Sean Philip Harrington - (1967 - Present)
Sean Harrington grew up in Kansas City for most of his primary and secondary education, attending the newly created Sumner Academy of Arts & Science magnet in downtown Kansas City, Kansas in the early 1980's. In addition to his core coursework, he studied art, drafting, and theatre, in the latter case working with the great James K. Shepherd. Favorite roles there included Clive in Five Finger Exercise, Elis in Easter, Khlestakov from The Inspector General, and Adam from The Diary of Adam & Eve. His high school theatrical peers included Tony Arnone, Scott Shaw, Holly (Krump) Shaw, Thomas Schmidt, Mark Henessey, and Amy Southerland. For his senior year internship, he worked with the Kansas City Reportory Theatre (formerly Missouri Rep) on the UMKC campus, and with the WYCO Players at the Kansas City Kansas Community College.
After high school he moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma and became a member of the American Theatre Company, run by Kitty Roberts. Favorite roles included Orin in Little Shop of Horrors, Neil Tilden in 1940's Radio Hour, Ray in Lone Star, and Fred in A Christmas Carol. His peers there included scenic designer Richard Ellis, performers Greg Roach, Randy Whalen, Melanie Fry, and Jeannie Tripplehorn. After Ellis encouraged him to audition for California Institute of the Arts in 1987, Sean left Tulsa for Los Angeles.
While at CalArts, Sean studied both acting and technical theatre, in addition to graphic and industrial design. Financial and creative differences prompted his departure in 1990, when he transitioned to the corporate world. His previous love of computers and interest in technical things provided a framework within which a career in Information Technology took root, but his love of entertainment and theatre still persisted. Sean spent roughly ten years as a programmer and systems analyst within the managed health care arena, and then another five years in the field of biotech.
His interest in theatre resurfaced in early 2001 when he and his wife, Marya started 1STAGE Productions, a children's theatre production company, geared towards providing theatrical experience to western San Fernando Valley children in the absence of arts programs in the public schools. Their children were also at an age where they were becoming interested in theatre as well, so it was an activity in which they could all participate.
As Marya was able to transition out of corporate life to directing and producing children's theatre full time, she urged Sean to pursue his theatrical interests as well. In 2004 he auditioned for the role of Orin (et al) in Ojai Art Center Theatre's production of Little Shop of Horrors, a role he had played previously. There he met Tom Eubanks, a director and producer. Fearing that he might not be cast, Sean offered his assistance on the show, just so he could be involved in any way with the production. Eubanks was impressed with his scenic design and familiarity with the production elements, offering him not only the Technical Director position, but also the role of Orin (et al), and eventually the Voice of Audrey II when that performer became ill. The base set was even re-used for Ojai ACT's next show, A Christmas Carol.
Eubanks then worked to get Sean involved with the Elite Theatre Company of Oxnard, where he was serving as Artistic Director. Sean designed the set for ETC's 2005 productions of Nevada Belle and The Cocktail Hour. Again the set for The Cocktail Hour was reused for the subsequent production of A Delicate Balance. Sean then stepped into the role of director for Nuncrackers when the previous director was unavailable. He designed the set and lights for that show as well, and was hired in 2006 to serve as ETC's Technical Director. He also joined ETC's Board of Directors in late 2005.
It was ETC's Nuncrackers that gave him the ability to pursue directing, something he'd always enjoyed but had few chances to explore. He started a practice of maintaining a director's Blog for the show, serving as both a production diary and a means of communication to those involved with or interested in the show. He started a practice of recording the readthrough so that performers would have a tool that would allow them to practice their lines more readily.
Seeking a venue closer to home, Sean then became friends with several members of the Conejo Players Theatre in Thousand Oaks, California. Many of these very talented people had been performing at the theatre since their teens, so he nicknamed them "The Conejo Kids". His peers included Arryck Adams, Shawn Lanz, Erin Fagundes, Diedre and Dave Parmenter, and Celeste and Aaron van Etten. He auditioned for Charlotte's Web and was given the role of Lurvy, the farmhand.
In the spring of 2006, Sean production on ETC's Godspell. Using the relationships he'd developed over the past two years, he was able to pull together a fantastic production team, positioning Godspell as one of the most popular productions in Ventura County for 2006. The production featured new arrangements by Alex Lacamoire and Dan Schachner, integrated Stomp-style percussion, theatrical masks, and other stagings suited to the intimate space of the Petit Playhouse. Sean also made extensive use of a director's blog as a communication tool for cast and crew. The completed blog is still available here.
2007 brought his directorial debut with Conejo Players, directing Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, adapted and reset on an island off of the central California coastal town of Cambria. Sean also designed sets for both of Conejo Players's 2007 childrens productions, Schoolhouse Rock, LIVE! and Once on This Island, Jr.
In 2008, Sean returned more specifically to performing, and became involved with the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. He played Max in The Sound of Music, Harold in The Full Monty, and Sylvia St. Croix in Ruthless! The Musical. He designed the set for SimiARTS summer production of Little Women. After a brief hiaitus, he then played Roger DeBris in The Producers.
In early 2009, the 501-c-3 filing was complete, and the non-profit 1STAGE Repertory was a reality. With a board comprised primarily of the parents of children who have been involved in productions, the group is targeting having its own space by November 2009, and will produce twelve shows a year: six childrens productions and six mainstage shows. Sean will serve as artistic director for the mainstage shows, but will continue to design sets for other area groups. His portfolio website is at spharrington.com.