Artists in Residence – Judith Shotwell & Mary Sutton

October 5 – 10, 2026

Under Baba’s direction, masts perform in the play “Raja Gopichand” in September 1938

 

Meher Baba said of God, “He is the Creator, the Producer, the Actor and the Audience in His own Divine Play.” And in His compassion — so that we may please Him — He allows us to take on those roles most wonderfully too, through the art of theatre.

From the earliest days, His followers — women and men both, sometimes even the masts — often entertained Him with skits and plays. Plays continue to be a centerpiece of celebration among Baba’s lovers — performed for Mehera’s birthday, for Baba’s birthday, and simply as a way of joyous communion in Meherabad and around the world.

Join Judith Shotwell and Mary Sutton as they share how Baba influenced their journeys with this ancient art form and give you a taste of the skills that make theatre so delightful, revealing, and relevant on the path of Love.

Please scroll down for the schedule.

          About the artists:

Judith first saw Meher Baba’s name in graffiti painted by exuberant returnees from the 1969 Darshan. He has been reeling her in ever since. One of His most powerful lures has been a love of theatre: in the mid-1970s a dear Baba friend happened to recommend an acting class at Atlanta’s Academy Theatre. It was the beginning of an unexpected career in theatre and music — first as a long-time professional member of the Academy’s resident company (acting, playwriting, directing, and educating), then as a free-lance theatre artist, and finally as the founding artistic director of Circle of Love (using harp and voice to support the dying). By His Grace the means were often there for numerous trips to India, which gave many sweet opportunities to perform for the Mandali and His Lovers in Meherabad and Meherazad. What a gift now to introduce Meher Center participants to some of the challenges and joys along the path of theatre.

 

Mary trained under Stella Adler in New York, then at Harvard’s American Repertory Theatre — until she came to know the Beloved, Meher Baba, and everything turned. Out of love for Him, she left theatre’s traditional stage for theatre as service, joining teachers and teaching artists to build the education departments of two Tony Award-winning theatres — TheatreWorks in Silicon Valley and Houston’s Alley Theatre — carrying theatre into children’s hospitals, rural settings, juvenile detention facilities, conservatories, and classrooms, and performing and teaching acting at Meherazad along the way. The shift was, in truth, an offering to Him, revealing that the spiritual and theatrical disciplines overlap: an actor’s presence is a journey toward wholeness; an ensemble’s trust is a willingness to be shaped by others rather than alone; a director’s eye listens for what a person or community needs to hear. These departments reached hundreds of thousands of students, teachers, and families, and often, a poem or play became the first time someone had ever been fully seen, heard, and loved — glimpses, in every room, of what lives in all of us: Him.

Baba loves a full room and a present heart — come on time, whole-hearted, and ready to join in.

Please arrive a few minutes early so we can start together. Save side-conversation for outside class. Bring a beach towel or mat if you’d like to sit or stretch on the floor. Wear clothes easy to move in.

Monday, October 5th  

7:15 p.m. – The Meeting Place

It’s All His Play – Wendy Haynes Connor interviews guest artists Mary Sutton and Judith Shotwell about their lives in theatre with Meher Baba, and we preview the week ahead. Then — as Baba, the mandali, and visitors so often enjoyed — we close the evening with Charades!

 

Tuesday, October 6th 

 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 pm – The Meeting Place

Loosening Up, Jumping In!  –  We already have the actor’s tools —breath, body, and voice. Let’s use them more fully, freely and playfully — attending to the moment, in group or solo. Easy peasy.

 

Wednesday, October 7th

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – The Meeting Place

A ‘Poetic’ Walk with Eruch – Join us, or just watch. Mary shares the story of a walk with Eruch that turned her artistic path. Then, together: explore trust and listening the actor’s way. No worry, — no experience necessary.

3:00 p.m.  – 4:00 p.m.  – Original Kitchen

Tea Break

4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – The Meeting Place

Sailing By Night – Journey into the mysterious realms where music, humor, grief, death, love and beauty intersect. “A much needed poke to the heart.” Written and performed by Judith. 45 minute video, with optional Q&A.

 

Thursday, October 8th

 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – The Meeting Place

And Still Yet More – Going further with improvised collaborating. Introducing elements of text, song, prayer—going to where our choices take us. Easy peasy on a whole ‘nother level (and fun!)

7:15 pm – 8:30 p.m. – The Dilruba Reading Room

Dear Baba—It’s Me Again – We all carry ‘that’ voice — the one that chatters to Baba, telling Him the silly everyday stuff. We’ll explore that: a funny complaint, a ridiculous worry, something you’d only admit to Him. We begin with prompts, listen for our whimsy, and share a laugh at our commonalities.

 

Friday, October 9th  

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – The Dilruba Reading Room

Dear Baba – It’s Me Again (Continued) – We continue shaping the last workshop’s material. What comes of it can be shared with the community, or kept just for you. Newcomers welcome.

 7:15 p.m. – The Meeting Place

Backstage Stories – An evening of unrehearsed stories. Tales of the moments our art carried us closer to Baba or Baba carried us closer to our art.

 

Saturday, October 10th

2:00 p.m. – The Dilruba Reading Room

Informal Talk –  Judith Shotwell will share more of her Baba story.

7:15 p.m. – 8:30 pm – The Meeting Place

A Community Baba Happening – A lighthearted sharing of the week’s highlights. Come as you are, no experience needed. We’ll sample the week’s explorations: group collaborations, Dear Baba letters, and work from some community actors.