"What Shannan brings to a collaboration is a unique blend of two aspects: she works hard AND she works smart.  As the character coach, Shannan worked with the multitude of talented and international performers stemming from circus and visual arts, dance and singing. She brings out the best in everyone while serving the core emotion of the scene and the piece as a whole. AND she does all of this with a lightness, sensitivity and laughter that is second to none. I thank Shannan for her sublime generosity and expertise. VIVID would not have lifted to the heights it enjoys nightly without what Shannan brought of herself and of her craft.

-Krista Monson
Author and Director, VIVID GRAND SHOW
Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin

ACTING COACH | COMEDY COACH: Next!

As an Acting Coach, it’s my job to advance your performance to your greatest ability. If it’s an upcoming audition, or an act you’re working on, I will offer you direction, character guidance, help you overcome any obstacles, any fears or doubt you may be experiencing, and send you off feeling confident that you’re working at your highest potential.

Coaching Sessions run 45 minutes to an hour in Studio.

"Shannan is a unique coach and an extremely talented performer. I have done a handful of workshops with her and every time she surpassed my expectations. She has helped me see comedy through a new lens. Before working with Shannan when things didn't go to plan on stage I would get frustrated or feel lost. Now I seize the opportunity to play, turning a mistake into comedy gold! Her coaching and guidance has brought my performances at Blue Man Group to the next level."

-Vinicius Masteguim
Blue Man Group Las Vegas

"Honest and bold; Shannan was the perfect coach to help me get rid of the walls/limits I had playing Glamour Girl in the show VIVID. One session with her was enough for me to experience freedom and reignite fun and pleasure in my creativity. And that's pretty amazing."

-Sarah Manesse
VIVID GRAND SHOW, Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin

"When Cirque du Soleil approached me to create a new MC character for Zumanity, I immediately reached out to Shannan. I had the honor of previously being apart of Shannan’s Clown Workshops and knew she was just the person to help tackle such a demanding role. Creating with Shannan is like working with a best friend. I always felt comfortable exposing my raw side which is where all the magic happens when creating. Intention was a huge focus while working with Shannan, making sure we made this new character real, genuine and likable. We re-wrote the entire MC script to fit Axle’s personality and vibe. Within 2 months Axle made his/her debut in Zumanity to a standing ovation. I am forever proud and grateful to have had the experience creating Axle with such an incredibly talented coach. Thank you Shannan."

-Brandon Pereyda
Zumanity, Cirque du Soleil

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CREATIVITY COACH: Live your Creative Life

Live your Creative Life.
Love what you do.
Be paid to it.

I’ve spent the last 20 years living my creative life.
I welcome the opportunity to help you live yours!

Most of us have a desire to create something: a song, poem, play, novel, painting, sculpture, rock band, herb garden, gallery, even our own business. We know that creating it will bring us great joy and fulfillment, but for some reason we let our ideas sit on the back burner to collect dust. Well, that’s where a coach comes in.

Essentially, I’ll be your cheerleader! Your ideas board! Your time manager! Sometimes you need a kick in the pants (even a gentle one) to get moving. In fact, simply being accountable to someone often sets us in motion.

A coaching session is usually 45 minutes to an hour. Together we develop your idea into a manageable creation. We have a jam session, set realistic goals & develop a timeline. The following week we’ll do a quick check-in to see how much progress you’ve made & adjust our plan as needed. In two weeks, we’ll have a longer check-in, a second meeting really, to see what goals have been achieved & maybe even set new ones. Before you know it, you’ll have created something new & unique to you!

Meetings can be in person at your favorite café, on the phone, or thanks to technology, in your living room - on Skype.

"When I approached Shannan to ask if she would coach me so that I may audition for the American Musical Theatre Academy, she was extremely supportive. I hadn’t performed in about 7 years and Shannan was extremely patient and professional as we worked on all my auditions pieces one by one. Shannan helped me relearn the tools I needed to feel confident in my work. I have since been accepted to AMTA in NYC. Thanks to Shannan, I’m one step closer to my goal of performing again."

-Marisa Miranda
Actor | Singer | Costume Designer

"Shannan Calcutt is a rare treasure of the world of clowning and live performance. I had the honor of working with her both in a clown workshop and a private session in preparation for my first clown audition with Cirque du Soleil. My original idea was a muddled mess and I was really struggling with how to even communicate to her what my idea was. It was almost as if she could see inside my brain and understand exactly what I was going for. It only took her a few intuitive notes to turn my mess of an act into a concise, humorous, and universally relatable piece. She instilled the confidence in this first time clown candidate to truly shine at his first audition. I would work with her again in a heartbeat."

-Jonathan Curtis | Acrobat, Cirque du Soleil

"Shannan is a fearless performer and Acting / Clown Coach who will help push you in directions you didn't think you could achieve. Whenever I need advice or want to try out some crazy clown sh*t, I call Shannan!"

-Jonas Woolverton
Comedic Actor, Cirque du Soleil | Bass Player| Music Video Director

"I was putting together and Indigogo campaign and knew that Shannan had experience with this and asked her for advice. We met and she provided so much more than just her expertise on the subject at hand. Her insights helped to hone and direct my ideas on the project, taking my millions of thoughts and directions and helping me streamline them into a concise form that could be conveyed in a very genuine way to others.
 
Shannan will open you up to look at things from a different perspective and help you to get at the heart of what you are really looking to do. She asks questions and helps you dig deep so that what you create is true and honest. From there you can go anywhere.
 
She is brilliant at listening and helping you distill your idea into a beautiful elixir with a practicality that allows you to bring your project to fruition without getting drunk on the idea."

-Robin Renken
Stage Manager, Cirque du Soleil | Lead Chronicler, Crushed Grape Chronicles  | Farmers Market Advocate, 4Farm2Mrkt