Shawn Churchman has dedicated the last 30 years to the craft of musical theatre. An award-winning director and performer, educator, and author, his interests are as varied as the art form itself.
A graduate of Oklahoma City University with a degree in vocal performance, Shawn began as an actor and singer appearing in over 80 musicals and plays, as well as appearing as a soloist at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. As a cast member of one of the first companies of Forever Plaid, Shawn embarked on a directorial career at the helm of numerous companies of Plaid. Since then, he has directed new works in New York’s famous NYMF Festival, the NY Fringe Festival, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Soho Rep, and York Theatre Company; as well as classics in regional theatre, summer stock, and opera companies around the country.
For Stamford Theatre Works in Connecticut, he has co-created (with arranger David Bishop), the Great American Composer Series, a series of retrospectives/revues honoring America's classic songwriters. They are performed in regional theatres all over the country.
Also as a writer, he has written the libretto for Storyville, a 2004 Eugene O'Neill Music Theatre Conference participant. He is currently writing the libretto for a children’s opera entitled Twice Upon a Birthday with composer Frank Schiro, as well as a new musical Pryor Rendering with Mr. Schiro. Shawn also served as co-developer with Mr. Schiro on The Happy Prince, which debuted at the NYMF Festival.
Shawn is in his fourth year as Asst. Professor of Musical Theatre at the University of Oklahoma’s renowned Weitzenhofer Department of Musical Theatre. He teaches Acting for Musical Theatre, Scene Study, History of American Musical Theatre and Song Study. For OU, he has directed How to Succeed in Business…, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Rent, and Sunday in the Park with George.
He is a member of the Society of Directors and Choreographers and Actors Equity. [top]
