Full Circle Theater Welcomes New Co-Artistic Director Sha Cage

Photographed by Uche Iroegbu 

This fall, Full Circle Theater enthusiastically welcomes Sha Cage as its new Co-Artistic Director. As she joins the company, Sha takes the baton from Co-Founder Rick Shiomi, who will step down from his role after a 10 year commitment to shepherding the company, and who will continue his work as a member of the Core Artist Leadership Group. Sha will join Co-Artistic Director Stephanie Lein Walseth and Managing Director Quinci Bachman, helping to evolve the organization into its second decade of creating transformative theater that centers equity, diversity, and access.

Sha has been called a leading artist of her generation, a trailblazer, and a Renaissance artist. Rick Shiomi says, “Full Circle Theater welcomes Sha’s leadership tenacity and multidisciplinary artistry. She has extensive experience as an artist, leader, producer, and Artistic Director, and is well-versed in both producing and administration. We are excited to bring her leadership to our organization, and to support her as we grow our community connections and artistic impact in the Twin Cities theater landscape and beyond.” 

Stephanie Lein Walseth adds, “Sha’s visionary brilliance, deep community connectedness, richly skilled theater artistry, and indefatigable energy will be an invaluable asset to Full Circle as we step into a new era. We couldn’t be more thrilled that she said “yes” to this role, and we are already seeing the fruits of her dedicated labor. We are soaring on the energy she brings to the work, and we can’t wait for the adventures ahead.”

Sha’s local and national directing credits are expansive, and include The Jumping Off Point by Inda Craig-Galván at the Jungle Theater, Intimate Apparel and Men on Boats at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, 36 Yesses with Cornerstone Theater in Los Angeles, Jocelyn Bioh’s School Girls at Arkansas Rep, Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun at Rochester Rep, Clare Barron’s Dance Nation and Branden Jacob-Jenkins Everybody at the University of MN/BFA Guthrie program, Benjamin Benne’s Neighbors at History Theatre, and Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds at Children’s Theatre Company, and more. 

As a Producer and Artistic Director she co-founded The Million Artist Movement, Mama Mosaic Theater, and The MN Spoken Word Association. Four years ago she founded the MN Artist Coalition whose work positioned a new conversation around racial equity and artist needs, and launched the Blueprint for Equitable Partnerships ©. She has a combined 29 year history championing pathways for artists through Tru Ruts and Catalyst Arts (Tru/Catalyst) and will continue to steward this work.

Sha shares, “The shared leadership model at Full Circle  is one that I have worked well in and deeply believe in. What’s exciting about this moment is a convergence of the right mission, the right people, and the right work that I am honored to hold and lift up.” 

In leadership at Full Circle, her most immediate focuses will be on Strategic Planning, Board Development, and Producing Partnerships. In February 2025, she will help lead Full Circle’s production of Constellations centering disability stories.

Full Circle Theater will open its fall show The Adventures of a Traveling Meskwaki on the heels of the election, with a preview performance on Thursday, November 7th at Park Square Theatre and Opening night on Friday, November 8th. Our community is enthusiastically invited to meet Sha and the rest of the company at the opening night performance. Details at www.fullcircletheater.org.

About Full Circle Theater Company 

Founded in 2014, the mission of Full Circle Theater is to create transformative theater that centers marginalized perspectives, practices equity and access, and engages diverse artists and audiences in the creation of a more socially just world.