Deborah Bostock-Kelley - Page 6

Deborah Bostock-Kelley

A twice-published author, multi-time award-winning playwright, magazine writer, theatre reviewer, and newspaper journalist with 30+ years in journalism and business copywriting, Deb is not one to shy away from controversial storylines. She was a 2022 Recipient of the Gobioff Foundation Grant, a 2019 Recipient of the inaugural Tampa Bay Theatre Festival Denise Deneen award for her work in theatre, and a 2017 Recipient of Theatre Tampa Bay's Jeff Norton Dream Grant. With the grants, she produced and directed her original production, "Breast Advice," in the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival; she produced and directed (with another educator) their school shooting play, "A Necessary Conversation," at Straz's TECO Theatre with a talkback with leaders in the community with ticket sales donated to Moms Demand Action, Tampa. A Necessary Conversation won Broadway World Tampa's 2018 BEST ACTOR and BEST ACTRESS Awards. In 2020, the play was nominated for BEST ORIGINAL SCRIPT OF THE DECADE. An expanded version of this bullying, mental health, and gun violence drama was showcased during the 2021 Voices of Truth Theatre Festival at Powerstories Theatre, winning CRITIC'S CHOICE and Regional Broadway World's 2022 BEST PERFORMER and BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A STREAMING PLAY.

In the summer of 2019, she reached out to social media for true stories about breasts, from shape and appreciation to size and cancer. In December, she wrote "Breast Advice," a show that workshopped to a standing-room-only audience in Powerstories Theatre and was called "The Vagina Monologues for boobs." A portion of ticket sales was donated to The Affirmations Project, which works with survivors of breast cancer and domestic abuse. The production was accepted into the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival in September 2022 and won Regional Broadway World's 2022 Runner-Up for BEST NEW PLAY OR MUSICAL.

In May 2023, a series of her plays debuted in her sold-out, standing-room-only playwright showcase weekend at Safety Harbor Art and Music Center called Tapestry: A Weekend of Socially-Conscious Storytelling. This featured "Breast Advice" and a full-length new version of her school shooting survivor's play "#NotOneMore." It was a finalist for Creative Loafing's BEST PLAYWRIGHT and a multi-nominee for Broadway World Awards: BEST ENSEMBLE: Breast Advice and #NotOneMore, BEST NEW PLAY OR MUSICAL: # NotOneMore, BEST PLAY: Breast Advice, # NotOneMore, BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY: Me, # NotOneMore, BEST PERFORMER IN A PLAY: #NotOneMore, BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMER IN A PLAY: #NotOneMore.

In September 2023, her one-act LoveYouMore, about the bullying of a transgender girl, was accepted and performed at the Tampa Bay Theatre Festival.

In 2024, #NotOneMore was accepted and will be part of the June 2024 Tampa International Fringe Festival.
www.thewriteonecreativeservices.com/original-plays

Relying solely on word-of-mouth client testimonials, since 2005, Deb has successfully operated the WriteOne Creative Services, a PR, copywriting, graphic, and web design business that offers a larger agency's talent and design/print capabilities without the overhead expense.

Life Amplified, a variety showcase for grassroots charities and the philanthropic side of Deb's writing and design company, celebrates its 10th year in 2024. Deb and Life Amplified have been honored by Bay News 9 Everyday Hero in February 2016 and Fox13 Hometown Heroes in May 2014. With 100% venue donation and talented volunteer performers, Life Amplified has helped fundraise and raise awareness about human trafficking, PSTD, military sexual trauma, bullying, sexual violence prevention, and LGBTQ issues. It has been on hiatus since the pandemic, but is back on September  28, 2024, with an affirming musical spectacular prom aptly called Life Amplified SPECTACULAR at Carrollwood Cultural Center's The Studio, benefitting PFLAG Safety Harbor. www.lifeamplifiedshowcase.com

Like so many she knows, she is an invisible illness warrior. Deb lives her busy life to show others that you can thrive and not have to be your diagnosis.




