What I'm working on...
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“Shaun is a consummate collaborator. She is easy to work with in every capacity. Writers and directors value her insight when exploring new and evolving material...She shouldn’t simply be participating in other people’s projects, but should be helming her own as an actor, writer, director, and producer. Shaun inspires those around her to do their very best work.”
— Scott C. Sickles, Playwright and Emmy Award winning Screenwriter (General Hospital) more testimonials
News
January 2022
Thrilled and grateful for a few exiting new projects on the horizon! Details to come!
Past
You can view past projects in more detail HERE. <— Click that.
August 2021
Have been cast as Mary Musgrove in BEDLAM’s world premiere of Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, directed by Eric Tucker and adapted for the stage by Sarah Rose Kearns.
PERSUASION
SEPTEMBER 11–OCTOBER 31, 2021
The Connelly Theater
220 E. 4th Street
New York, NY 10009
Click HERE to watch the trailer.
June 2021
Directed one of the “pods” for Smith Street Stage’s documentary, HAMLET REHEARSED.
After a year of isolation and dark theaters, a group of actors gather to read, discuss, and rehearse William Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Of all Shakespeare’s plays, Hamlet most deeply deals with grief, questioning, loss, uncertainty, and the meaning of life itself. After a period of unimaginable death, social upheaval, and unprecedented disruption to our day-to-day lives, these actors are given a space to gather, collaborate, create, and explore what Hamlet has to teach us and what we now have to bring to it. In so doing, the project illustrates the central role art can play in helping people understand, contextualize and heal from the shocks and heartaches of life.
March 2021
My new piece HOME is being produced by NuYorican Poets Café on March 28th at 5pm. HOME is a monologue celebrating the life and sacrifice of the Lee family, who in 1931 moved into an all white neighborhood in Minneapolis, MN and stood their ground amidst violent attacks from their neighbors and other white Minnesotans. Written and performed by yours truly.
Note: Much of the research done for this piece was generously aided by Prof. Ann Juergens of the William Mitchell College of Law in Minnesota. You can find her excellent paper on Lena Olive Smith, the dynamic lawyer who aided the Lees, HERE.
March 2021
Directing Isa Muiño’s new play I Will Only Write This Once for Theatre East’s second partnership with the Meadows School at SMU in Texas.
November 2020
Directing Stakiah Washington’s new play A Sister is God’s Way of Making Sure We Never Walk Alone in Theatre East’s partnership with the Meadows School at Southern Methodist University in Texas.
“Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of the day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble.”
July 2020
Directing Stephanie Fagan’s new play Bye Charlie, Bye Lane for Theatre East’s annual 5x5 Drama series. Featuring: Rachel Towne, Jennifer Tsay
An art student must complete her final thesis painting remotely. Her subject is her recent ex.
May 2020
My monologue House of the Rising Sun was produced (via Zoom) by NuYorican Poets Café and was performed by the lovely Baize Buzan.
January 2020
Have just been hired as one of The Amoralists’ ‘Wright Club directors for their 2020/2021 season, working alongside TJ Weaver.
'Wright Club is a group of radically collaborative, boundary-pushing artists ready to write the revolution. The Amoralists ‘Wright Club invites a cohort of unique, adventurous, emerging writers to join our creative leadership and ensemble of artists, for a no-holds-barred, no-sides-taken dive into the world of collaborative storytelling.
December 2019
Tim Blake Nelson's powerful and soul-stirring play makes its return. The reading will take place in the private upstairs bar at O'Lunney's Times Square Pub, 145 W 45th St, between 6th and 7th Ave. The event is Pay-What-You-Can and reservations are highly recommended. For reservations visit www.theatreeast.org.
October/November 2019
For Sea Dog Theatre Company, I’ve just directed Devin Burnam’s new play THE CATASTROPHE CLUB. Starring Sue Kim, Daniel Kublick, Cassandra Nwokah, Rachel Towne, and Stewart Walker.
