Youth Theatre Company

Congratulations to our 2020

National Youth Arts Awards

Winners and Nominees!

Grant Huneycutt

Turner Tecmire

Sandra McPherson

Grant Huneycutt

1/10

ENROLL NOW!

Click here for Elf JR Audition Info

Our Youth Theatre Company is open to students in grades 7-12. Students do not need previous experience in order to participate in our theatre program. All students who enroll in our theatre company are cast in the production.

The Youth Theatre Company performs full-length productions during the school year that range from classical musicals like Rodgers & Hammerstein to more contemporary shows. Performances are held at the ArcBest Performing Arts Center in downtown Fort Smith with full sets, lights, costumes, and everything else to give the production a true professional look.

Stay tuned to find out what our Spring 2022 show will be!!!

During the Summer, the Youth Theatre Company performs an hour-long MTI Broadway Junior production as part of a 2-week camp. Led by Shannon Stoddard and Cody Walls, this production will be performed at St. Boniface Auditorium with simplified sets, costumes, etc. The Summer 2021 production will be ELF JR.

Our teen theatre students are also encouraged to enroll in our Broadway Intensive Camp in June to hone their performing skills while putting together a Musical Revue for the end of the week!

Enroll in our Summer production of ELF JR and join our June Broadway Intensive for only $75! You don't want to miss out on this exciting deal! To get this special offer you'll need to register at CSA by visiting our office or calling (479) 434-2020! We can't wait to connect with you this Summer!

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 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!