Shawn discovered a talent beyond directing as he delved deeper into creating new works. At the request of the writing team of Lisa DeSpain and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Shawn began writing the book to Storyville, a full-length musical based on the infamous New Orleans red-light district. The team was honored by being selected "artists-in-residence" for the 2004 O'Neill Music Theatre Conference, and is currently being mentored by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty (Ragtime, Once on This Island) through the Dramatist Guild.
Once Upon A Birthday (working title) is a young person’s opera commissioned by the Connecticut Opera. Inspired by the works of famed children’s author and artist Walter Wick, Mr. Churchman and composer Frank Schiro are creating a new opera for children that will tour with the company’s “Opera Express” company. Using an original premise of two twins on their birthday, and Mr. Wick’s well-known “search and find” ideas, this young person’s opera will premiere in September of 2008.
He was also book supervisor and contributed material to Along the Way, which was called "the sleeper hit of the Fringe 2003" by New York Magazine, for which he also received rave reviews as director and choreographer. He served as co-developer for The Happy Prince, which recently had its world premiere at the New York Music Theatre Festival in September of 2004. With Mr. Schiro, Shawn developed the piece from a 10-minute presentation to a full-length family musical.
For Stamford Theatre Works, he has co-created (with arranger David Bishop), the Great American Composer Series, a series of retrospectives/revues honoring America's songwriters. The first, Made in America: Irving Berlin, tells the American immigrant experience through Berlin's music and the family stories of the actors themselves. Produced in June of 2002, it became the highest-grossing show in STW's history. With the cooperation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, Made in America: Irving Berlin is being made available to regional theatres across the country, and was most recently produced at the Muhlenberg Summer Theatre in Allentown, PA. Harlem Holiday: Harold Arlen, Rhapsody in Gershwin, On the Street Where They Live: Lerner and Loewe, The Music of Tin Pan Alley and Nobody's Heart – Rodgers and Hart have met with great critical success and are being shopped around the country.
His current project is Pryor Rendering (music and lyrics by Frank Schiro).
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