Virtual Acting Classes

We know that many of you feel safest being home during this time of social distancing; but that doesn't mean that we can't still offer some fun VIRTUAL Acting Classes for students of all ages! All classes will be pre-recorded so that students can do the classes during a time that is convenient for them -- whether they are doing homeschool, virtual school, or in-person school!

Adults are also welcome to take part in our older classes!

PRESCHOOL

PRESCHOOL DRAMA utilizes the Showkidz curriculum from Dance.Laugh.Learn. Miss Shannon will lead students in a weekly movement and music class which will focus on a different theme and movement objective each month.

Each month students will pick up a new "Prop Packet" to borrow so that they can use them during class. Classes will be pre-recorded and sent out on a weekly basis so that students can participate during a time that is convenient for them.

PRESCHOOL & GRADES K-4

OH, THE THINKS YOU CAN THINK will be an acting class which utilizes the stories of Dr. Seuss. Classes will be pre-recorded and sent out each week so that students can participate during a time that is convenient for them. Parents are encouraged to work with the students at home.

Parents will pick up an activity packet before the semester begins for students to utilize while watching the class videos at home. Miss Shannon will assign "homework" for the parents to film their children participating in class activities. Using the video footage from class experiences there will be a "showcase" shared with families and friends of a virtual Dr. Seuss themed show.

GRADES 5 and up!

PLAYWRITING 101 will be the perfect class for those students who LOVE to create stories and write! The first 5-weeks will be designed to teach the basics of playwriting with simple homework assignments to help the students learn how to develop characters and create compelling stories. The last 5-weeks will be spent creating their own original 10 minute play! Miss Shannon will give feedback to students on their writing throughout the course!

The final project for this class is a Playwriting Festival on Saturday, November 14th where students will get to cast actors into their play and then direct them in a day of rehearsals to bring their creation to life! All rehearsals and performances will take place via ZOOM where the footage will be recorded and then shared with families and friends!

ALL AGES

MUSICAL THEATRE AUDITION PREP will be the perfect class for students wanting to sharpen their skills as a musical theatre performer! Throughout this 8-week course students will learn more about the "type of actor" they are and how to find material that best suits their type! Students will also learn how to find their characters and really be able to act a song rather than just singing it! Each week will feature a new video with homework for the actor!

After the 8-weeks of videos, each student will schedule a 30-minute 1:1 virtual lesson with Miss Shannon to go over the audition material they've been working on and get feedback on what they can do to make it better and pop more!

***Please note that this class is NOT a Voice Lesson! Students will be working on the acting of their musical theatre songs! If students would like more help in the technical aspects of their song -- Voice Lessons are strongly encouraged -- and we have several fabulous instructors here at CSA!

"PRESCHOOL DRAMA"

INSTRUCTOR: Shannon Stoddard

DATES: September 8 — November 24

GRADES: Preschool (all ages)

TUITION: $95 for 12 weeks

ENROLL NOW!

"OH, THE THINKS

YOU CAN THINK!"

INSTRUCTOR: Shannon Stoddard

DATES: September 8 — November 24

GRADES: Preschool & Grades K-4

TUITION: $125 for 12 weeks

ENROLL NOW!

"PLAYWRITING 101"

INSTRUCTOR: Shannon Stoddard

DATES: September 8 — November 10

Playwriting Festival: November 14th

GRADES: 5 and up

TUITION: $135 for 10 weeks

ENROLL NOW!

"MUSICAL THEATRE

AUDITION PREP"

INSTRUCTOR: Shannon Stoddard

DATES: September 8 — October 27

GRADES: ANY!

TUITION: $130 for 8 weeks

+ the virtual 1:1 with Miss Shannon

ENROLL NOW!

Shannon

Stoddard

DIRECTOR OF THEATRE

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!