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Erik Champney

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Erik Champney BIO

Erik Champney is a disabled queer artist and Kennedy Center honoree. A proud native of Shreveport, Louisiana, he has also planted roots in Seattle, Singapore, and New York City.

Erik’s professional career began at the age of 15 when he was commissioned to write a play by Isobel Rosenbloom for renowned children’s theatre Peter Pan Players. Since then, his work has been produced, developed, and celebrated across the United States and beyond. Throughout the decade of 2011-2021, he wrote 18 plays and received 42 productions, workshops, and readings. Erik’s acclaimed play, The Screens, is published by Left Coast Publishing in its Screaming Queens anthology and is available in paperback and on Kindle.

In 2021, Erik wrote and directed his first film, Tuesday, which has gone on to become an Official Selection of more than a dozen film festivals around the world. It is now streaming on WeShort, a partner of Sundance Film Festival and sponsored in part by Versace. Upcoming films: The Screens (2023) and Giallo (2024), both adapted from his stage plays.

Erik has enjoyed collaborations with remarkable people, including Alan Cumming, Christy Altomare, Garrett Clayton, Stephanie Styles, Misha Osherovich, Susannah Perkins, Marrick Smith, David Pittu, Mao Sun, Erich Bergen, Ethan Chia, and Sawyer Spielberg.

In his formative years, Erik was a member of Young Playwrights Inc., where he studied under Stephen Sondheim, John Weidman, and Wendy Wasserstein. Other notable influences have been Jim Sheridan, B. Mark Seabrooks, Leigh Silverman, and Craig Lucas. He received a B.A. in both Theatre and English from Centenary College of Louisiana followed by a M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Erik Champney News


Photos: Baker Falls and Knitting Factory Present Site-Specific Revival of DEAD BRAINS


Get a first look at Baker Falls and Knitting Factory's Dead Brains.

Site-Specific Production DEAD BRAINS: A PSYCHOSEXUAL THRILLER Opens This Month


Dead Brains: A Psychosexual Thriller will open at Feverdream Lounge this month. Performances of the site-specific production will run January 17 - February 18.

Neukom Institute Announces 2021 Playwriting Shortlist


Dartmouth's Neukom Institute has announced the playwriting shortlist for the 2021 Neukom Institute Literary Arts Awards.

Primary Stages Announces an Encore Presentation of THE NIGHT WATCHER and ESPAfest Spring 2021


PRIMARY STAGES has announced an encore presentation of The Night Watcher by Obie Award winner and Tony Award nominee Charlayne Woodard (In Real Life), which was previously streamed in November 2020. 

Cast Chosen For Planet Connections Rep Of Plays


Planet Connections' starts out 2020 with 'DARK PLANET: Not Your Mother's Valentine's Day,' short plays unapologetically looking at life through a clever a?" albeit caustic a?" lens. Frank, Funny, Engaging, Engrossing, and Enlightening, Performing Thursdays & Fridays, February 6 a?" 21, at the Theater at the 14th Street Y, 344 E 14th St, NYC. This event a?" celebrating the diversity of the performing arts & artists of NYC a?" will be accompanied by an opening night party and special Valentine's Day event.

Nylon Fusion Theatre Company Will Present the World Premiere of RAY GUN SAY0NARA, a Sci-Fi Play With Songs


Nylon Fusion Theatre Company in association with The Constellation Project will present the World Premiere of ray gun say0nara, a sci-fi play with songs written by Steven Mark Tenney, directed by Janet Bentley at The New Ohio Theatre (154 Christopher Street New York, NY 10014), December 4-22. Performances will be on Wednesday, December 4 at 7pm, Thursday, December 5 at 7pm, Saturday, December 7 at 3pm, Sunday, December 8 at 7pm, Monday, December 9 at 7pm, Wednesday, December 11 at 7pm, Saturday, December 14 at 7pm, Sunday, December 15 at 3pm, Monday, December 16 at 7pm, Friday, December 20 at 7pm, Saturday, December 21 at 3pm, and Sunday, December 22 at 3pm.

Cast Announced For Jose Rivera's New Play LOVESONG (IMPERFECT)


Sara Koviak, Francesco Andolfi, and James B Kennedy - all alumni of Planet Connections Theatre Festivity - will star in Jose Rivera's new play, Lovesong (Imperfect) running February 8 - 22 at The Theater at the 14th Street Y, 344 E 14th Street, New York City. Previews are Sat, 2/8 @ 7:30 p.m.; Sun, 2/9 @ 5 p.m.; Mon, 2/10 @ 7:30 p.m.; Tues, 2/11 @ 7:30 p.m.; opening Sat, 2/15 @ 7:30 p.m.; and running Sun, 2/16 @ 5 p.m.; Mon, 2/17 @ 7:30 p.m.; Tues, 2/18 @ 7:30 p.m.; closing on Sat, 2/22 @ 7:30 p.m.

Crew Announced For RIVERA'S LOVESONG (IMPERFECT)


It takes a village to create a masterpiece. OBIE Winner, José Rivera ('Marisol' and 'References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot'), premieres another powerful stage-work at the East Village's arts haven, The theater at the 14th Street Y.

