Nambi E. Kelley was born in New York City on a Monday to Don and Carol Kelley. Leaving New York at the age of 3, Nambi’s family moved to Chicago where Nambi grew up across the street from Chicago’s Ida B. Wells housing projects. An excellent student, Nambi excelled, and won a full scholarship to the prestigious Theatre School at DePaul University where she studied playwriting. Graduating in 3 years with a bachelor’s of fine arts in playwriting, Nambi embarked upon the professional world of theatre-making, both as a writer and actress.
International acting credits include: Latt Theatre, South Korea, 3 national tours, and Uzikwasa, Tanzania Africa, Stop Aids Keep The Promise, World AIDS Day Theatre Festival.
U.S. regional stage credits include “Nikki Giovanni: New Song For A New Day” (Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago), “Crumbs From The Table Of Joy” (Goodman Theatre, Chicago), “Drowning Crow” (Goodman Theatre, Chicago), “Mirror Of The Invisible World” U/S (Goodman Theatre, Chicago) and “Antigone” (South Coast Repertory Theatre, Los Angeles). Other stage credits include LA Critics Choice Pick, “Joe Turner’s Come And Gone” and “How Kintu Became A Man” (written by Nambi E. Kelley, Ovation Award Nomination) and “For The Love Of Freedom” (Danny Glover’s Robey Theatre Company; 10 NAACP Award Nominations). Television credits include Dragnet (2003) (aka “L.A. Dragnet”) (ABC), City of Angels (2000) (CBS) recurring as “Dr. Keisha Simmons”, Early Edition (1996) (CBS), Cupid (1998) (ABC), Close to Home (2001) (WB Pilot) and Strong Medicine (2000) (Lifetime).
Acting awards and nominations include: Ruby Dee Award, Best Lead Actress in a Comedy/Drama, Chicago’s Black Theatre Alliance; Ruby Dee Award nomination, Best Supporting Actress in a Drama, Chicago’s Black Theatre Alliance.
Ms. Kelley is also an award-winning, published, and produced playwright, including projects for the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and Lincoln Center in New York. Honors include: TCG Candidate for Playwriting, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, 2004-05, Eugene O’Neill Playwrights Conference nomination, 2004, The Chesterfield Writer’s Film Project, Paramount Studios, finalist, 2004; 3 children’s plays commissions for Unibooks, Seoul, Korea, 2004; ACT Theatre/Seattle Repertory Nomination for Women’s Playwright Festival, 2003, Ovation Awards Nominated Production, Los Angeles (How Kintu Became A Man) 2003, Williams College Playwright-in-Residence, 2003 Stalwart Originality, Williamstown, Massachusetts, Peace Maker of the Year Award, The Peace Museum and Ben & Jerry’s Ice cream (Health Works Theatre commissioned violence prevention play), Prop Thtr New Plays Festival (He, She & My White Mama and Bus Boyz), Best Original Writing Nomination (Hoochie Mama), Black Theatre Alliance. Professional affiliations include, The Alliance of Los Angeles Playwrights, The Playwright’s Center Minneapolis, The Dramatists Guild, and playwright-in-residence with Chicago Dramatists and MPAACT.
© 2015 CECELIA DAVIDSON
Webmaster MEDIA NSC
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