October 18 to November 22, 2019 at Von Bar on 3 Bleecker Street, New York, NY. Broadway World Announcement
REVIEWS
TheaterScene.net, Front Row Center, Round the World Stage, Opplaud, Hi Drama, New York Theatre Blogspot
Photography by Chris Montgomery
Collage by Alex Purcell
July 2019
Directed Smith Street Stage’s 10th Anniversary Season Shakespeare in Carroll Park Production of Romeo and Juliet.
August 20, 2018
I just received news that I've been selected to be one of Gingold Theatrical Group's 2018-2019 Speakers' Corner playwrights. Over the next year, I'll be focusing on a selected work of Shaw's and will write a play in response to it, aimed at a full production next year. I am thrilled to the gills and ever so grateful. We begin this September!
September 30, 2018
A sweet little write-up from one of my hometown newspapers.
September 21 — October 6, 2018
Thrilled to announce that I’ve joined the cast of Romulus Linney’s Holy Ghosts at Urban Stages with Theatre East. I’m really excited to finally work with Theatre East and to join this amazing cast of people. More details and the link to tickets —> HERE.
July 28, 2018
Directed Rachel Atkins' radio drama Brain Trust for Core Artist Ensemble's upcoming The Podcast Plays Project: Tech Edition. I've admired this company from afar and am thrilled to have the chance to work with them. Starring Morgan Zipf-Meister and Nathalie Frederick.
July 24, 2018
Just learned that I've received a New York Innovative Theatre Award nomination for Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role for Smith Street Stage's 2017 production of Richard III! I'm immensely grateful to Smith Street, the NYIT Awards, and the indie theatre community for this sweet honor.
July 2018, 2018
Reviews for A Midsummer Night's Dream have been pouring in! Have a look at a few excerpts HERE.
June 20-July 15, 2018
This summer I'll be back in Carroll Park with Smith Street Stage portraying Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night's Dream. I adore this company and the joy of working with them. Come play with us in the park!
April 28, 2018 at 8PM
Staged reading of Inherit the Wind with Sea Dog Theatre Company to celebrate their one year anniversary! Directed by Dan Foster
Featuring: Len Cariou, Jay O. Sanders, Eric Sheffer Stevens, David Funck, Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Dan Kublick, Rachel Murdy, Brigitte Choura, Jenn Miller Cribbs, Michael Castillejos, Anthony Platipodis, Connor Coughlin, Dorea Slagle, Matt Love, Justin Street and Janice Amaya. MORE INFO HERE
February 26-March 3, 2018
Will be workshopping a new play at the Ivoryton Playhouse in Ivoryton, Connecticut for their second annual Women Playwrights Initiative. The play is Yael Haskal's new play Blood, and will be directed by Kathryn Markey.
January 26, 2018 at 8PM
Staged reading of Clybourne Park with Sea Dog Theatre Company. Directed by James Yaegashi and featuring Jenn Cribbs, Christopher Domig, Jakob Von Eichel, Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Toussaint Jeanlouis, Eric Sheffer Stevens, and Jenny Sheffer Stevens. MORE INFO HERE
Summer 2017
The Superfriends trailer (a hilarious and touching short film I shot in 2016) is now available for your viewing pleasure on my media page.
August 9, 2017 at 8:30PM
Billy Mitchell's: Villain deBlanks
Starring: Nick Cearley, Maddie Corman, Max Crumm, Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Randy Graff, Eddie Cooper
Green Room 42, inside Yotel Hotel (42nd St & 10th Ave) on the 4th floor
A portion of proceeds will benefit Lambda Legal Click here for more info.
June 7-25, 2017
Richard III, by William Shakespeare | directed by Jonathan Hopkins
Smith Street Stage – Carroll Park/
Here's a great review of our show from —> Theater Pizzaz
Glenn Close and I at the Theatre Hall of Fame Fellowship Luncheon
April 28, 2017 at 12PM
I received a 2017 Emerging Theater Artist grant from Theater Hall of Fame. The grant was awarded during the 13th Annual Theater Hall of Fame Fellowship Luncheon honoring Glenn Close.
