Shaun Neblett

Shaun wrote a play that was produced Off-Broadway @ The Public Theater when he was 19.

He graduated from New York University with a BFA in Dramatic Writing 3 years later. Despite another Off-Broadway production, Shaun became dismayed with the representation of Black stories and characters in the American theater.

Shaun started producing & marketing his own work to build an artistic community and ecosystem he couldn’t find in commercial theater.

He is most revered for writing plays that value the layers of hip-hop culture. Plays from Shaun’s “7 Homages for 7 MCs” , a suite of original plays that originate from the spirit of classic hip-hop albums have been presented throughout the nation.

In 2010 Shaun founded Changing Perceptions, an education and independent theater production company.

Changing Perceptions Theater (CPT) has produced original dramatic works by over 50 emerging BIPOC writers. The company is also known for introducing the performing arts to youth in schools and on parole throughout New York City and Newark, NJ.

In 2021 Shaun opened Bed-Stuy Art House, a centralized space for independent creatives to showcase their work.

Bed-Stuy Art House is dedicated to supporting independent go-getters in any stage of their journey; by offering affordable, no-frills space in the heart of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn. In its first year, 37 artists produced their own first-ever solo exhibitions in our 650-square foot space.

In 2025, Shaun became the inaugural Director of Programming at Queens Theatre.

As the inaugural Director of Programming at Queens Theatre, Shaun leads the institution’s artistic and public programming strategy, designing experiences that connect artists, audiences, and communities across one of the world’s most diverse boroughs. His work spans public festivals, artist development initiatives, community partnerships, and interdisciplinary cultural programming that expands access to the arts while strengthening the theatre’s role as a civic anchor. Through this work, Shaun is helping shift the civic posture of Queens Theatre—from a venue that presents performances to a cultural institution that serves as an essential gathering place for the people of Queens.

Bio

Shaun Neblett is a playwright, producer, and program director whose career has been dedicated to creating experiences that connect artists, institutions, and the communities they serve.

In 2025, Shaun became the inaugural Director of Programming at Queens Theatre, where he leads the theatre's public programming strategy and develops initiatives that strengthen the institution's relationship with one of the most diverse communities in the world. His work brings together artists, neighborhood organizations, businesses, and civic partners to create programs that welcome new audiences while deepening the theatre's connection to Queens.

That work is the culmination of a career spent exploring how the arts can build stronger communities.

Shaun began as a classroom teacher in New York City's public and Catholic schools, teaching students from elementary school through youth on probation. Those experiences shaped his understanding of how creative expression can help people find their voice and inspired him to found Changing Perceptions Theater in 2010. Through the organization, he developed theatre education programs that served schools and community organizations throughout New York City and Newark, using performance to encourage dialogue, confidence, and personal growth.

As a playwright, Shaun's career began at nineteen when his play This Is About a Boy's Fears premiered Off-Broadway at The Public Theater's Joseph Papp Theater, earning recognition from The New York Times, The Village Voice, and Time Out New York. Since then, his work has been presented at institutions including the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and Weeksville Heritage Center. His acclaimed series 7 Homages for 7 MCs, inspired by landmark hip-hop albums, examines Black history and contemporary life through theatre. Dr. Michael Eric Dyson praised Homage 3: Illmatic as "a great play that evokes a sense of history and intimacy with people who nurture you, surround you, and are a mystery to you."

In 2021, Shaun founded Bed-Stuy Art House, an independent arts space dedicated to helping emerging artists present new work. The organization quickly became a home for independent creatives, providing affordable opportunities for artists to produce exhibitions, performances, and community events while building new audiences outside traditional arts spaces.

Whether leading programming at a major cultural institution or creating opportunities through his own organizations, Shaun's work is grounded in the belief that the arts can bring people together in meaningful ways. Across every role, he has remained committed to creating programs that expand access, strengthen communities, and invite people not only to experience culture, but to see themselves as part of it.