Write It. Create It. Perform It.
Haunted Stories
A 5-Week Spooky Theater Production Intensive
Create original characters. Write spooky stories. Bring them to life on stage.
About the Class
Program: Haunted Stories
Season: Fall 2026
Day & Time: Mondays, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
Dates: September 28–October 26, 2026
Where: JDS Creative Academy
Ages: 7+, All Abilities Welcome
Tuition: $500 + $48 registration fee
Payment Plan: $125 per student for the full five-week program
Scholarships: Not available for this class
Final Performance: Friday, October 30 at 5:00 PM
This time, the students create the story.
Haunted Stories is a five-week creative theater experience where students will develop original characters, write their own spooky stories, and transform those ideas into short theatrical pieces for the stage.
But, writing the story is only the beginning.
Students will experience multiple sides of putting on a production—from acting and character development to casting, props, staging, theatrical and special effects makeup, rehearsals, and dress rehearsal.
Then, after five whirlwind weeks of creating, experimenting, and rehearsing, they'll bring it all together for a one-night-only Haunted Stories performance on October 30.
No pre-written show. No predetermined characters.
Their ideas. Their stories. Their stage
WHAT STUDENTS WILL EXPERIENCE
Haunted Stories gives students the opportunity to participate in much more than the final performance. They'll experience how an original idea develops from the page all the way to the stage.
Character Creation
Dream up original characters and discover who—or what—they might become.
Writing & Storytelling
Develop spooky concepts and turn them into original short stories and theatrical vignettes.
Acting & Performance
Explore characters through performance and learn how to bring a story to life for an audience.
Casting & Collaboration
Work alongside other students as stories are cast and transformed into collaborative theatrical pieces.
Props & Production
Explore the behind-the-scenes elements that help turn an idea into a complete production.
Theatrical & SFX Makeup
Get hands-on with theatrical and special effects makeup and discover how makeup can transform a character.
Blocking & Staging
Learn how movement, positioning, timing, and transitions help tell a story on stage.
Rehearsal & Dress Rehearsal
Put all the pieces together and prepare the stories for a live audience.
Live Performance
Take the stage and perform the original Haunted Stories created during the program.
THE 5-WEEK JOURNEY
From Blank Page to Live Performance
Week 1 — September 28
Characters + Story Development
Students brainstorm original characters, spooky concepts, and story ideas and begin developing their Haunted Stories.
Week 2 — October 5
Stories + Casting
Students bring in their completed stories, are cast into characters, divide into their respective pieces, and begin identifying props and production needs.
Week 3 — October 12
Makeup + SFX
Students explore theatrical and special effects makeup with Jenn and Eli while continuing to develop their characters and production pieces.
Week 4 — October 19
Rehearsal
It's time to put everything on its feet. Students focus on staging, blocking, timing, transitions, and bringing the individual stories together into one show.
Week 5 — October 26
Dress Rehearsal
Costumes. Makeup. Props. Staging. Students complete a full run-through and prepare to take the stage.
MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORs
Katie McColm: Artistic Director At JDS Studio
Katie McColm brings a rare combination of fine art, design, and production experience to the JDS Creative Academy classroom. Her arts journey began at Laguna Beach High School, where she fell in love with performance and design. After earning her cosmetology license and diving deep into color theory and visual design, she founded her own fire spinning production company — including a 6-year artist residency at the Downtown Anaheim Art Crawl and a feature appearance on KTLA's morning show.
Katie showcased her visual art across Los Angeles and Orange County through RAW Artists and Art & Chocolate events, earning features in the LA Weekly and the OC Register. She later earned her Interior Design degree Cum Laude, then joined JDS Creative Academy — where she immediately set the bar high, designing the studio for DigiFest and creating the full sets, props, and costumes for The Wizard of Oz.
Johanna Lack: Head Writer at JDS Studio and Former Producer/Writer for HGTV, TLC, Discovery Channel, A&E
Johanna Lack has taught scriptwriting at JDS Creative Academy since its founding — over a decade of shaping the next generation of writers. She is the head writer for JDSCA's Spirit of Innovation: Arts Across America and an award-winning television producer and writer whose credits include HGTV's House Hunters, Designed to Sell, and shows for CBS, ABC, DIY, and the Discovery Channel.
Johanna earned her B.S. in Radio/Television/Film from Northwestern University and furthered her craft through UCLA's extension screenwriting program. She began her career reading and evaluating scripts for Hollywood producers — and quickly learned what makes a screenplay extraordinary, and what sends it straight to the reject pile. She brings all of that knowledge directly into the classroom.
Scott Strand, Master Acting Coach and Co-Founder of JDS Creative Academy
Scott Strand serves as Director of the JDS Creative Academy Musical Theater Program, where he helps students develop confidence, creativity, and performance skills both on and off the stage. With decades of experience as an actor, director, producer, and educator, Scott is passionate about creating opportunities for performers of all ages and abilities to discover their voice, tell meaningful stories, and shine in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Class Schedule
Fall 2026 Dates
Mondays, 5:00 – 7:00 PM
September 28 — Characters + Story Development
October 5 — Stories + Casting
October 12 — Makeup + SFX
October 19 — Rehearsal
October 26 — Dress Rehearsal
Final Performance
Friday, October 30 at 7:00 PM
TUITION & PAYMENT
Five Weeks. One Complete Production.
Tuition: $125 per student
Tuition includes participation in the full five-week Haunted Stories production intensive and the October 30 live performance.
Space is limited to ensure students have the opportunity to actively participate in the creative and production process.
*Performance admission is separate from student tuition.
**Scholarships are not offered for this course.
Your Story Is Waiting to Be Told.
What will you create? Five weeks. A blank page. A stage.
Join Haunted Stories and help create an original collection of spooky tales from the ground up—then bring them to life in front of a live audience.
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