Acting Lessons

Shannon Stoddard

Director of Theatre, Master Instructor

Shannon Stoddard began her love of all things performing arts at an early age. She began dance lessons at age 6 and has been performing ever since! She holds her Masters in Theatre Education from New York University and her Bachelors in Theatre from Centenary College of Shreveport, LA.

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Shannon is the Director of Theatre with the Community School of the Arts – where she works with children in Preschool through High School. She directs the Youth Theatre Company (grades 7-12), the Children’s Theatre Company (grades 3-6) and the Kids Theatre Company (grades K-2). She also teaches the Preschool Drama classes (ages 3-5). Shannon teaches residencies at Harvest Time and FAITH Homeschool. She also hosts a “LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Creative Storytime with the Fort Smith Public Library where she uses Creative Drama to bring stories to life for kids. 

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Shannon has worked most extensively with the UAFS Academy of the Arts where she directed and taught nearly 50 productions and camps in 6 years. While there, many of her shows and actors were nominated and won several National Youth Arts Awards — including winning Best Ensemble for “Mary Poppins” and a nomination for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Production for “The Addams Family.” While at the Academy of the Arts, she earned “Teacher of the Year” in both 2011 and 2016. 

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While in New York, Shannon worked with Dance.Laugh.Learn and Fresh Theatre Arts as well as the NYU Youth Ensemble. Shannon also enjoyed teaching with the Ocean Beach Youth Group on Fire Island where she was awarded “Director of the Summer” in 2017! 

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Shannon has a great passion for teaching students about theater and loves watching them grow not only as performers but; also watching them grow in self-confidence! She looks forward to working with many new students in the future!