Mark Shanahan to become next artistic director at Westport Country Playhouse

The Westport Country Playhouse announced the appointment of Mark Shanahan as artistic director for the 2024-25 season. He will officially assume the artistic director position in March 2024 and succeed Mark Lamos, who announced in May his planned retirement in January 2024 after 15 seasons.

Shanahan is currently the curator of the Playhouse”™s Script in Hand play-reading series and has a diverse background as a writer, director and actor. His plays include “A Sherlock Carol,” “Agatha Christie”™s The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” “A Merry Little Christmas Carol,” “See Monsters of the Deep,” “The Dingdong” and a series of radio plays for the White Heron Ghost Light series.

Lamos”™ final directing work, a new adaptation of the classic thriller, “Dial M for Murder,” is now on stage through July 30.

“The board is just thrilled to partner with Mark in this next chapter,” said Athena Adamson, chairwoman of the Westport Country Playhouse board of trustees. “He brings enthusiasm, talent, and experience, and a deep commitment to the Playhouse, which will be invaluable to us. We really feel he brings the right energy and vision to this theater, and a desire to connect with his audience.”