August 31 – September 7
This workshop is a unique opportunity to develop your own material in a community of fellow artists, led by Shannan Calcutt.
Over the course of six days, you will have regular opportunities to share your work and hone your process. Each day, you will have the chance to work on your original material with Shannan as a director, with the group providing encouragement and feedback. In addition, you will have the chance to meet with Shannan one-on-one. The week also includes other sessions dedicated to ensemble building and planning the next steps of your show.
Since the launch of this workshop, participants have left with invaluable insights about their show and ample amounts of new material. A few have even completed a first draft of a full-length show in just six days. Many more have gone on to produce their show in New York City, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Boston, and other cities around the country.
At the heart of this workshop is a commitment to show up for yourself and your collaborators. The magic of Make a Show is how everyone’s whole-hearted participation elevates each individual’s creative journey.
The enrollment for this workshop is capped at five participants. Having a group of this size means that everyone has ample opportunities to work on their material with Shannan, with their peers, and on their own. This focused environment catalyzes creativity and productivity.
This workshop is open to theater and performance artists working in a range of disciplines, from acting and clown to acrobatics and stand-up comedy. You are not expected to arrive with a full draft of your show—in fact, you could start from a simple idea. You are expected, however, to arrive ready to work, to give your time and attention to your colleagues, and to contribute to the group not only as an artist but as an audience member, collaborator, and cheerleader.
At the completion of the workshop, you will know more about your show, including a plan to continue its development. You will also have a renewed sense of what you are capable of as an artist (hint: it’s more than you think) and strong bonds with an ambitious—and fun!—creative community.
Apply to Take This Workshop
Admission to Make a Show with Shannan is awarded through an application process.
Applications received on or before April 1 will be given priority.
You can access the application by clicking “Apply” below.
Please note that the application requires you to submit an artistic resume or a CV, which we prefer as a PDF.
Applicants will hear about the status of their application in early April.
Cost
Workshop with single-occupancy housing: $1,850
There is no double-occupancy housing, early bird discount, or deposit-only scholarship available for this workshop.
Should you be offered a slot in the workshop, you will have four weeks to pay a $850 deposit. Your remaining balance will be due prior to your arrival at Celebration Barn.
Shannan Calcutt
Shannan Calcutt is sought after globally as a show creator, performer, instructor, director, and writer. She has played an eclectic range of venues from Saskatoon’s Wash ‘n Slosh Pub to the Sydney Opera House. She is best known for performing her iconic breast implant routine—Scotch Baggies—for millions of spectators at Cirque du Soleil’s Zumanity. Currently, audiences can catch Calcutt’s signature shenanigans as a featured comedic performer in Cirque du Soleil’s latest Vegas production, Mad Apple. One of the world’s leading instructors in clown and play, her work is profiled in the book Clowns: In Conversation with Modern Masters. Calcutt has designed and directed comic acts for Cirque du Soleil, Spiegelworld, and Berlin’s Friedrichstadt-Palast. She is the director of Spiegelworld’s Superfrico, associate director of The Hook and was resident director at The Atomic Saloon Show from 2021–2024. Shannan is fluent in English, sarcasm, and sophisticated silliness. More about her here at shannancalcutt.com.
