A Barn Full of Ghosts (and Great Stories): The Interview

Mark Shanahan and the Westport Country Playhouse

Mark Shanahan, Artistic Director of the Westport Country Playhouse, oversees what feels like Connecticut’s longest, most unpredictable dinner party. The theater, once a summer barn converting hay into standing ovations since 1931, thrives under his dynamic leadership.

Shanahan balances many roles simultaneously—maître d’, ringmaster, air-traffic controller—while managing a century-old institution. He also writes plays and occasionally directs, often multitasking between emails, scene blocking, and practical details like refilling hand sanitizer in the lobby.

A Theatrical Career Blending Wit and Humanity

With a longstanding presence in American theater, Shanahan’s résumé suggests a playful tension between the influences of Moss Hart and Groucho Marx, embracing qualities from both under the spotlight. His artistic approach is wry, humane, and slightly subversive, challenging decorum just enough to provoke thought without offense.

Theatre as a Living Salon

Under Shanahan’s guidance, the Westport Country Playhouse moves beyond being a mere museum of theatrical history. Instead, it becomes a vibrant salon where tradition and playful mischief interact intimately behind the scenes and across the stage.

“His artistic sensibility (wry, humane, and just subversive enough to make propriety blush) fits the Westport Country Playhouse like a well-tailored smoking jacket.”

“Between overseeing a century-old institution, writing plays of his own, and occasionally stepping back into the director’s chair, he’s the sort of man who probably answers emails while blocking a scene and mentally noting to refill the lobby’s hand sanitizer.”

Author’s summary: Mark Shanahan transforms the Westport Country Playhouse into a lively theatrical salon, blending deep tradition with contemporary wit and hands-on leadership.

front mezz junkies — 2025-11-03