Meet Jill Balch-Coon Assistant Professor, Communication Media, AAMU
“For me, what I love about Fantasy is the openness to collaborate and create true partnerships. ”
Jill Balch-Coon is a dedicated educator, theatre artist, and community advocate whose work has significantly shaped the performing arts landscape in Huntsville, Alabama. As the Assistant Professor of Performance at Alabama A&M University, she brings both academic rigor and real-world experience into the classroom, preparing students to enter the professional theatre industry with confidence and skills. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes not only artistic excellence but also access, collaboration, and the transformative power of storytelling.
A Huntsville native, Coon’s connection to the local arts community runs deep. Growing up, she was always aware of Fantasy Playhouse Children’s Theater and Academy (FPCTA) and its impact on young audiences and aspiring performers. That early awareness evolved into a meaningful professional relationship, as she now plays a key role in strengthening ties between the university and the theatre. Her work reflects a full-circle journey, one rooted in community engagement and a passion for fostering opportunities for the next generation of artists.
One of Coon’s most impactful contributions has been her leadership in developing a partnership between Alabama A&M University and FPCTA. Through this collaboration, she has helped create a workforce development pipeline that gives A&M students hands-on experience in a professional theatrical environment. This initiative not only allows students to apply their classroom training in real-world settings but also ensures they are compensated for their work, an important step toward equity and sustainability in the arts. By bridging the gap between education and industry, Coon has helped position her students for meaningful careers in theatre and related fields. Within this partnership, Coon has also been instrumental in expanding creative programming, particularly in Theatre for Young Audiences. She played a key role in developing Shakespeare productions tailored specifically for younger viewers, making classical works more accessible and engaging for new generations. These productions reflect her commitment to arts education and her belief that exposure to great literature and performance should begin early and be inclusive of diverse audiences.
Additionally, Coon contributed significantly to the development of original works, including Freedom Riders and Freedom Riders’ Homecoming. These productions, created in collaboration with Alabama A&M University and FPCTA, highlight important moments in civil rights history while providing students with opportunities to engage in meaningful, socially relevant storytelling. Her work on these projects underscores her dedication to using theatre as a tool for education, reflection, and community dialogue. Through her teaching, creative work, and community partnerships, Jill Coon continues to elevate both her students and the broader Huntsville arts scene. Her efforts have not only expanded opportunities for emerging artists but have also strengthened the connection between academic institutions and professional theatre. In doing so, she exemplifies the role of an artist-educator who is deeply committed to both craft and community.