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Marie Kohler

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BIO

Marie Kohler is an American playwright, director, writer and producer. Her plays have earned nominations for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize (twice), the American Theatre Critics Association’s “Best New Regional Play,” the Playwrights’ Center Lab (Finalist), Abingdon Award, Wisconsin Wrights (twice), Todd McNerney Playwriting Award, Charlotte Repertory Theater Award and Playwrights’ First Award (semi-finalist).

Her play BOSWELL captured four-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and went on to a sold-out Off-Broadway run at 59E59 Theaters (2022). MIDNIGHT AND MOLL FLANDERS, among her other plays, earned “Best of the Year” reviews. Her published plays include A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST, BOSWELL and MIDNIGHT AND MOLL FLANDERS.

Kohler co-founded Milwaukee’s women-run Renaissance Theaterworks and served as Co-Artistic Director and Resident Playwright for 20 years. Milwaukee Arts Board named her “Artist of the Year” and “Friend of the Arts.” In 2024, Kohler was elected a Fellow by the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters.

She received her BA at Harvard University (Magna Cum Laude) and her MA at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Kohler has served on the Wisconsin Humanities Board and currently serves on University of Wisconsin-Parkside Arts Board. She is also deeply committed to environmental conservation. Marie and her actor husband Brian Mani live in Spring Green and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

News


Marie Kohler's Play MIDNIGHT AND MOLL FLANDERS Released by Dramatic Publishing

Dramatic Publishing released MIDNIGHT AND MOLL FLANDERS by Marie Kohler. Learn more about the play!
Marie Kohler's BOSWELL Has Been Published By Dramatic Publishing 

Award-winning Wisconsin playwright Marie Kohler has announced that her play BOSWELL has just been published by Dramatic Publishing and is now available to individuals and theaters everywhere to produce.
Playwright Marie Kohler's BOSWELL Released by Dramatic Publishing

Marie Kohler's play BOSWELL, previously staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Off-Broadway's 59E59 Theaters, is now published by Dramatic Publishing and available for production by individuals and theaters.
Full Cast & Creative Team Announced for BOSWELL at 59E59 Theaters

59E59 Theaters and MHK Productions announced casting for Boswell by Marie Kohler (The Dig) and directed by Laura Gordon (She Stoops to Conquer). Boswell begins previews November 12, 2022, in Theater C and opens November 16 for a run through December 4, 2022.
59E59 Theaters Announces Fall 2022 Season & 1st Three Shows for Winter 2023 - OFF PEAK, THE JOURNEY OF JAZZ & More

59E59 Theaters has announced their Fall 2022 Season, and the first three productions for their Winter 2023 Season. The Fall 2022 Season will begin with Boswell, presented by MHK Productions. The 59E59 Winter 2023 Season will begin with The Immortal Jellyfish Girl, presented by Wakka Wakka.
Playwright Marie Kohler to Discuss Her Play BOSWELL at Boswell Book Company This Month

Marie Kohler will appear at Boswell Book Company on Monday, September 19, 6:30 pm to talk about her play Boswell and to present scene readings from the play with director Laura Gordon and American Players Theatre actors Brian Mani and Ty Fanning.
Renaissance Theaterworks Announces 30th Season

With 'Resilient' as the theme for their 30th season, Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW), “Theater by Women, for Everyone,” recently announced the plays and schedule for 2022-23. Performances take place in their new artistic home at 255 South Water St., and tickets, as well as season subscriptions, will be available to purchase on April 20, 2022.
Baumgartner and Quadracci Harned Family Team Up to Help Milwaukee Rep

Milwaukee Repa??a??a??a??a??a??a?? announce the Donald & Donna Baumgartner and Elizabeth Quadracci Harned Family Double-Down for Artists Challenge. Both families are teaming up to match dollar for dollar every new or increased gift up to $50,000 providing support to Milwaukee Repertory Theater's terrific and talented artists that have been impacted by COVID-19.
Milwaukee Rep Brings Theater From 'Our Home to Your Home'

While the stages remain dark during the COVID-19 global pandemic, Milwaukee Rep is rallying its creative resources to bring the world-class theater audiences have come to know and love directly into homes.
Renaissance Theaterworks' Presents HAPPY DAYS, By Samuel Beckett

