w r i t i n g n e w s ! ! !
JUST IN!!
Nambi's critically-acclaimed film short version of, JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM, has been accepted to multiple film festivals including in North Carolina, Los Angeles, Paris, 2 festivals in India, and will be screened in Africa in November 2022!
JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM, the live version, was named 1 of 5 things to do in New York City as cited by The New York Times, and is gearing up for a second national tour for 2023!
Nambi is in development with Tony Award winner, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Broadway producer Ken Davenport, and the songwriter team of Emily Phillips and Future Cut to pen the book for a new Broadway musical, TBA.
Nambi's play RE-MEMORI which is under commission by the National New Plays Network, was presented at WP Theatre in New York City May 12-14, 2022, starring Karen Aldridge.
TELEVISION/FILM:
Nambi was just named a co-producer on the television series, BEL-AIR.
Nambi served as executive story editor for a new limited series for Apple TV+ starring Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram called LADY IN THE LAKE, currently in production in Baltimore.
JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM just concluded a national tour, and is in pre-production for an in-person national tour for 2022-23. This digital offering will be presented at the National Black Theatre Film Festival in August 2022, schedule TBD.
Nambi is serving as writer for Amazon's CORONA TOWN.
Nambi served as a staff writer on season one for a new television series with producer Lee Daniels and creator/showrunner Karin Gist titled OUR KIND OF PEOPLE on Fox.
Nambi served as a staff writer on season three of Showtime's THE CHI. Her co-written episode titled is Terror Town (Ep 305), currently viewable on Showtime.com.
Nambi is developing a film project with Oscar Award winning executive producers Lagralane Group, project title TBA.
PUBLICATIONS:
HANDS UP: 7 PLAYWRIGHTS 7 TESTAMENTS with Nambi E. Kelley
NATIVE SON by Nambi E. Kelley
XTIGONE by Nambi E. Kelley
GO SOLO by YouthPLAYS
COMMISSIONS/AWARDS/RESIDENCIES:
Nambi was awarded the Prince Prize 2019 grants $75,000 to Nambi and Tony Award winning Court Theatre for a new play Nambi is developing about the life of Stokely Carmichael. This award guarantees a world premiere production at Court Theatre in Chicago, 2023-24 season in Chicago, directed by Tasia A. Jones.
Nambi is a recipient of a National New Plays Network commission which includes a $10,000 award. Her play, RE-MEMORI, was presented in New York City at WP Theatre in May, 2022, with a rolling world premiere, tbd.
Nambi is currently under commission at Fords Theatre in Washington D.C. She is penning a companion play to her play, BLOOD, about the women of the Nation of Islam.
Nambi is currently under commission at Pittsburgh CLO creating a musical about the young life of Congressman John Lewis that will go on a regional tour 2023.
Nambi was just 1 of 4 BIPOC artists in residence at New Victory Theatre in New York City as a special cohort of LabWorks artists. The residency includes one on one coaching, developmental readings of her new play for young audiences, and $15,000 prize!
Nambi was awarded the Writers Grant Award 2019, a $5,000 prize, from The Dramatists Guild Foundation.
Nambi's NYC premiere of Native Son won a prestigious AUDELCO Award for BEST PRODUCTION, November 18, 2019!
Nambi was a finalist for The Primus Prize for her work on JAZZ, which comes with a $10,000 award.
Nambi received an award for BEST ADAPTATION by Stage Raw in Los Angeles for her work on NATIVE SON.
Nambi served as a guest lecturer in playwriting at the University of Illinois at Chicago mentoring aspiring actors and playwrights in dramatic structure and the industry at large.
Nambi's critically-acclaimed film short version of, JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM, has been accepted to multiple film festivals including in North Carolina, Los Angeles, Paris, 2 festivals in India, and will be screened in Africa in November 2022!
JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM, the live version, was named 1 of 5 things to do in New York City as cited by The New York Times, and is gearing up for a second national tour for 2023!
Nambi is in development with Tony Award winner, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Broadway producer Ken Davenport, and the songwriter team of Emily Phillips and Future Cut to pen the book for a new Broadway musical, TBA.
