Matthew Cole Kelly

Playwright|Librettist| Lyricist | Storyteller

New York City | Dublin

Matthew Cole Kelly is a queer playwright, librettist, lyricist, and screenwriter whose work has been produced and developed throughout the US and world, garnering nominations for over twenty awards and honors. Previous developmental credits include Abingdon Theatre, Luna Stage, Metropolitan Playhouse, HRC Showcase Theatre, AboutFACE Ireland, the NJ Play Lab, California’s Talk Back Theatre, Loose Change Productions, and Occupy Wall Street, among many others. For a full list of awards and honors, click here.

RECENT REVIEWS

THE GODS OF THE OZARKS

AboutFACE Ireland | Dublin, 2019

Dir. Anna Nugent

“Matthew Cole Kelly explores profound questions of life and death with a playful touch.”

— The Irish Independent, Ireland’s Largest National Newspaper

“Fantastically written play with compelling ideas and superb production and performances.”

— Hugh Hick, DublinCity FM

“Comedy at its best…entertaining and also has the ability to challenge and to provoke. ”

— Ellen O’Malley Dunlop, Chairperson National Women’s Council of Ireland

Teatro Coccia di Novara | Italy 2019

Dir. Marco Iacomelli

Composer Mátti Kovler

AMI & TAMI

“Born on the alchemy between words and sounds…a contemporary version of the Hansel and Gretel tale has been staged by Novara’s Teatro Coccia with great success. ★★★★★”

— Fabio Larovere, Conessi all’Opera

“The direction of Marco Iacomelli, who made use of the beautiful scenes of Matthew Kelly, was consistent with the libretto…arousing childish surprise.”

— Marco Ubezio. Le Salon Musical.

Works In Development

AMI & TAMI

Matthew Cole Kelly, Mátti Kovler, and Aya Lavie’s opera AMI & TAMI was recently translated into Italian for a production in Italy’s historic 1860-seat Teatro Coccia (see reviews above). Stay tuned for information regarding its international tour!

NJ PLAY LAB RESIDENCY

The NJ Play Lab has chosen Matthew Cole Kelly for its inaugural residency. His new play, WE VICTORIANS, received a 29-hour AEA developmental reading in November, 2019. Stay tuned for future reading/production information!

LETTER OF MARQUE PLAYWRIGHT RESIDENCY

Matthew Cole Kelly was chosen as the Fall 2019 Playwright in Residence of NYC’s Letter of Marque Theater. There, he developed and workshopped THE WAGER, a new play that explores the faith and fate of 17th-century mathematician-turned-religious-fanatic Blaise Pascal. Set in an underground French casino, the immersive piece allows audiences to influence the structure and conclusion of each performance, with over 600 unique play structures possible.

Matthew Cole Kelly’s new essay, APOLLO’S CREED, has been published by Read650.

Photo Credits (From top): (1, 3, 4 and 5) Tad Morari (@tad.films), (2) Beau Bernatchez and Emma Kate Rothenberg-Ware, (6) Mark Gurevich, Captured from earlier incarnation/production of AMI&TAMI; (7) Retrato de familia Fagoga Arozqueta - Anónimo ca.1730.jpg / Wikipedia, edited; (8) Olybrius, Français : Clermont-Ferrand (Puy-de-Dôme, France) - Rue Blaise Pascal, Wikipedia, Edited; (9) Pixabay and Read650, edited.

performers/artists (from top):(1) Maureen O’Connell, Kathleen Warner Yeates, and Mark Tankersley; (2) Lea Elisha and Parhām Haghighi (3) Paul Nugent and Darina Gallagher; (4) Helena White; (5) David ryan; (6) Giulia Diomede, Marta Noè, and Enea Lorenzoni; (7) the cast and crew of AMI e TAMI, Teatro Coccia di Novara, November 2019. Front row from left: Silvana Isolani, DIrector Marco Iacomelli, Composer Mátti Kovler, COnductor Marco Alibrando, Choreographer Ilaria Suss.