Kim Turney Schmidt has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre and a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from The Ohio State University. She worked professionally in regional and children’s theater, until she moved to Los Angeles and began a serious study in choreographed staged action. Kim became involved with the Academy of Theatrical Combat in 1996, where she is still a Swordmaster and co-owner. In 2002 Kim left her day job as a Walt Disney Company Executive to stunt double for the female lead in Hallmark’s La Femme Musketeer where she had the privilege of choreographing for and sword fighting with Micheal York. Kim worked in the film industry until 2006 when she became a teacher with Freshi Film Works, a before and after school program focused on digital filmmaking, stop motion animation, and video game design for ages K-12. Kim was also the Stage Combat instructor from 2004-2016 at The Archer School for Girls in Brentwood, CA.

 

Since 2013, Kim has been a teacher with Learn Beyond the Book, a hybrid school that caters to homeschooled and special needs students by creating safe classroom environments where the students can come to learn and socialize with other students. Kim is truly happy to be working with The Young Shakespeareans. According to her, “There is nothing better in life than speaking the language of the bard and swinging a sword while you do it!”