Shannon Stoddard began her love of all things performing at an early age when she began dance lessons at age 6 and has been performing ever since! She holds her M.A. in Theatre Education from New York University and her B.A. in Theatre from Centenary College of Shreveport, LA. She has a strong passion for teaching students of all ages about the love of all things theatrical! Shannon is currently working as a Freelance Teaching Artist and Professional! She is part of the Arkansas Arts in Education Artist Roster as well!

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Shannon most recently taught with the Community School of the Arts in Fort Smith, Arkansas -- where she was the Director of Theatre. She directed the Youth Theatre Company (grades 7-12), directed and choreographed the Children's Theatre Company (grades 3-6) and Kids Theatre Company (grades K-2) and between the three companies directed 5-6 productions a year! She also taught a Preschool Drama class for kids ages 3-5 which utilizes the Dance.Laugh.Learn curriculum she taught in NYC. Shannon is also the Preschool Music Teacher at Harvest Time Academy where she sees children ages 3 months to 5 years and teaches them all about music and movement! Shannon also does creative Story Times with the Fort Smith Public Library and Bookish where she helps bring stories to life by inserting Creative Drama into the books!

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While at CSA, Shannon's shows and her students won several awards -- including winning "Outstanding Ensemble for Cinderella" with the National Youth Arts Awards (2021)!  There were also several nominations -- including "Outstanding Direction for Cinderella", "Outstanding Production for Cinderella", and "Outstanding Production (Junior Division) for Disney's Frozen JR with the National Youth Arts Awards (2021). CSA's Theatre Program and Shannon's shows also received several BroadwayWorld nominations in 2020 -- including "Theatre Company of the Decade", "Top Arts Supporting Organization", "Best Youth Theatre After-School Program of the Decade", "Best Ensemble for Cinderella (2020)", "Production of a Musical of the Decade for The Wizard of Oz (2019)", and "Director of a Musical of the Decade for The Wizard of Oz (2019)".

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Shannon has also most extensively taught with the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith 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 being nominated 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 has 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!