Whitney Eads began working at Columbus Academy in the spring of 2016 as choreographer of the Upper School musical, then moved into a full-time position in the Performing Arts Department that same fall. She now serves as the Director of Theatre Arts, teaching theatre classes in both the middle school and upper school. She is also Director and Choreographer of both the Middle and Upper School musicals, as well as the Director of the Upper School Fall play. She is an actor, director, choreographer, and artistic committee member, graphic designer with Available Light Theatre since 2011, and has been a Company Member of Available Light since 2016. Whitney has an extensive background in performing arts and arts education, including Theatre Artist with Denison University's Summer Tutti, Artist Educator with CATCO (now The Contemporary), Choreographer at The Wellington School, Teaching Artist with the Theatre Action Project, Managing Director of Vortex Theatre, and Assistant Director of the Big Thoughts program through Creative Solutions. Whitney has a B.A. in Theatre (acting/directing) from Hope College where she graduated summa cum laude and also earned the Junior and Senior Theatre Awards. She is also the recipient of the Williams College Book Award, Delta Kappa Gamma Future Teachers Scholarship, is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, and co-authored an article published in the Ohio Journal of English Language Arts. As Director of Every Brilliant Thing (Available Light Theatre), Whitney was nominated for a Jebby Award for “Best Production” and the production was voted “Best Productions of 2018” by The Columbus Dispatch. Whitney was recently nominated for a second Jebby for "Best Female Performer in a Play" for her role in AVLT's Cry It Out. Whitney's son Henry is a student at CA ('32).
Whitney’s favorite thing about Columbus Academy
“The support and friendship I feel from my colleagues. The encouragement to pursue my ideas and plans for professional development.”
Favorite sports team
“Not a sports team, but my favorite theatre company is Available Light Theatre (I'm biased, I know).”
- B.A. Hope College , Theatre; Acting/Directing