Planet Connections Announces Ten Dark Ditties


Planet Connections Announces Its Directors Repertory for 'DARK PLANET: Not Your Mother's Valentine's Day' presented by Planet Connections Theatre Festivity; performing Thursdays and Fridays, February 6 - 21 at the Theater at the 14th Street Y, 344 E 14th St, New York City.

Jose Rivera Premieres Powerful Stage-Work


OBIE Winner, José Rivera ('Marisol' and 'References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot'), premieres another powerful stage-work: Lovesong (Imperfect), running February 8 - 22 at the Theater at the 14th Street Y, 344 E 14th Street, New York City

DARK PLANET: Not Your Mother's Valentine's Day Comes to the 14th Street Y Theatre


'DARK PLANET: Not Your Mother's Valentine's Day' presented by Planet Connections Theatre Festivity; performing Thursdays and Fridays, February 6 - 21 at the 14th Street Y Theatre, 344 E 14th St, New York City.

Wake Up With BWW 3/28: BEETLEJUICE Begins Previews & More!


Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Scroll down for the latest news. Want our morning reports delivered via email? Subscribe here!

Alan Cumming, Christy Altomare, and More to Star in Industry Reading of SPARKLER


Jim Kierstead and Broadway Factor have announced a private industry reading for the new play, SPARKLER. Written by Erik Champney and directed by Sheryl Kaller, the reading will be held in New York City on March 29, 2019.

Planet Connections Announce Award Winners


Planet Connections 10th Annual Theatre Festivity's banner season culminated with the Planet Awards. Planet Connections was proclaimed one of the leading summer festivals in New York.

Planet Connections 10th Annual Theatre Festivity Announces 2018 Nominees


TenthPlanet: Planet Connections 10th Annual Theatre Festivity played to packed houses and great acclaim for each production. Another sold out house was achieved for the company's annual 'Playwrights for a Cause' event, this year, benefiting the Ali Forney Center. The banner season culminates with the Planet Awards. This year, the gala event will be Today, September 21, at the Abrons Arts Center at 466 Grand St, New York City. Tickets and further info: planetconnections.org/

Planet Connections 10th Annual Theatre Festivity Announces 2018 Nominees


TenthPlanet: Planet Connections 10th Annual Theatre Festivity played to packed houses and great acclaim for each production. Another sold out house was achieved for the company's annual 'Playwrights for a Cause' event, this year, benefiting the Ali Forney Center. The banner season culminates with the Planet Awards. This year, the gala event will be Friday, September 21, at the Abrons Arts Center at 466 Grand St, New York City. Tickets and further info: planetconnections.org/

Broadway Producer Jim Kierstead Invites You To An Erotic Game Of Cat & Mouse


The newest member of the company - ironically - is its co-producer. Jim Kierstead has become synonymous with quality work on Broadway with credits that include KINKY BOOTS (Tony, Olivier), PIPPIN (Tony), WAITRESS, INDECENT, THE GREAT COMET, THE VISIT, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (all Tony nominated), M. BUTTERFLY, IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, SIDE SHOW, ROCKY. Plus London: DREAMGIRLS, YANK!, THRILL ME. Off-Broadway: UNEXPECTED JOY, THRILL ME, YANK! Upcoming: PRETTY WOMAN, AIN'T TOO PROUD, SPARKLER. He is currently on the Board of The York Theatre Company, The Abingdon Theatre Company, and The New York Theatre Barn.

Broadway Producer Jim Kierstead Invites You To An Erotic Game Of Cat & Mouse


The newest member of the company - ironically - is its co-producer. Jim Kierstead has become synonymous with quality work on Broadway with credits that include KINKY BOOTS (Tony, Olivier), PIPPIN (Tony), WAITRESS, INDECENT, THE GREAT COMET, THE VISIT, YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU (all Tony nominated), M. BUTTERFLY, IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, SIDE SHOW, ROCKY. Plus London: DREAMGIRLS, YANK!, THRILL ME. Off-Broadway: UNEXPECTED JOY, THRILL ME, YANK! Upcoming: PRETTY WOMAN, AIN'T TOO PROUD, SPARKLER. He is currently on the Board of The York Theatre Company, The Abingdon Theatre Company, and The New York Theatre Barn.

THE TENTH PLANET: Planet Connections Turns 10


This summer, Planet Connections Theatre Festivity (PCTF), the brainchild of arts professional Glory Kadigan, turns 10 years old. In that decade, PCTF has successfully changed the landscape of the theatre festival and all of New York independent theatre. The multi-award-winning theatre festival will celebrate in a big way by premiering more than 50 timely and topical plays and musicals written by the next generation of playwrights. Each play contains a powerful message serving as a parable of various world themes.

Chazz Palminteri, Sachi Parker, Misha Osherovich and More Win 2017 Planet Connections Awards


Theatre Row was all a-buzz last Monday night for the ninth annual Planet Connections Theatre Festivity Awards.

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