About Marie Kohler
Marie Kohler is an American playwright, director, writer and producer. Her plays have earned nominations for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize (thrice), the Harold & Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award & Citations, the Playwrights' Center PlayLabs Festival (Semi-Finalist), Abingdon Theatre Reading Series (Finalist), Wisconsin Wrights New Play Festival (twice a Finalist), Todd McNerney Playwriting Award (Finalist), Charlotte Repertory Theatre’s New Play Festival (Finalist) and Playwrights First Best New Play 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 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.
Awards
🏆 Wisconsin Academy Fellows Award (2024)
🏆 “Friend of the Arts”, Milwaukee Arts Board (2020)
🏆 Inkslinger Playwriting Competition, Semi-Finalist for MIDNIGHT AND MOLL FLANDERS (2018)
🏆 Todd McNerney Playwriting Award, Finalist for WITCH HOUSE (2017)
🏆 Wisconsin Wrights New Play Festival, Finalist for WITCH HOUSE (2017)
🏆 Julie Harris Playwright Award, Beverly Hills Theatre Guild, Honorable Mention for A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST (2014)
🏆 Playwrights’ Center PlayLabs Festival, Semi-Finalist for THE DIG (2009)
🏆 Playwrights First Best New Play Award, Semi-Finalist for THE DIG (2009)
🏆 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Nominee for THE DIG (2009)
🏆 “Artist of the Year” Milwaukee Arts Board (2005)
🏆 Abingdon Theatre Reading Series, Finalist for BOSWELL’S DREAMS (2005)
🏆 Milwaukee Magazine’s Best of the Year for BOSWELL’S DREAMS (2005)
🏆 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Nominee for BOSWELL’S DREAMS (2005)
🏆 Wisconsin Wrights New Play Festival, Finalist for BOSWELL’S DREAMS (2005)
🏆 Milwaukee Magazine’s Best New Play for MIDNIGHT AND MOLL FLANDERS (2000)
🏆 Harold & Mimi Steinberg / American Theatre Critics Association New Play Award & Citations, Nominee for COUNTING DAYS (1995)
🏆 New Play Festival, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, Finalist for COUNTING DAYS (1995)
🏆 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Nominee for COUNTING DAYS (1995)