Shana is a native of Seattle, WA, where she grew up working as a professional actor and has been directing professional and youth theater for over 25 years.
Shana has directed over 200 productions with student ensembles and overseen over 120 professional productions. From 2001-2016 Shana served as Seattle Public Theater's Artistic and Education Director, a position she founded and organization which she helped lead from community theater to national professional artistic recognition. She programmed and led education and mainstage seasons as well as camps, classes, and outreach programs, and worked closely with board, staff, and volunteers. After leaving SPT to pursue international opportunities, Shana also founded Penguin Productions, where she is the Producing Artistic Director. Penguin Productions engages, empowers, and creates artists through creative adventures to fuel our future. She was recently honored to be included in the Fulbright Specialist Program, which pairs highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals with host institutions abroad to share their expertise, strengthen institutional linkages, hone their skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures while building capacity at their overseas host institutions. As a socially and community engaged theater artist and arts educator, she works with communities interested in strengthening the fabric of civic life, elevating issues, and promoting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.
Shana's career includes work with Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle Shakespeare Company, ACT Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theater, New City Theater, Seattle Children's Theater, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Chicago's Court Theater, and educator positions at the University of Washington, Centrum, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle University, University of Chicago, and regional K-12 schools. She has helped to launch many continuing programs, including the School Partnership Program at the University of Chicago, Seattle Shakespeare Company’s Short Shakes educational program, the Rainier Valley Youth Theater, and drama programs at elementary and middle schools around the Pacific Northwest. Most recently, Shana was a guest director with Try Theater in Croatia, collaborating with international experts on developing drama skills in the English language in a challenging yet safe environment.
Shana has held educator positions at the University of Washington, Centrum, Cornish College, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle University, University of Chicago, and regional K-12 schools. She has been invited to facilitate workshops with companies such as Amazon and Bastyr University and speak on numerous panels. She worked for decades as a guest teacher in public schools, partnering with teachers to develop integrated arts, sciences, and social studies curricula. She teaches in independent schools, attended the Lakeside School in Seattle, and has a degree in history from the University of Chicago. She is deeply involved with innovative programming for youth and youth development, creating independent study programs, and also works as a writing tutor and college/career counselor. She believes in giving students ownership and agency, access to professional resources, rigor and structure in a culture of inclusiveness, fun, and faith in their ability to succeed beyond their own imaginations.
Shana works with both classic and contemporary texts, and has commissioned, produced, and directed many world premieres. She has forged relationships with contemporary playwrights all over the world, and continually directs world premieres and commissions new work. She holds a degree in Modern History and delights in interdisciplinary collaborations across the arts, humanities, and sciences.
Shana has mentored hundreds of students over the course of her career. She also leads teacher training workshops and mentors teachers. She equips students with tools to master their subjects and expand their capacity for creative, complex problem-solving. Her students have gone on to successful careers in law, education, public service, arts, sciences, and business. She is adept with diverse learning styles and diverse personalities, and am highly attuned to meeting individual needs. Through teaching, directing, writing, producing, and artistic leadership, Shana works to increase our capacity to connect, reflect, and create in order to make a more curious, compassionate and creative world.
I act out of a belief that building a strong artistic foundation is inextricably connected to building a strong individual, community, and citizenry. It is my honor and joy to share my expertise and love of plays, literature, characters, and ideas with diverse skills sets, ages, experiences, and communities. I find power in strong rhythm, complex characters, and juicy text; stories that allow us to feel more deeply, to reflect honestly on ourselves and community; stories that challenge our expectations and allow us to dream; stories that spark a connection and inspire action.
I am always hungry for work that simultaneously challenges, stimulates, and entertains. In a highly mediated world, the performing arts and literature offer an opportunity to rediscover the world, to transform isolation and communication breakdowns into stories that give our lives clarity, confidence, and compassion.
