Make a Show with Shannan
This workshop is a unique opportunity to develop your own material in a community of fellow artists, led by Shannan Calcutt.
Over the course of six days, you will have regular opportunities to share your work and hone your process. Each day, you will have the chance to work on your original material with Shannan as a director, with the group providing encouragement and feedback. In addition, you will have the chance to meet with Shannan one-on-one. The residency also includes time dedicated to play, prep, ensemble building and planning the next steps of your show.
Since the launch of this workshop, participants have left with invaluable insights about their show and ample amounts of new material. A few have even completed a first draft of a full-length show in just six days. Many more have gone on to produce their show in New York City, Boston, Portland, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities around the country.
At the heart of this workshop is a commitment to show up for yourself and your collaborators. The magic of “Make a Show” is how everyone’s whole-hearted participation elevates each individual’s creative journey.
The enrollment for this workshop is capped at five participants. Having a group of this size means that everyone has ample opportunities to work on their material with Shannan, with their peers, and on their own. This focused environment catalyzes creativity and productivity.
"Make a Show" is open to theatre and performance artists working in a range of disciplines, from acting and clown to acrobatics and stand-up comedy. You are not expected to arrive with a full draft of your show—in fact, you could arrive with a simple idea or outline or simply show up –arguably the hardest part. You are expected, however, to arrive ready to work, to give your time and attention to your colleagues, and to contribute to the group not only as an artist but as an audience member, collaborator, and cheerleader.
At the completion of the workshop, you will know more about your show, including a plan to continue its development. You will also have a renewed sense of what you are capable of as an artist (hint: it’s more than you think) and strong bonds with an ambitious—and fun!—creative community.
Admission to “Make a Show with Shannan” is awarded through an application process.
Over the course of six days, you will have regular opportunities to share your work and hone your process. Each day, you will have the chance to work on your original material with Shannan as a director, with the group providing encouragement and feedback. In addition, you will have the chance to meet with Shannan one-on-one. The residency also includes time dedicated to play, prep, ensemble building and planning the next steps of your show.
Since the launch of this workshop, participants have left with invaluable insights about their show and ample amounts of new material. A few have even completed a first draft of a full-length show in just six days. Many more have gone on to produce their show in New York City, Boston, Portland, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities around the country.
At the heart of this workshop is a commitment to show up for yourself and your collaborators. The magic of “Make a Show” is how everyone’s whole-hearted participation elevates each individual’s creative journey.
The enrollment for this workshop is capped at five participants. Having a group of this size means that everyone has ample opportunities to work on their material with Shannan, with their peers, and on their own. This focused environment catalyzes creativity and productivity.
"Make a Show" is open to theatre and performance artists working in a range of disciplines, from acting and clown to acrobatics and stand-up comedy. You are not expected to arrive with a full draft of your show—in fact, you could arrive with a simple idea or outline or simply show up –arguably the hardest part. You are expected, however, to arrive ready to work, to give your time and attention to your colleagues, and to contribute to the group not only as an artist but as an audience member, collaborator, and cheerleader.
At the completion of the workshop, you will know more about your show, including a plan to continue its development. You will also have a renewed sense of what you are capable of as an artist (hint: it’s more than you think) and strong bonds with an ambitious—and fun!—creative community.
Admission to “Make a Show with Shannan” is awarded through an application process.
"Shannan's insightful suggestions inspired me to work — and play — like a fool. She gave us permission to try anything, to be vulnerable, to laugh and cry with each other. I left a changed person. I have a voice now. Thanks to Shannan, I came in with a jumble of stories and left with a 60-minute show with a through-line, a story arc, an opening, a closing, and a brilliant way to interact with the audience. IN JUST SIX DAYS! The pace was perfect for me. The private sessions were invaluable. I learned just as much from Shannan's feedback to other performers as I did with feedback on my own show. I listened more deeply because I knew we'd be giving each other feedback, too. I felt engaged the entire time. The support from Shannan and the group buoyed me and dramatically improved my show. I had permission to be myself and share my truth — such a rare experience. I left the workshop elated!"
- Dorothea Deley, NV
Writer, Performer, Trauma Releasing Exercises Provider
"I never miss an opportunity to work with Shannan. Make a Show was all that I hoped for and more. Shannan magically transports each and every group she meets into an ensemble of muses. Creativity, laughter, tears and surprises abound all in the service of artistic development at the speed of light. I found myself catapulted into a creative zone wherein I played in my full uncensored self. I came away with new discoveries and rich material for a full solo performance and seeds for several small cabaret pieces."
- Deb Rich, MN
Ph.D. Psychologist, Storyteller, Clown
"Working with Shannan is a delight! She dares us to be more giving, kind, playful and expressive artists. The environment that she fosters makes everyone feel valued and heard and accepted so that you can enjoy creating. And it's that joy that you build together, that's the magic of it: witnessing everyone become the performer they dreamed to be. Shannan makes that possible and I can't recommend her courses enough!"
- Bobby Lamothe, MA
Writer, Storyteller, Clown
"The workshop was called “Make a Show with Shannan”, and, over the course of six days, that’s what we all did. I showed up with nothing, and left with two scenes and two songs (and a ghost story). Shannan was funny and insightful. She was extremely generous with her time, and with her gentle coaching and support, everyone’s work improved a lot over the course of the week. If you have trouble starting a project, or knowing where to go next if you’ve already started it, this is the class for you."
- Patrick O'Donnell, NY
Clown, Writer, Musician
"Shannan's a dream collaborator. She sees, nurtures, and amplifies the magic of each performer. She guides artists to create prolifically so that the work goes further and gets funnier, faster. It was such a thrill to come out of her Make A Show workshop feeling wildly alive and ready for audiences."
- Amanda Huotari, ME
Interactive Performer, Creativity Coach
- Dorothea Deley, NV
Writer, Performer, Trauma Releasing Exercises Provider
"I never miss an opportunity to work with Shannan. Make a Show was all that I hoped for and more. Shannan magically transports each and every group she meets into an ensemble of muses. Creativity, laughter, tears and surprises abound all in the service of artistic development at the speed of light. I found myself catapulted into a creative zone wherein I played in my full uncensored self. I came away with new discoveries and rich material for a full solo performance and seeds for several small cabaret pieces."
- Deb Rich, MN
Ph.D. Psychologist, Storyteller, Clown
"Working with Shannan is a delight! She dares us to be more giving, kind, playful and expressive artists. The environment that she fosters makes everyone feel valued and heard and accepted so that you can enjoy creating. And it's that joy that you build together, that's the magic of it: witnessing everyone become the performer they dreamed to be. Shannan makes that possible and I can't recommend her courses enough!"
- Bobby Lamothe, MA
Writer, Storyteller, Clown
"The workshop was called “Make a Show with Shannan”, and, over the course of six days, that’s what we all did. I showed up with nothing, and left with two scenes and two songs (and a ghost story). Shannan was funny and insightful. She was extremely generous with her time, and with her gentle coaching and support, everyone’s work improved a lot over the course of the week. If you have trouble starting a project, or knowing where to go next if you’ve already started it, this is the class for you."
- Patrick O'Donnell, NY
Clown, Writer, Musician
"Shannan's a dream collaborator. She sees, nurtures, and amplifies the magic of each performer. She guides artists to create prolifically so that the work goes further and gets funnier, faster. It was such a thrill to come out of her Make A Show workshop feeling wildly alive and ready for audiences."
- Amanda Huotari, ME
Interactive Performer, Creativity Coach