Duane Kelly

The world premiere of my play Enquiry Concerning Hereafter runs August 4-27 for 21 performances, as part of the Edinburgh Fringe, the world's largest theatre festival. Producing Enquiry is Panmure House, an international academic institution centered on the…

(This essay, written by Duane Kelly, was originally published July, 2023 by AdamSmithWorks as part of its Speaking of Smith series. Reprinted by permission. Photo is of Kelly at Adam Smith's grave in Edinburgh in 2022.)While travelling in Denmark…

British playwright Tom Stoppard, 85 years old and still working, has long been a hero to me. I would go so far as to declare him our finest living playwright. Leopoldstadt, his latest play, opened in London’s West End…

Last month The New Yorker magazine sent a decree throughout the land that my cartoon caption for its August 29 contest was one of three finalists. I guess the sheer brilliance of “Try using a different can” could not be…

(from an essay by Duane Kelly first published October, 2017; photo of George Souvall by Bella Souvall)Youth who find themselves in challenging circumstances can sometimes catch a break. The fates drop into their path a gift in the guise…

I find myself at a high-water mark in my theatre life. My play Visiting Cezanne is now on as part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the world’s largest theatre festival. I have taken up residence in this lovely city for…

The world premiere of my play Patrimony opens in Seattle May 5, 2022 for eight performances. If you’re in the neighborhood we’d love to see you at the theater.  

Patrimony, a new play whose secrets never seem to end…

A hearty thank-you to all the impassioned staff and volunteers at Burien Actors Theatre! That company’s 2018-19 season just closed out with a four-week run of my play Visiting Cezanne. Attendance was strong with audience response warm and…

My play Visiting Cezanne opens February 15 for a one-month run at Burien Actors Theatre in south Seattle. If you’re in the area I hope you can attend. The play had its premiere one year ago in Seattle.

Visiting Cezanne…

Having grown up in a large Mormon family, I can bear testimony (as a good Mormon might put it on a Sunday) that advising a teenager not to attend Brigham Young University because the socialist professors there will corrupt…

Can you remember when you first heard Darth Vader say the words to Luke: “I am your father.” How did you feel?

A measure of success for many stories is whether they present a major reveal toward the…