Shawn LaCount is a co-founder of Company One Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts where he has served as Co-Executive Director & Artistic Director since 1998. Under Shawn’s co-leadership, Company One Theatre has grown into a nationally recognized theatre at the intersection of art and social change, having served over 15,000 students, 100,000 audience members, and presenting over 80 productions in 21 years. The company has been called “one of the most innovative theatre companies in the country” by the American Theatre Wing.; received an Official Resolution by (then) Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley for “countless contributions to Boston’s Art community and dedication to diversifying arts and theater in Boston.”; named Boston’s Best by Boston Magazine & Best of Boston by The Improper...
Shawn LaCount is a co-founder of Company One Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts where he has served as Co-Executive Director & Artistic Director since 1998. Under Shawn’s co-leadership, Company One Theatre has grown into a nationally recognized theatre at the intersection of art and social change, having served over 15,000 students, 100,000 audience members, and presenting over 80 productions in 21 years. The company has been called “one of the most innovative theatre companies in the country” by the American Theatre Wing.; received an Official Resolution by (then) Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley for “countless contributions to Boston’s Art community and dedication to diversifying arts and theater in Boston.”; named Boston’s Best by Boston Magazine & Best of Boston by The Improper Bostonian multiple times; awarded over 30 local theatre awards for artistic achievement; three “50/50 Applause Awards” from the International Centre for Women Playwrights for C1’s focus on gender parity; participation in the Theatre Communication Group’s national Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Institute; a citation from The Boston Globe as one of the “12 Ideas for Making Boston more Inclusive”; selection as a Social Innovator by the Social Innovation Forum; received the TASC Social Justice Award; selected as part of the Arts Innovation Management program with Bloomberg Philanthropies; selected as a partner for the national Mellon Foundation Resident Playwright Program; named to the Barr-Klarman Massachusetts Arts Initiative; and most recently received a 2020 Modeling Equity Organization Award by Boston Cultural Council.
As a stage director, Shawn’s focus has been on new play development and amplifying the stories of often marginalized communities. Recent directorial credits include the world premiere of HYPE MAN by Idris Goodwin (Elliot Norton Award, Outstanding Production); regional premieres of Jackie Sibblies Drury’s REALLY; Young Jean Lee’s WE’RE GONNA DIE (American Repertory Theater /Company One Theatre); A. Rey Pamatmat’s EDITH CAN SHOOT THINGS AND HIT THEM (Elliot Norton Award Nominee for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Production); Annie Baker’s THE FLICK (Elliot Norton Award, Outstanding Production); the world premiere of Kirsten Greenidge’s SPLENDOR (IRNE Award nominee, Best New Play); the Boston premieres of BENGAL TIGER AT THE BAGHDAD ZOO by Rajiv Joseph; THE ELABORATE ENTRANCE OF CHAD DEITY by Kristoffer Diaz (Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Production); Annie Baker’s THE ALIENS (Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Director and Outstanding Production); the world premiere of GRIMM (IRNE Award nominee for Best New Play); the Boston premiere of THE OVERWHELMING by JT Rogers (Elliot Norton Award Nominee, Outstanding Production); the Boston premiere of Haruki Murakami’s AFTER THE QUAKE (Elliot Norton Award Nominee, Outstanding Production); Stephen Sondheim’s ASSASSINS (IRNE nomination for Best Director and Best Musical); and the Boston premiere of Noah Haidle’s MR. MARMALADE (Elliot Norton Award Nominee, Outstanding Director/Outstanding Drama). Shawn holds an MA Ed. in theatre Education from Clark University and an MFA in Directing from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He has taught at Emerson College, Boston Arts Academy, Huntington Theatre Company, Tufts University, Stage One and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Shawn is a proud is a proud board member of the National New Play Network. Shawn is also an alum of ArtEquity’s National Facilitator Training as well as the National Arts Strategies Chief Executive program, where he earned a certificate from Harvard Business School. Shawn holds an MA Ed. in Education from Clark University and an MFA in Theatre from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst.