal.
Her training includes master classes at the Hilberry Theatre with artists such as Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Carol Channing, James Lipton, Neil Simon, Sutton Foster and S. Epatha Merkerson, plus workshops through the AIA Actors Studio, Write Club and the North Carolina and Wyoming press associations. She has also appeared in theatre, film and television roles and has written, performed and produced many original shows.
BMCU says its speech and drama curriculum combines rigorous coursework, full productions and community engagement to prepare students to communicate with skill and purpose. Families interested in the program can contact the university in Blue Mountain.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
