23/1 a play by Shawn Whitsell

Showtime: 7:30 pm

Doors: 7:00 pm

Tickets: $20

23/1 is a solo play written, directed, and performed by Shawn Whitsell.

23/1 tells the story of an imprisoned man struggling to maintain his sanity while enduring the harsh and inhumane conditions of solitary confinement. The title is a reference to the 23 hours an incarcerated person can legally be kept isolated, versus the one of recreation time they're entitled. 

The Nashville Scene named 23/1 “Best Blend of Theater and Activism” in 2019 for its examination of solitary confinement and mass incarceration.

A playwright, actor, producer, and director, Whitsell is also the founder of Destiny Theatre Experience and a longtime community organizer, poet, and teaching artist who facilitates playwriting and spoken word workshops. His work centers on the belief that the arts can transform communities, raise awareness, and spark both social and personal change. 

In addition to his theatre work, Whitsell volunteers in prisons through the School for Alternative Learning and Transformation (SALT), supporting incarcerated individuals through arts and education.

Social Media

Instagram: 

@shawn_whitsell (personal)

@destinytheatreexperience (theatre)

Teaser Video:

https://www.facebook.com/destinytheatreexperience/videos/1289194301265013/

Learn more here:

Nashville Scene: https://local.nashvillescene.com/publication/best-of-nashville/2019/arts-music-and-culture/best-blend-of-theater-and-activism

Stage Critic: http://stagecritic.com/theater-virtue-listening/

Urban Journal News: https://urbanjournalnews.com/2026/03/12/destiny-theatre-experience-presents-23-1-a-solo-play-by-shawn-whitsell/

23/1 a play by Shawn Whitsell

Showtime: 7:30 pm

Doors: 7:00 pm

Tickets: $20

23/1 is a solo play written, directed, and performed by Shawn Whitsell.

23/1 tells the story of an imprisoned man struggling to maintain his sanity while enduring the harsh and inhumane conditions of solitary confinement. The title is a reference to the 23 hours an incarcerated person can legally be kept isolated, versus the one of recreation time they're entitled. 

The Nashville Scene named 23/1 “Best Blend of Theater and Activism” in 2019 for its examination of solitary confinement and mass incarceration.

A playwright, actor, producer, and director, Whitsell is also the founder of Destiny Theatre Experience and a longtime community organizer, poet, and teaching artist who facilitates playwriting and spoken word workshops. His work centers on the belief that the arts can transform communities, raise awareness, and spark both social and personal change. 

In addition to his theatre work, Whitsell volunteers in prisons through the School for Alternative Learning and Transformation (SALT), supporting incarcerated individuals through arts and education.

Social Media

Instagram: 

@shawn_whitsell (personal)

@destinytheatreexperience (theatre)

Teaser Video:

https://www.facebook.com/destinytheatreexperience/videos/1289194301265013/

Learn more here:

Nashville Scene: https://local.nashvillescene.com/publication/best-of-nashville/2019/arts-music-and-culture/best-blend-of-theater-and-activism

Stage Critic: http://stagecritic.com/theater-virtue-listening/

Urban Journal News: https://urbanjournalnews.com/2026/03/12/destiny-theatre-experience-presents-23-1-a-solo-play-by-shawn-whitsell/

What’s the reading about?

The story of the repentant thief in the Bible focuses primarily on the crucifixion at Calvary. The

character’s name is Dathan, although the Biblical accounts do not name either of the

criminals. The Man on the Middle Cross - A New Musical, includes but goes beyond that event

alone, exploring the life of the repentant thief and how he ended up crucified with Jesus and

the other criminal. It is a storyline that weaves Biblical events with imagination, i.e., what might

have happened leading to that gruesome day. However, the story does not end there! The

repentant thief finds himself at the gates of heaven, just as Jesus said, but the angels will not

grant him entry without a coherent explanation.

A brief history of the musical. Yes, very brief.

In 2023, two minutes from a 45-minute sermon inspired an idea for a song. A song was written

and professionally critiqued by multiple reviewers, who stated, “but we all agreed that it would

be PERFECT for a theatre production a la Jesus Christ Superstar.” The long writing process began,

and in the meantime, the song won an award in an international songwriting competition.

Over the past three years, the musical has undergone many changes, including song, scene,

character, and storyline additions and deletions. We have also had many independent reviews

of the story, dialogue, and music/lyrics from dramaturgs, actors, directors, and other interested

parties. The piece has been worked and reworked many times over on paper, and now it's time

to see what really works - on stage. The time is right. We are ready for a staged reading!

You can help shape the musical’s development.

At the end of the reading, you’ll have an opportunity to provide feedback to the creative team

about the musical in a talk-back session. Music, lyrics, dialogue, pacing, character arcs, and

anything else musical theatre are all up for discussion.

Fundraiser for “Unreached Things”

Friday August 28th, 2026 

From 8pm-10pm 

$25/ticket 

“I have some exciting news to share! My original play, Unreached Things, has been selected to be produced Off-Broadway this fall as part of Circle Festival at RJ Theatre in New York City.

This story, which explores grief, love, and learning how to move forward when the road feels uncertain, will receive six performances in Manhattan. Even more special, I’ll be taking this journey alongside Chattanooga actress Cortney Warner, who will be performing in the production.

While this opportunity has my name on it, it truly belongs to the community that helped make it possible. Every director, actor, mentor, audience member, friend, family member, and fellow artist who has encouraged me along the way has played a part in this moment. Chattanooga has been my artistic home, and I am proud to carry a story born here to one of the largest theatre hubs in the world.

As exciting as New York is, our goal isn’t simply to take Unreached Things there, it’s to bring it back home. We hope to learn, grow, build new connections, and return to Chattanooga with an even stronger production to share with the community that has invested so much in us.

We’re currently raising funds to help make this opportunity possible. If you’d like to support us, we’d be incredibly grateful. Every donation, no matter the size, helps two Chattanooga artists represent our city and share local storytelling with a wider audience. And if donating isn’t possible, sharing this post is a meaningful way to support the journey as well.

Thank you for believing in local artists, new work, and the power of theatre to bring people together. We are honored by your support and excited to take Chattanooga with us to New York, and then bring that experience back home!”