LEARN MORE ABOUT Deborah Bostock-Kelley

First Show:

Our Town

Favorite Show:

Come From Away

Favorite Stories:



Previews: THE WOLVES at ThinkTank Theatre
Previews: THE WOLVES at ThinkTank Theatre
January 6, 2023

Directed by ThinkTank's Producing Artistic Director, Georgia Mallory Guy, The Wolves features Jaime Giangrande-Holcom, Sydney Reddish, Katie Huettel, Haley Janeda, Jessica Beltran, Iman Bijou, Katie Terres, and Noa Friedman. They are joined by ThinkTank's Young Artist' Ensemble (YAE) auditioned high school students Megan Merritt, Adeline Richardson, Sofia Pickford, and Layla Kuck.

Previews: CRIMES OF THE HEART at American Stage
Previews: CRIMES OF THE HEART at American Stage
January 4, 2023

Set in Hazelhurst, Mississippi in 1974, the play tells the story of the three Magrath sisters dealing with generational trauma and mental health issues. Lenny and Meg band together to support the youngest sister, Babe, who has just gotten out of jail after shooting her husband.

Interview: Deejay Young of HAMILTON at Straz Center
Interview: Deejay Young of HAMILTON at Straz Center
December 8, 2022

Actor Deejay Young said that HAMILTON is a sensation because it is ground-breaking in terms of the approach to music and representation.

Previews: WONDERFUL LIFE (ONE-MAN SHOW) at American Stage Pop Up
Previews: WONDERFUL LIFE (ONE-MAN SHOW) at American Stage Pop Up
December 6, 2022

While it is not a regular occurrence to add a show mid-season, new producing artistic director Helen Murray wanted to do something fresh for the holidays. She and Jason Lott co-adapted the familiar story. Helen is directing what has been described as 'a stripped-down, raw, and emotional look at George Bailey's life.'

Previews: LIGHTS, CAMERA, CHRISTMAS! at Hillsborough High School Theater
Previews: LIGHTS, CAMERA, CHRISTMAS! at Hillsborough High School Theater
December 5, 2022

The audience should expect a tap-dancing spectacular featuring Tampa Bay's premier tap company, Rhythm, and Sole, with the new Youth Tap Crew. Performers will be dancing, singing, and acting in scenes from 'Elf,' 'Polar Express,' and 'The Grinch.'

Previews: SANTA'S ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE at Straz' Teco Theatre
Previews: SANTA'S ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE at Straz' Teco Theatre
November 29, 2022

Twenty-two Patel Conservatory students, ages 10 to 18, perform in this action-packed holiday play, assisted by eight apprentices. The student apprentices design most of the show, from full costumes to the colorful video-game-influenced set.

Previews: PLAID TIDINGS at Straz Center
Previews: PLAID TIDINGS at Straz Center
November 21, 2022

In this sequel, a heavenly phone call from Rosemary Clooney inspires The Plaids to return for a posthumous Christmas performance to bring a little harmony to a discordant world. With music from the 50s and 60s combined with traditional holiday standards, this “heaven-sent” holiday confection promises to fill the audience with nostalgia for a bygone era.

Previews: THE NIGHT BEFORE at FreeFall Theatre Company
Previews: THE NIGHT BEFORE at FreeFall Theatre Company
November 21, 2022

The Night Before imagines four friends snowed in Florida on December 23. They make the best of an odd weather situation, gathering around the piano for a night of fun, music, and games, accompanied by a surly house cat named Stephen Sondheim.

Previews: A NUMBER at Off-Central Players
Previews: A NUMBER at Off-Central Players
November 11, 2022

'Most every script you pick up begins with some sort of description, by the author, about the setting, time, place, etc. With A Number, Ms. Churchill gave us three words: ‘Where Salter Lives’ - that throws the door open to virtually any possibility,' said junior director Alan Mohney.

Previews: A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2 at Tampa Repertory Theatre
Previews: A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2 at Tampa Repertory Theatre
November 8, 2022

Under the direction of Stephanie Gularte, this award-winning comedy features a recognized cast of L. Peter Callender (Torvald), Emilia Sargent (Nora), Karla Hartley (Anne Marie), and Bria Matthews (Emmy.)

