Shawn Whitsell
Nashville, Tennessee
Actor/Writer/Director/Producer
Shawn Whitsell is an actor, writer, director, producer, and casting director for stage and screen. He is the founder of the Destiny Theatre Experience and has written, produced and directed a number of theatrical works addressing social issues (police brutality, sexual assault, domestic violence, economic disparities, etc.). His one-man show 23/1, a play about mass incarceration and solitary confinement, was named "Best Blend of Theater and Activism" in 2019 by the Nashville Scene. As a poet, Shawn creates content and performs regularly for various causes and private events. When he’s not performing, Shawn engages Tennessee-area schools, teaching literacy through spoken word poetry in English classes, as a representative of Southern Word, Inc. He also teaches drama at Nashville Children’s Theatre. Shawn is currently working on the Gideon 2.0 Project, a multi-media initiative elevating the stories of individuals and families who have experienced injustice in Tennessee’s court-appointed counsel system.
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This bio/description was originally published in 2022. For more current information, please refer to the award recipient's website (if provided).