CREATING IMMERSIVE WORLDS
Sean Cawelti is a Los Angeles-based Creative Director specializing in immersive theater, opera, and experience design.
With over 20 years of experience, Sean is known for crafting participatory and visually dynamic experiences that seamlessly blend traditional storytelling forms—such as puppetry, mask work, and dance—with cutting-edge technologies like video mapping, live camera feeds, and illusion design. His work is defined by a passion for transforming unconventional spaces into immersive worlds that captivate audiences and push the boundaries of live entertainment.
Sean holds a BA in Drama with honors in Directing from the University of California, Irvine, and has furthered his puppetry education at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. His early fascination with puppetry, which began at the age of four, has been a cornerstone of his career. He is a member USA 829, Puppeteers of America and the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry.
For over 20 years, Sean served as the Artistic Director of Rogue Artists Ensemble, leading the creation of multiple award-winning productions that merged traditional storytelling with emergent technology. In September 2024, Sean transitioned from Rogue Artists Ensemble to focus fully on freelance creative direction, working across a wide range of projects, from large-scale immersive experiences to intimate performances.
His work has earned numerous accolades, including the prestigious UNIMA Citation of Excellence for Gogol Project. In 2011, he was selected by the City of Los Angeles’ Cultural Affairs Department for an artist residency in Brazil, where he studied woodcarving and Candomblé, a syncretic religion rooted in African and Catholic traditions. Sean was also honored with the 2015 Sherwood Award from Center Theater Group for his innovative contributions to theater direction.
Sean’s directing work has been showcased at leading institutions such as the Getty Villa, South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, REDCAT, The Geffen Playhouse, and the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. His design expertise has been sought after for a wide array of projects, including theater, music videos, museum exhibits, and major arena tours, notably Kanye West’s Yeezus tour.
Sean holds a BA in Drama with honors in Directing from the University of California, Irvine, and has furthered his puppetry education at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. His early fascination with puppetry, which began at the age of four, has been a cornerstone of his career. He is a member USA 829, Puppeteers of America and the Los Angeles Guild of Puppetry.
For over 20 years, Sean served as the Artistic Director of Rogue Artists Ensemble, leading the creation of multiple award-winning productions that merged traditional storytelling with emergent technology. In September 2024, Sean transitioned from Rogue Artists Ensemble to focus fully on freelance creative direction, working across a wide range of projects, from large-scale immersive experiences to intimate performances.
His work has earned numerous accolades, including the prestigious UNIMA Citation of Excellence for Gogol Project. In 2011, he was selected by the City of Los Angeles’ Cultural Affairs Department for an artist residency in Brazil, where he studied woodcarving and Candomblé, a syncretic religion rooted in African and Catholic traditions. Sean was also honored with the 2015 Sherwood Award from Center Theater Group for his innovative contributions to theater direction.
Sean’s directing work has been showcased at leading institutions such as the Getty Villa, South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, REDCAT, The Geffen Playhouse, and the Center for Puppetry Arts in Atlanta. His design expertise has been sought after for a wide array of projects, including theater, music videos, museum exhibits, and major arena tours, notably Kanye West’s Yeezus tour.