Renaissance Theaterworks will continue its 27th season of a?oeTransformationa?? with Samuel Beckett's 1961's modern masterpiece, HAPPY DAYS. Through Winnie and her relationship with husband Willie, the play explores a world that appears to consist of pointless or misunderstood communication, that seems to lack purpose and direction, and yet, reminds us that in the midst of despair, we survive, find inner strength, and continue to look for hope and salvation.
BWW Interview: Support Women in the Arts Now: SWANS Soar With Regal Recognition for Milwaukee Theater

n an evening to honor women and their contributions to the arts, Milwaukee's Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) announced their 25th anniversary season while Support Women in the Arts Now, or SWAN, on Monday, March 27, immediately after a Milwaukee weekend dedicated to women in the arts. The month and date's significance mattered. Saturday, March 25 celebrated the 10th International SWAN holiday, and since the organization's inception, over 1500 SWAN events have been held in more than 36 countries. As the www.womensart.org website claims, the ultimate purpose of these SWAN events 'showcases the power and diversity of women's creativity.'
BWW Review: MCT Romances Friendship and Poetry in Ruhl's DEAR ELIZABETH

The romance of letter writing centers Milwaukee Chamber Theatre's (MCT) Midwest premiere of Dear Elizabeth. Playwright Sarah Ruhl's character study of Pulitzer Prize winners Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell carries the two writers through their 30 plus year friendship, the ups and downs in producing award winning poetry while maintaining personal relationships.
MCT's DEAR ELIZABETH Begins Tonight

Take an intimate look at the 30-year friendship between poets Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell in DEAR ELIZABETH, tonight, September 23 - October 18, 2015.
MCT's DEAR ELIZABETH to Run 9/23-10/18

Take an intimate look at the 30-year friendship between poets Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell in DEAR ELIZABETH, September 23 - October 18, 2015. Milwaukee Chamber Theatre continues its 2015-2016 Season with a moving and innovative play by Sarah Ruhl, under the direction of Marie Kohler and starring real-life married couple Carrie Hitchcock and Norman Moses. DEAR ELIZABETH performs in the Broadway Theatre Center's Studio Theatre in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.
BOEING BOEING, LOVE STORIES, SLOWGIRL and More Set for MCT's 2015-16 Season

Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (MCT) announces its 41st season, with the theme of 'Looking for Love (in all the wrong places).' The 2015-2016 Season will feature five exciting productions performed at the Broadway Theatre Center in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.
BWW Reviews: RTW'S THE KREUTZER SONATA Unleashes a Man's and Music's Passion

'Forgive me,' asks the bearded, finely dressed older man appearing on stage. He rests on a red velvet seat in a train compartment during the late 1800's and empties his pockets one by one and mentions, 'A white silk handkerchief brushed with red lips has not been washed in over a year...' Thus begins the one man performance by iconic Milwaukee actor James Pickering in Renaissance Theaterwork's adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's The Kruetzer Sonata on stage in the Studio Theater. Written by Tolstoy as a novella in 1889 when the story was often banned and unpublished, Nancy Harris reinterpreted Tolstoy's text from the original Russian. She focuses on the philosophical and psychological drama the main character, Pozdynyshev agonizes over when he has recently been acquitted for murder after a year in prison.
BWW Previews: Tyne Daly Illuminates Passion for Women's Theater

Tyne Daly devotees united in Milwaukee on Wednesday, November 12 when the incomparable and irrepressible actress performed her 90 minute show titled Tyne Daly Does Anything She Wants. Close ties to the Midwestern city inspired the multiple Emmy and Tony Award winning actress to lend her incredible talent for funding Renaissance Theaterworks, a company supporting women's voices in every area of the theater for more than 20 years.
Renaissance Theaterworks Stages THE BELLE OF AMHERST, Now thru 11/10

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) presents the 1st show of its 21st season THE BELLE OF AMHERST a play based on the life of Emily Dickinson. Directed by Suzan Fete, featuring Jenny Wanasek. Running tonight, October 18 - November 10, 2013 at the Studio Theatre, 158 N. Broadway.
Renaissance Theaterworks to Stage THE BELLE OF AMHERST, 10/18-11/10

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) presents the 1st show of its 21st season THE BELLE OF AMHERST a play based on the life of Emily Dickinson. Directed by Suzan Fete, featuring Jenny Wanasek. Running October 18 - November 10, 2013 at the Studio Theatre, 158 N. Broadway. Tickets can be purchased for $36 (fee & taxes not included) in person at the Broadway Theatre Center Box Office, by telephone at (414) 291-7800, or online at www.r-t-w.com.
Renaissance Theaterworks Hosts Party to Celebrate 20th Season Tonight, 9/13

Renaissance Theaterworks (RTW) the only women-founded, women-run theater company in the Milwaukee community celebrates its 20th season tonight, September 13th, at 7pm.

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