A Barn Full of Ghosts (and Great Stories): The Interview
A Front Mezz Interview: Mark Shanahan Discusses the Westport Country Playhouse
Running a theater can be like hosting an endless, unpredictable dinner party. Mark Shanahan, Artistic Director of the Westport Country Playhouse, manages just that in Connecticut. This former summer barn has been transforming hay into standing ovations since 1931. Shanahan fills the roles of maître d’, ringmaster, and air-traffic controller all at once.
He juggles overseeing a century-old institution, writing his own plays, and occasionally directing. Shanahan often multitasks, answering emails while blocking scenes and remembering to restock the lobby’s hand sanitizer.
With a long career in American theater, his résumé reflects a unique blend of influences—torn between Moss Hart and Groucho Marx, he admires the charm both brought to the stage. His artistic style is wry, humane, and subtly subversive, perfectly matching the spirit of the Westport Country Playhouse.
“His artistic sensibility fits the Westport Country Playhouse like a well-tailored smoking jacket.”
Under Shanahan’s guidance, the theater feels less like a shrine to its past achievements and more like a vibrant salon, where tradition and playful mischief mingle across the footlights.
Author’s summary: Mark Shanahan leads the Westport Country Playhouse with a keen artistic vision, blending respect for history with lively innovation and warmth.
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