Previews: ARTS LEGACY REMIX PROJECT: SELEBRASYON AYISYEN at Straz Center
Previews: ARTS LEGACY REMIX PROJECT: SELEBRASYON AYISYEN at Straz Center
November 4, 2022

SELEBRASYON AYISYEN will feature live Haitian music, dance, poetry, four visual arts, comedy, and food on the Straz Riverwalk as part of Straz Center's Arts Legacy Remix project.

Previews: THE ABBEY OF THE HOLY LONESOME at Lab Theater Project
Previews: THE ABBEY OF THE HOLY LONESOME at Lab Theater Project
November 3, 2022

You don't want to miss The Abbey of the Holy Lonesome closing weekend at Lab Theater Project on November 4-6. Directed by Katie Calahan, she describes it as a story straight off the pages of a Grimm's Fairy Tale set in the Ozarks.

Previews: RAISING TWELVE ON A NICKEL AND A PRAYER at Powerstories Theatre
Previews: RAISING TWELVE ON A NICKEL AND A PRAYER at Powerstories Theatre
October 18, 2022

Powerstories is partnering with Arts4All Florida, a nonprofit organization that promotes the accomplishments of artists with disabilities. Twelve works by these local artists will be featured online and on the lobby art wall during the musical.

Previews: HEAD OVER HEELS (HIGH SCHOOL EDITION) at Straz Center's Patel Conservatory
Previews: HEAD OVER HEELS (HIGH SCHOOL EDITION) at Straz Center's Patel Conservatory
October 7, 2022

If you lived through the 80s, you have heard of the Go-Gos. Now a new generation of 13-18-year-olds at Patel Conservatory is discovering the pop-rock music. On stage from October 13-16 is the jukebox musical comedy Head Over Heels (High School Edition) featuring the iconic music of the Go-Gos.

Previews: AMERICAN IDIOT at American Stage
Previews: AMERICAN IDIOT at American Stage
September 8, 2022

This frenetic-paced, intense, gritty show follows three disgruntled young men, Johnny, Tunny, and Will, stuck in suburbia, examining the vastly different paths they take and the people they cling to and abandon to find meaning in a post 9/11 world.

Previews: AVENUE Q at Straz Center
Previews: AVENUE Q at Straz Center
August 22, 2022

On stage from August 31 to September 25 is Avenue Q, an edgy Broadway musical with puppets. Now reading this, you may think it's a perfectly innocent story to introduce the kiddies to live theatre. You would be wrong, so very, very wrong.

Previews: STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Powerstories Theatre
Previews: STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Powerstories Theatre
August 5, 2022

Steel Magnolias offers everything you want in a play, a transformative journey, a balance of laugh-out-loud comedy and emotional drama. Despite being set in the 80s, the play's message is timeless. Strong women can endure anything if they have friends to help them through the rough parts.

Previews: SHOWSTOPPERS at Straz Center
Previews: SHOWSTOPPERS at Straz Center
July 29, 2022

Themed 'totally tubular,' the 80s and 90s musical revue, Showstoppers, debuting at Straz Center on August 5 and 6, highlights a time when Donkey Kong and PacMan ruled, cell phones were huge, and women's hair was even bigger. Showstoppers features 36 Patel Conservatory students ages 13-18 and behind-the-scenes, three college technical apprentice interns.

Previews: NUNSENSE: AMEN at Straz Center's Jaeb Theatre
Previews: NUNSENSE: AMEN at Straz Center's Jaeb Theatre
July 8, 2022

NUNSENSE: AMEN stars Matthew McGee as Mother Superior, JS McLaughlin as Sister Mary Hubert, Aaron Castle as Sister Mary Amnesia, Ryan Patrick McLaughlin as Sister Robert Anne, and Jaryn McCann as Sister Mary Leo.

Previews: DUTCHMAN  at American Stage
Previews: DUTCHMAN at American Stage
July 5, 2022

'Dutchman' originally debuted during the Civil Rights movement, but, sadly, this Obie Award-winning play about race and identity continues to be highly relevant.



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