Nambi's play RE-MEMORI which is under commission by the National New Plays Network, was presented at WP Theatre in New York City May 12-14, 2022, starring Karen Aldridge.
TELEVISION/FILM:
Nambi was just named a co-producer on the television series, BEL-AIR.
Nambi served as executive story editor for a new limited series for Apple TV+ starring Natalie Portman and Moses Ingram called LADY IN THE LAKE, currently in production in Baltimore.
JABARI DREAMS OF FREEDOM just concluded a national tour, and is in pre-production for an in-person national tour for 2022-23. This digital offering will be presented at the National Black Theatre Film Festival in August 2022, schedule TBD.
Nambi is serving as writer for Amazon's CORONA TOWN.
Nambi served as a staff writer on season one for a new television series with producer Lee Daniels and creator/showrunner Karin Gist titled OUR KIND OF PEOPLE on Fox.
Nambi served as a staff writer on season three of Showtime's THE CHI. Her co-written episode titled is Terror Town (Ep 305), currently viewable on Showtime.com.
Nambi is developing a film project with Oscar Award winning executive producers Lagralane Group, project title TBA.
PUBLICATIONS:
HANDS UP: 7 PLAYWRIGHTS 7 TESTAMENTS with Nambi E. Kelley
NATIVE SON by Nambi E. Kelley
XTIGONE by Nambi E. Kelley
GO SOLO by YouthPLAYS
COMMISSIONS/AWARDS/RESIDENCIES:
Nambi was awarded the Prince Prize 2019 grants $75,000 to Nambi and Tony Award winning Court Theatre for a new play Nambi is developing about the life of Stokely Carmichael. This award guarantees a world premiere production at Court Theatre in Chicago, 2023-24 season in Chicago, directed by Tasia A. Jones.
Nambi is a recipient of a National New Plays Network commission which includes a $10,000 award. Her play, RE-MEMORI, was presented in New York City at WP Theatre in May, 2022, with a rolling world premiere, tbd.
Nambi is currently under commission at Fords Theatre in Washington D.C. She is penning a companion play to her play, BLOOD, about the women of the Nation of Islam.
Nambi is currently under commission at Pittsburgh CLO creating a musical about the young life of Congressman John Lewis that will go on a regional tour 2023.
Nambi was just 1 of 4 BIPOC artists in residence at New Victory Theatre in New York City as a special cohort of LabWorks artists. The residency includes one on one coaching, developmental readings of her new play for young audiences, and $15,000 prize!
Nambi was awarded the Writers Grant Award 2019, a $5,000 prize, from The Dramatists Guild Foundation.
Nambi's NYC premiere of Native Son won a prestigious AUDELCO Award for BEST PRODUCTION, November 18, 2019!
Nambi was a finalist for The Primus Prize for her work on JAZZ, which comes with a $10,000 award.
Nambi received an award for BEST ADAPTATION by Stage Raw in Los Angeles for her work on NATIVE SON.
Nambi served as a guest lecturer in playwriting at the University of Illinois at Chicago mentoring aspiring actors and playwrights in dramatic structure and the industry at large.
a c t i n g n e w s ! ! !
* Nambi 's voice is one of the voices of Senator Raphael Warnock's campaign Georgia's senate race.
* Nambi recently starred as Detective No Name Dame on a radio play called CHECK YO INVITE TOO written and co-starring Daniel Carlton streamed live via Harlem Stage's YouTube Channel.
* Nambi co-stars on Amazon's CORONATOWN created by Courtney Rackley.
* Nambi BOOKED a role on NBC's CHICAGO MED! Original airdate February 5, 2020.
* Nambi played the role of NYA in PIPELINE by Dominique Morisseau directed by Reg Douglas at City Theatre in Pittsburgh.
* Nambi premiered Off-Broadway playing opposite Broadway great Jeff McCarthy in Jeffrey Sweet's KUNSTLER.
* Nambi BOOKED co-star roles on ELEMENTARY, MADAM SECRETARY, and PERSON OF INTEREST on CBS and CHICAGO PD on NBC.
* Nambi was nominated for a Broadway World Award and a Hattie McDaniel Award for Best Featured Actress for her work as Risa in August Wilson's TWO TRAINS RUNNING at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago.