SIU mourns loss of theater department professor, James Thomas Kidd
James Thomas Kidd, Associate Professor of Directing/Acting.
December 16, 2020
Professor James Thomas Kidd, of SIU’s theater department, passed away Monday.
Kidd served as a member of SIU’s faculty since 2003, he was the managing artistic director of the McLeod Summer Playhouse and the most recent chair of the department before the position was taken on by Olusegun Ojewuyi.
“Tom Kidd was a valuable member of our Department of Theater and the SIU family. He was known to have consistently given the best of his talent, knowledge and humanity,” Ojewuyi said in a release about Kidd’s death.
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Kidd taught acting, directing, audition techniques and freshman theater seminar. He also helped to produce several productions with SIU including: The Secret Garden, Reasons to be Pretty, Shakespeare’s R & J, Bat Boy and The Three Musketeers. For the McLeod Summer Playhouse he helped to choreograph and produce Hair, All Shook Up, May Fair Lady, Chicago, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers as well as other productions.
“He was an exceptional director and manager – directing, choreographing, and producing many of the great Broadway musicals that graced our McLeod Theater stage in his two decades at SIU,” Ojewuyi said. “He worked tirelessly to bring the best Theatrical performances to our Southern Illinois Community. For many students and alumni, he was more than a professor, he was a servant-leader, mentor and dependable support.”
Monday morning, Kidd participated in the theater department’s end-of-semester Zoom meeting.
“With Christmas wishes shared, we finished in time for his scheduled rehab, to continue healing after a recent heart bypass surgery. It was there, he passed,” Ojewuyi said in the release.
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Prof. Peter L Patrick • Dec 21, 2020 at 4:06 pm
I knew Tom Kidd 5 decades ago in Athens GA, when I was a high school student and he was the director of Athens Creative Theatre, funded by PArks & Rec. On a shoestring he put on dozens of plays and musicals andtrained hundreds of young teen aspiring actors, singers, dancers. More importantly, he encouraged us to discover and express all aspects of ourselves, with a firm and critical guidance motivated by generosity, humor and kindness that touched us all – I didn’t know a single kid who didn;t have respect and love for Tom. Theater was so important esp for kids who were troubled ignored abused or just confused, and Tom helped so many. It was a long time ago and a different piece of my life but I can see on social media how many of my friends then mourn and miss him now. I’m sure his friends at SIU will appreciate hearing this.
Nicholas Holt • Dec 21, 2020 at 1:45 pm
Tom Kidd was also the director of Athens Creative Theater in Athens Georgia from the mid-1970’s through the early 80’s. Tom inspired so many of us to the beauty and power of creativity. As Athens grew into the art town that produced REM and the B52s, many of us local kids brought what Tom Kidd gave us to the growing Athens Art scene. His contribution will never be forgotten. He was exceptional.
Sincerely,
Dr. Nicholas A. Holt
Margaret Holt • Dec 21, 2020 at 12:42 pm
In the late 70s Tom Kidd was the director of Athens Creative Theatre, Athens, Georgia. My son had the benefit as a very young child to be part of the young thespians. I will say and my son would say that he was a “marker” person in his life and development. I will always be grateful to the way he worked with children in our community. I am deeply saddened to know of his passing. In 1979 he was the director in December of “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” I will never forget these productions.
Dora Weaver • Dec 17, 2020 at 7:15 pm
Professor Kid was a very kind and helpful member of the Carbindale community. He assisted children from the community with experiencing theater. Many times , Professor Kid would provide summer theater tickets to community kids so that they could attend theater shows.
I will truly miss him.
Dr. Micki Weaver, Ph.D. Southern Illinois Girl Scouts Board Member