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DIRECTOR

Elana is driven by honest, playful,
and collaborative processes and products.
Elana has written and performed street theatre in Thailand, Mexico, Northern Ireland, and England.  
She is passionate about creating environments where actors, designers, and collaborators feel both challenged and empowered to take creative risks.  She seeks work that dissects how art influences culture and changes communities.
Over the seven years of volunteering with Harrisonburg High School, multiple productions won awards including acting awards, Best Ensembles and a State Championship for a one-act, commedia inspired adaptation of The Beggar's Opera.  Pieces, a one-act play she co-wrote and co-directed with the students, placed third in the state within the Virginia High School League Theatre Competition.  
Elana participated in the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society Fellowship through The Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival this past January.  Through her work as an assistant director alongside Wolf J. Sherrill,  she received a Certificate of Merit for Region II for her work on School For Scandal.
Elana also recently spearheaded an intimate production of Lauren Gunderson's I and You in the student Experimental Theatre at James Madison University this spring.

"The production [I and You] itself was exceptional.  Elana has an advanced eye for moment to moment work that is unrivaled by her peers.  This gift, along with a clear design concept, motivated movement, and a moving character arc, created an engaging evening of thought provoking theatre."

 

-Wolf J. Sherrill,

Associate Professor, James Madison University

gallery directing

DIRECTING  PRODUCTION  PHOTOS

I and You by Lauren Gunderson 

Elana was the Director in the Experimental Studio Theatre at James Madison University
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You
I and You

School for Scandal by R.B. Sheridan Adapted by Wolf J. Sherrill

Elana was the Assistant Director at James Madison University.   
 - Received a KCACTF Region II Certificate of Merit for her work on this production.
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal
School For Scandal

Work at Harrisonburg High School

Elana worked as an acting coach, makeup designer, choreographer, and assistant director for Aida, Suessical, The Beggar's Opera, Oklahoma!, Les Miserables, and more!
The Beggar's Opera by Johann Christo
Pieces
Suessical!
Suessical!
Suessical!
Suessical!
Suessical!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Les Miserables
Les
Les Miserables
Les Miserables
Les Miserables
Les Miserables
Les Miserables
Les Miserables
Les Miserables
Les Miserables
Les Miserables

Contact Me

ejhswartz@gmail.com
540-421-4532

Recommendation Letters Available Upon Request

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