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/