Sean Christopher Lewis’ work in theater spans writing, performing, directing and design.
His solo work has included KILLADELPHIA, winner of the National New Play Network’s Smith Prize, the William Inge Fellowship, a Central Ohio Critic Circle Award, a Barrymore Award and more. It performed across the country at TONY Winning theaters (Baltimore Centerstage), NNPN theaters (Southern Rep, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, Interact Theatre, Horizon Theatre, 16th Street Theatre), Network of Ensemble Theatre’s venues (Touchstone Theatre, Hartbeat Ensemble, CSPS/Legion Arts) prisons (Graterford Prison and Idaho Juvenile Detention Center) and Universities. He followed it with JUST KIDS, which won a Central Ohio Critic Circle Award and made numerous year end lists after a national tour (KO Festival of Performance, Available Light Theatre, Sandglass Theatre and Pontine Theatre). His first solo show was I WILL MAKE YOU ORPHANS (Legion Arts, Hyde Park Theatre, Uno Festival of Solo Performance, 01 Festival, Galapagos Art Space).
He graduated with an MFA in Playwriting from the University of Iowa Playwright’s Workshop. His plays include MANNING UP, ROTTEN EGGNOG, MILITANT LANGUAGE, THE APERTURE, SHATTER THE SKY and GOODNESS which have been performed at Actor’s Summit, Salt Lake Acting Company, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, Orlando Shakespeare, Halcyon Theatre, Cleveland Public Theatre and developed at Playpenn, NYU Hot Ink! and more.
He is the Founding Artistic Director for Working Group Theatre, whose work won the NEFA National Theatre Award, the MetLife New Voices Award and Iowa Humanities Award. They’ve been commissioned by Hancher Auditorium, National Czech Slovak Museum, Luther College, Legion Arts, National Performance Network and Grinnell College. Their work has toured the US and overseas including the Institut Del Teatre, Lied Center, Smith Center, Shea Center and over 30 Performing Arts Centers in the US. Lewis has been the primary director and a creator on their shows MAYBERRY, BROKEN CHORD, OUT OF BOUNDS, ALL RECIPES ARE HOME and THE EVOLUTION OF BRUNO LITTLEMORE.
Lewis has also directed numerous plays as a freelance director including NOW CIRCA THEN (Chester Theatre Company); GHOST STORY (Berkeley Rep Ground Floor); GOAT SHOW (Adirondack Theatre Festival); MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING and MACBETH (Riverside Shakespeare Festival); WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF (Old Creamery); SYRINGA TREE, EARS ON A BEATLE, BLACK AND BLUE, A VIEW FROM A BRIDGE, LUNGS, MARY’S WEDDING, MARION BRIDGE and BAKERSFIELD MIST (Riverside Theatre).
A lifetime ago he was an actor who played Lee in TRUE WEST, Lucentio and Hortensio in TAMING OF THE SHREW, Octavius Caesar in JULIUS CAESAR, B1/B2/Mike in A NUMBER and Joseph in LOVERS at Off Broadway theaters like the Pearl, downtown at La Mama ETC and regionally at Pittsburgh City Theatre, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival, Saratoga Shakespeare, Pittsburgh CLO, Berkshire Theatre Festival and more.
Sean has also served as an educator. He’s been a Lecturer at Skidmore College in the Media and Film Studies Department, a Lecturer of Acting at University at Albany and a guest artist teaching playwriting, acting and directing at Cornell College, University of New Mexico, Southwest Minnesota State University, Johnson State College and more.