7.02 A Conversation with Chris Permenter

For the past 9 years, Chris Permenter has been the Director at Ocean Springs High School. He has directed over 50 productions at Ocean Springs. He received his B.F.A in Theatre and Art from William Carey University.
He is the teacher of all theatre courses and the School Sponsor/Director of all theatrical competitions and productions. Chris Permenter has won Best Director on every level of one act competition. In 2024 Chris Permenter was the first Mississippi Theatre Director to receive an honorable mention for the TONY Theatre Education Award. In 2022 Chris was given the honor to be nominated and chosen to receive the Ocean Springs Education Foundation Teacher of the year for 2022-2023. In 2021 Chris Permenter received the Mississippi Outstanding Contribution to Theatre Award. In 2018 and 2023 Mr.Permenter took 30+ students overseas to perform in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for two weeks. Chris Permenter continues to advocate for theatre in his state and grow his program. His goal is to help students find their spark for theatre and prove to the world that Mississippi makes GREAT theatre!