Meet the Director

Ashton Schaffer is the Theatre Arts teacher at West Springfield High School. He is an alumnus of Fairfax County Public Schools, having graduated from James Madison High School. He went on to study theater at the Rome School of Music, Drama, and Art in Washington DC. Ashton has spent over a decade as a professional actor, director, and theatre educator – working at local theatres, including the Kennedy Center, The National Theater, NextStop Theatre Company, Synetic Theater, the Workhouse Arts Center, and more. He served as the Education Manager for Synetic Theatre, where he developed and expanded their educational offerings, partnering with local school districts to bring Synetic’s unique physical theater-style art into the classrooms.

Ashton comes to West Springfield from the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, where he managed and facilitated arts-integrated lessons across Virginia. Ashton has extensive stage and directorial experience. In 2024, he was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for his portrayal of Bobby Strong in the Workhouse Art Center’s production of Urinetown.