James Hammer

James Hammer is an award winning educator and director.


A two-time National Qualifier in the National Forensic League for both Dramatic and Humorous Interpretation of literature, James launched from a successful high school career into a slate of commercial shoots for KBC Productions in Boise, Idaho in the late 80's. Appearing in commercials for Miller-Stephan Honda, the Idaho Lottery, and Idaho Power, and was involved in creating the very first "No Talking" movie trailer that was featured on the CBS Evening News with Dan Rather.


Since that time, James has received his Bachelor of Science in Education and has taught theatre in a variety of school districts in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas. While creating professional quality theatre with young actors, James has also remained active as an actor. In addition to live performance art for Kansas City charities, he was featured in commercials for John Robert Powers and Starlight Theatre. As a playwright, James was commissioned eleven consecutive years as the scriptwriter for Emmanuel Baptist Church's Christmas Pageant (one of the longest running annual Christmas presentations in the US).


Most recently, James' Mad Maxian, post apocalyptic interpretation of William Shakespeare's Macbeth won the 2017 Betty Buckley Award for BEST PLAY.


In April of 2015, he launched Mental Forge Media, LLC to help develop creator-owned content in all media. His current projects include the Scifi thriller TV series ":::TIME:::," and the horror film currently titled "Frantic." Other projects include the screenplay adaptation of the real-life tragedy of "Into the Deep," by Robert Rogers and a transmedia franchise project called "CiviliZed" which includes a graphic novel with live action companion webisodes, a ten-minute animated short, a live action film adaptation, and a first-person shooter video game concept.


You can follow James on his personal Twitter at @JamesHammer7, his teacher Twitter at @The_Drama_Coach, the CiviliZed Twitter at @CiviliZed_movie, and @mentalforge


In addition to messaging him here on Stage 32, you can also reach James at hammer@