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 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.