About Michelle Shannon
Michelle returns to the Bay Area after a successful career as a musical theatre performer in New York and throughout the US, on tours. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from the Boston Conservatory of Music with a minor in Directing. Directing The Diary of Anne Frank changed her perspective on composition and storytelling, making her very excited to put theatre on the stage in her own way. Michelle was also lucky enough to assist Tapper Sue Ronson, a legend in her own right, and tutored students at the Conservatory. She was the captain of the TBC Hoofers, an a cappella tap group that performed all over Boston. She then expanded her artistic world and studied film production at the New York Film Academy. She was fortunate enough to work for HBO documentaries, Spike Lee, and Michael Moore during her last years in New York. Michelle is the owner of a private studio of semi-professional and professional young performers. Michelle is super excited to be taking on the new role of Drama and Dance Teacher at BHS!
Classes
Beginning Drama
This year-long course is designed for students with any level of theatre experience. We begin with improvisation which allows students to become more comfortable working together, improves communication, collaboration, confidence and presentation skills. These skills are not only useful for theatre, but valued in the real world as well. And it’s fun!
We explore improv, theatre history, acting, design and playwriting in a safe and encouraging environment.
This course meets both the SMUHSD and the Cal State/UC eligibility requirement for Visual and Performing Arts.
Advanced Drama
Prerequisite: Beginning Drama
In Advanced Drama, much of what we create is geared towards public performance.
In the fall semester we turn stories written by Washington Elementary School students into plays. This culminates in an enjoyable evening of performances we call Story to Stage.
In the spring, for our final project, we produce student directed one-act plays in our Night of One-Acts. All of these performances are open to the public.
This course meets both the SMUHSD and the Cal State/UC eligibility requirement for Visual and Performing Arts. This course can be repeated.
If taken for two years, this course satisfies the district’s CTE requirement.