Shana has directed over 200 productions with student ensembles and overseen over 120 professional productions. From 2001-2016 Shana served as Seattle Public Theater's Artistic and Education Director, a position she founded and organization which she helped lead from community theater to national professional artistic recognition. She programmed and led education and mainstage seasons as well as camps, classes, and outreach programs, and worked closely with board, staff, and volunteers. After leaving SPT to pursue international opportunities, Shana also founded Penguin Productions, where she is the Producing Artistic Director. Penguin Productions engages, empowers, and creates artists through creative adventures to fuel our future. She was recently honored to be included in the Fulbright Specialist Program, which pairs highly qualified U.S. academics and professionals with host institutions abroad to share their expertise, strengthen institutional linkages, hone their skills, gain international experience, and learn about other cultures while building capacity at their overseas host institutions. As a socially and community engaged theater artist and arts educator, she works with communities interested in strengthening the fabric of civic life, elevating issues, and promoting the health and well-being of vulnerable populations.
Shana's career includes work with Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle Shakespeare Company, ACT Theatre, Book-It Repertory Theater, New City Theater, Seattle Children's Theater, Montana Shakespeare in the Parks, Chicago's Court Theater, and educator positions at the University of Washington, Centrum, Cornish College of the Arts, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle University, University of Chicago, and regional K-12 schools. She has helped to launch many continuing programs, including the School Partnership Program at the University of Chicago, Seattle Shakespeare Company’s Short Shakes educational program, the Rainier Valley Youth Theater, and drama programs at elementary and middle schools around the Pacific Northwest. Most recently, Shana was a guest director with Try Theater in Croatia, collaborating with international experts on developing drama skills in the English language in a challenging yet safe environment.
Shana has held educator positions at the University of Washington, Centrum, Cornish College, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle University, University of Chicago, and regional K-12 schools. She has been invited to facilitate workshops with companies such as Amazon and Bastyr University and speak on numerous panels. She worked for decades as a guest teacher in public schools, partnering with teachers to develop integrated arts, sciences, and social studies curricula. She teaches in independent schools, attended the Lakeside School in Seattle, and has a degree in history from the University of Chicago. She is deeply involved with innovative programming for youth and youth development, creating independent study programs, and also works as a writing tutor and college/career counselor. She believes in giving students ownership and agency, access to professional resources, rigor and structure in a culture of inclusiveness, fun, and faith in their ability to succeed beyond their own imaginations.
Shana works with both classic and contemporary texts, and has commissioned, produced, and directed many world premieres. She has forged relationships with contemporary playwrights all over the world, and continually directs world premieres and commissions new work. She holds a degree in Modern History and delights in interdisciplinary collaborations across the arts, humanities, and sciences.
Shana has mentored hundreds of students over the course of her career. She also leads teacher training workshops and mentors teachers. She equips students with tools to master their subjects and expand their capacity for creative, complex problem-solving. Her students have gone on to successful careers in law, education, public service, arts, sciences, and business. She is adept with diverse learning styles and diverse personalities, and am highly attuned to meeting individual needs. Through teaching, directing, writing, producing, and artistic leadership, Shana works to increase our capacity to connect, reflect, and create in order to make a more curious, compassionate and creative world.
I act out of a belief that building a strong artistic foundation is inextricably connected to building a strong individual, community, and citizenry. It is my honor and joy to share my expertise and love of plays, literature, characters, and ideas with diverse skills sets, ages, experiences, and communities. I find power in strong rhythm, complex characters, and juicy text; stories that allow us to feel more deeply, to reflect honestly on ourselves and community; stories that challenge our expectations and allow us to dream; stories that spark a connection and inspire action.
I am always hungry for work that simultaneously challenges, stimulates, and entertains. In a highly mediated world, the performing arts and literature offer an opportunity to rediscover the world, to transform isolation and communication breakdowns into stories that give our lives clarity, confidence, and compassion.
Shana's Resume and Directing Credits
For more about Shana as Community Engagement Specialist and Creative Consultant, visit www.shanabestock.com
Drawing by the Seattle Sketcher