The Palm Restaurant – NYC
April 25-26, 2017 at 7PM
The Winter's Tale, by William Shakespeare | directed by Erik Pearson
Upstairs at Carroll Place – 157 Bleecker Street
Presented by Smith Street Stage – Click HERE for more info
April 19, 2017 at 10:30AM
The Caucasian Chalk Circle, by Bertolt Brecht | directed by Mikhaela Mahoney
Columbia MFA Directing presentation
April 4, 2017 at 4PM
Workshop readings for Kean University / Premiere Stages' educational outreach program
Hubbard Middle School – Plainfield, NJ
March 18, 2017 at 8PM
Reunion, by Nandita Shenoy | directed by Sanjit De Silva
New American Voices Spring Reading Series – Queens Theatre
March 9, 2017 at 7PM
Foster Mom, by Chris Cragin-Day | directed by John Wooten
Premiere Stages @ Kean University – Union, NJ
February 13, 2017 at 7:30PM
Freedom for Superman, by Tracey Conyer Lee | directed by
Featuring: J. Bernard Calloway, Tracey Conyer Lee, and Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy
National Black Theatre – 2031 Fifth Ave. (125th St), 3rd Fl Temple
February 4, 2017 at 8:30PM
Ghost Story, a new play by Lia Romeo
Featuring: Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy and Michael Grew
MST Playground: Readings of NJ Women Playwrights
Mile Square Theatre – 1400 Clinton St, Hoboken, New Jersey
January 30, 2017 at 7PM
Please Mrs. West, a new play by Sophia Heinecke, directed by Madeline Barasch
Featuring: Shaun B. Fauntleroy as Alice Alston and Evelyn Spahr as Kim Kardashian West
Speyer Hall – 184 Eldridge St. Manhattan, Second Floor
Click HERE for more info.
October 30, 2016
Eye to Eye, by Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy (me!) | directed by Ben Ferber
Featuring: Jennifer Tsay, Kathleen Choe, Chinaza Uche, and Imran Sheikh.
NY Madness | OCTOBER MADNESS! at The Kraine Theatre – East Village, NYC
October 24, 2016 at 4PM
For the Love of, a new play by Gina Femia | directed by Erin Ortman
Featuring Becky Byers, Ines del Castillo, Sol Crespo, Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Emily Gardner Hall, Marlyn Matias, Stacey Raymond, Sara Thigpen, Stacey Jehan O. Young
NOLA Studios – 250 W. 54th Street, NYC
October 18, 20, 22, 2016
For the Love of Maud by Abby Rosebrock | directed by Mikhaela Mahony
Ensemble Studio Theatre – ASKING FOR TROUBLE: SERIES B
Click HERE for more info.
September 12, 2016
Stepping Out of the River at Dawn, by Dean Poynor | directed by May Adrales
Featuring: Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Nikiya Mathis, Owiso Odera, Patrick Ssenjovu
Live percussion by Mark Bruckner
Sheen Center Reading Series – Sheen Center, 18 Bleecker Street, NYC
August 28, 2016
Reunion, by Nandita Shenoy | directed by May Adrales
Featuring: Cindy Cheung, Shaun Bennet Fauntleroy, Sanjiv Jhaveri, Anne McNamara, Jeffrey Omura, CJ Wilson
Brooklyn Generator | Jimmy's 43, East Village, NYC
August 11, 2016
28 Years Later, by Nicole Greevy, Uma Incrocci, and Erica Jensen | directed by Erica Jensen
41st annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival
One performance only! UPDATE! We made it to the Finals! Performing Saturday, 8/13!
Classic Stage Company – 136 E 13th St, New York, NY