Meet The Founders
Shannon is an Associate Professor of Theatre History in the School of Theatre, the Associate Dean of Access and Engagement at the College of Music and Dramatic Art, and the faculty rector for the Visual and Performing Arts residential college at LSU. She is also an actor, director, author, and dramaturg active in both Baton Rouge and LSU.
Before coming to Baton Rouge she served as a grant writer and development director at Penumbra Theatre in Minneapolis. In her eleven years in Baton Rouge she’s helped coordinate relationships between local arts organizations, working with dance and visual artists and poets through the Arts Council and serving as board president at Playmakers for three years, and regular participant in the Arts Council’s Arts Summit.
Shannon Walsh, PhD
Joe is a Baton Rouge born, raised, and educated film producer, arts administrator, and licensed accountant. Joe works full time at Carleton and Company CPAs. This family-run, local tax firm assists in the tax preparation, planning, and financial advisement of many Baton Rouge companies, non-profit entities, and individuals.
While maintaining a steady career in accounting, he juggles film production and arts administration in Louisiana. Since his return to Louisiana in 2023 after producing for BBC, Netflix, and Amazon in NYC, he has produced seven feature films in the Baton Rouge area. Joe has managed operating revenues of over $1 million, led staffs of 30+ employees, and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various Louisiana arts projects. Instagram: @JLCARL
Joe Carleton
Caty is an experienced marketing, development, and events professional with more than a decade of leadership in the arts and nonprofit sector. A Baton Rouge native, she is deeply invested in the region’s cultural landscape and has served on multiple boards and committees dedicated to expanding access to the arts, arts education, and community engagement.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Management, a Master of Arts in Arts Administration, and a Master of Business Administration. With this combination of creative expertise and strategic training, Caty brings a thoughtful, mission-focused approach to her work. Her professional focus centers on strengthening the connection between arts, education, and community impact.
Caty Steward LeJeune
Shea is an actor, filmmaker, educator, and interdisciplinary artist from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Their artistic journey began in theater, training at the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) before earning a B.A. in Theater from Louisiana State University. They later received an M.A. in Film and Television from the Savannah College of Art and Design and an M.F.A. in Theater Arts from the University of Idaho.
In Atlanta, Shea collaborated with filmmakers and artists to create original short films and contributed to independent and commercial productions. Their films have screened at nationally recognized festivals, including the Atlanta Black Film Festival, Pan African Film Festival, Black Harvest Film Festival, International Gullah Film Festival, and Black X Film Festival. Rooted in themes of identity, memory, and Black southern life, Shea’s work draws from both personal and communal histories.
Shea currently serves as faculty in the Film program at Baton Rouge Community College, where they are committed to inclusive pedagogy, community engagement, and student empowerment. As a BRCC alumnus, Shea strives to create accessible, affirming learning spaces that center underrepresented voices and encourage students to embrace storytelling as a tool for transformation.
Shea Stephens
Founder headshots by Charlie Champagne, a creative entrepreneur passionate about photography & design, event production, and community collaboration.