Mark Shanahan News

Virginia Stage Company has announced their 44th season as Hampton Roads’ leading professional producing theatre company. Not since 2018 has VSC been able to open its doors to a fully in-house produced season, but in September of 2022, it eagerly welcomes its patrons to a full and in-person 6-show season at The Historic Wells Theatre.

The White Heron Theatre Company of Nantucket today announced that director, writer, and actor Mark Shanahan has expanded his relationship with the company stepping into a new role as Resident Director.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of “The Scream: A Musical Comedy Fantasy,” on Monday, June 13, at 7 p.m. The live performance will be captured on film for on-demand streaming, from Thursday, June 16 through Sunday, June 19. Script in Hand playreadings offer intimate storytelling as professional actors bring the words to life without sets or costumes.

White Heron Theatre Company of Nantucket today announced its 10th anniversary season, which will include Dial M for Murder, a killer comedy that preceded the classic Hitchcock film and features Tony Award-winner Celia Keenan-Bolger.

Westport Country Playhouse announces casting for the Script in Hand play reading of the comedy/drama “Dot,” on Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of the comedy/drama about mid-life crises and aging parents, “Dot,” written by Colman Domingo, star of AMC’s “Fear the Walking Dead,” and directed by Q. Smith, on Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m. The live performance will be captured on film for on-demand streaming, from Thursday, March 17 through Sunday, March 20. Script in Hand playreadings offer intimate storytelling as professional actors bring the words to life without sets or costumes.

The American Theater Group (ATG), Somerset County’s newest professional theater company, will present a series of free Monday night play readings in February and March at the Mitchell and Ann Sieminski Theater at the Fellowship Cultural Arts Center in Basking Ridge, NJ. All performances will begin at 7pm and are open to the public; tickets are not required.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand play reading of the thriller, “Murder by Misadventure” by Edward Taylor, before a live audience on Monday, February 21, at 7 p.m.

A Sherlock Carol has announced plans to return for the 2022 holiday season.  Written and directed by Mark Shanahan (NPR’s Ghost Light Series), the show is currently playing an eight-week limited holiday engagement at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street), and has two weeks of performances left, with a final performance on Sunday, January 2, 2022.

In the spirit of the holiday season, Westport Country Playhouse Radio Theater, a free-of-charge broadcast series, will reprise from last year the inventive audio play, “A Merry Little Christmas Carol,” airing on WSHU Radio on Saturday, December 25, at 3:06 p.m. (following the national news), with a rebroadcast on Sunday, December 26, at 3:06 p.m.

For the holiday season, Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of “A Merry Little Christmas Carol,” based on Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol,” before a live audience on Monday, December 13, at 7 p.m.

dYou can now see video of A Sherlock Carol, a new holiday play, written and directed by Mark Shanahan (NPR's Ghost Light Series), and opening tonight, Monday, November 22, 2021 for a limited holiday engagement at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). The final performance is Sunday, January 2, 2022.

You can now see production photos and video of A Sherlock Carol, a new holiday play, written and directed by Mark Shanahan (NPR’s Ghost Light Series), and opening tonight, Monday, November 22, 2021 for a limited holiday engagement at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).  The final performance is Sunday, January 2, 2022. 

Virginia Stage Company will bring back its annual Christmas tradition with a bit of new spirit in the form of a riveting adaptation of A Merry Little Christmas Carol. The new retelling of the Dickens Christmas tale, written by The Hound of the Baskervilles' director Mark Shanahan, will bring its holiday cheer to the Historic Wells Theatre.

11th Hour Theatre Company is celebrating the holidays with a gorgeous, professionally-designed radio play version of the classic Charles Dickens tale. A Philadelphia Christmas Carol (based on Mark Shanahan's A Merry Little Christmas Carol) will feature some of the region's most recognizable performers from across the city's stages .

Previews begin tonight, Thursday, November 11, 2021, for A Sherlock Carol written and directed by Mark Shanahan (The Dingdong, A Merry Little Christmas Carol; NPR’s Ghost Light Series). 

Westport Country Playhouse has changed the date of “Family Fun Day” to Sunday, October 31, from 11 to 3 p.m., due to inclement weather forecast for October 30, the previously announced date. “Family Fun Day” features activities for kids, treats, food trucks, community food drive, beer tastings, and costume parade for kids and dogs.

Westport Country Playhouse announced they will host a Family Fun Day on Saturday, October 30, 12 to 4 p.m.

Westport Country Playhouse and WSHU Public Radio Partner for Playhouse Radio Theater's Halloween Play “Spectres and Spirits.” Free-of-charge audio play's broadcast premiere on Saturday, October 30.

A Sherlock Carol, a new holiday play, has announced the show’s creative team featuring scenic design by Tony Award nominee Anna Louizos (School of Rock, In the Heights), costume design by Tony Award winner Linda Cho (Take Me Out, Anastasia), lighting design by Obie Award-winner Rui Rita (Skeleton Crew, Velocity of Autumn), and more.