Shannon Michal Dow

18 Curtiss Hill Road, Morris, CT06763

phone: (860) 567-3313  e-mail: smdow1.optonline.net

Objective:

To incorporate my past work experiences in the fields of theatre, journalism, playwriting, and scenic and graphic arts in teaching Language Arts at the secondary school level with the goal of motivating students to excel.

Education:

  • State of Connecticut Department of Higher Education, Accelerated Road to Certification, Certification in 7-12 English

MA in Education, University of Bridgeport (CT)

  • BA, CornellUniversity, Major in English and concentration in Fine Arts

Teaching Experience:

  • 9th- 12th grade English teacher, ThomastonHigh School, Thomaston, CT. Taught honors, college prep, and general classes, including differentiated classes, 2004 to present; developed curriculum for Science Fiction and Journalism classes
  • 10th grade student teacher, BristolCentralHigh School, Bristol, CT, 2004
  • Intern through the University of Bridgeport at WamogoMiddle-HighSchool (Region 6, CT) and LitchfieldMiddle-HighSchool (CT). Designed and implemented lesson plans for 8th grade students; guided students on essay writing for 8th, 9th, and 12th grade English classes; substitute taught for a variety of other subjects, 2003-2004
  • Substitute teacher for WamogoHigh School (Region 6, CT), Litchfield Intermediate, Litchfield Elementary, Goshen Elementary, Warren Elementary, spring 2003
  • Created the monologue writing course of The One Heart, Many Voices Monologue Project, devised by Reno Venturi of New England Academy of Theatre in Hamden, CT. Taught high school students to write and develop their own monologues, which they later performed publicly. HartfordHigh School, Hartford, CT, fall 2002
  • Taught drawing classes to first through sixth-graders as part of the school’s Arts Alive! program. JamesMorrisElementary School, Morris, CT, spring 2002
  • Guest teacher, New England Academy of Theatre, Hamden, CT; created and taught various playwriting workshops for adults, high school and students, 2000-2001 (See attached for details.)
  • Created and taught the Play Production Workshop to second-graders in which students learned through experience about analyzing, producing, and performing in a play. Directed and produced my 25-minute version of The Time Machine. JamesMorrisElementary School, Morris, CT, 1997-98
  • Instructor of gifted writers in the Mentor Program at New Fairfield High School (CT), 1985

Related Experience:

  • Newspaper Club Advisor, ThomastonHigh School, 2007-to present
  • Drama Club Director, Thomaston High School, 2006-07; A Midsummer Night’s Dream production won three Halo Awards from SevenAngelsTheatre

Plays and Published Works:

(The Dark Backward, Killing Dante, Dark Passages, Remembering Adam, The Moor Lark, and SilverRiver have won playwriting awards or honors and have had readings, staged readings, or productions.

  • Killing Dante (full-length comedy), co-authored with Jan Henson Dow, ©2008, Samuel French
  • Writing the Award-Winning Play, co-authored with Jan Henson Dow, ©2003, New York: iUniverse.
  • The Moor Lark (full-length historical drama), co-authored with Jan Henson Dow, ©2004.
  • SilverRiver (children’s musical), book and lyrics by Shannon Michal Dow and Jan Henson Dow, libretto by Nancy McMillan, ©2004
  • The Dark Backward (full-length drama), ©2003
  • Dark Passages (full-length thriller), co-authored with Jan Henson Dow and Robert Schroeder, ©1997, Woodbury, CT: Popular Play Service
  • The Time Machine (children’s play) ©2000, Woodbury, CT: Popular Play Service
  • Remembering Adam (one-act drama) ©1995

Other Work Experience:

  • Editor and Graphic and Web Designer for Popular Play Service, Woodbury, CT: Analyzed, revised, and edited new plays by award-winning playwrights. Designed and maintained web site. Designed and edited catalog. Developed ad campaigns, 1990-2003
  • Staff feature and news writer and film and theatre critic for Bee Publishing (Newtown, CT), and Voices (Woodbury, CT), 1985-1990
  • Freelance feature writer and illustrator for The Litchfield County Times (New Milford, CT) and Connecticut Magazine, 1983-1990
  • Manager of Bantam Cinema, Bantam, CT, 1990
  • Scenic artist and graphic designer. Scenic artist for productions of The Passion of Dracula, Bermuda; Funny Girl, Civic Center, Syracuse, NY; Gin Game, Hangar Theatre, NY; scenic artist and production crew for Cornell University productions of Saint Joan, Buried Child, Hamlet, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Princess Ida, Dracula; graphic designer for Mame, Strand Theatre, Ithaca, NY, and for independent films The Garden of Forking Paths and Farrebique; graphic designer for Cornell Cinema, Cornell University, 1977-1982

Volunteer Positions

  • Literary Manager, Playwrights Collective, The Country Players of Brookfield (CT), devised, as part of a team, guidelines for The Playwrights Collective play contest; judge for play submissions (2001 to 2004)
  • Judge, Community Theatre Association of Michigan National New Play Competition, judged play submissions (1999-2001)

Academic Achievements:

  • ETS Recognition of Excellence for PRAXIS II performance in English Language, Literature, and Composition: Content Knowledge, April 2004
  • Score 3 on BEST Portfolio.