
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 TownFavorite Show
Come From AwayFavorite Stories
- Interview: Deejay Young of HAMILTON at Straz Center - He was such a down-to-earth nice guy, considering what a massive undertaking his role as Hamilton was
- Interview: Ciara Alyse Harris of DEAR EVAN HANSEN at Straz Center - She was a delight to interview, so excited and enthusiastic about playing Alana in her home state.
- https://www.broadwayworld.com/tampa/article/BWW-Previews-MENOPAUSE-THE-MUSICAL-ITS-GETTING-HOT-at-Straz-Center-For-The-Performing-Arts-20180531 - The late Cindy Williams was such an incredible woman. She was so thrilled to be part of Menopause: The Musical. She was like talking to your best friend. In my head, I was thinking, "I'm talking to Shirley Fenney!" I grew up watching Laverne and Shirley. She told me to call back if I had any questions after we finished the article. I still have her home telephone number in my cell phone.
- BWW Review: MAS Community Theater's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE Radio Play at Carrollwood Cultural Center -
- BWW Feature: BROADWAY STAR OF THE FUTURE at the Straz Center -
Most Popular Articles


Review: THE NOTEBOOK MUSICAL at Straz Center
May 28, 2026

Interview: Constantine Maroulis of THE FLORIDA ROCK SYMPHONY SERIES at Ruth Eckerd Hall
June 8, 2026

Review: BEYOND VAN GOGH AND BEYOND MONET at Straz Center
August 1, 2025

Previews: THE NUTCRACKER at Ovations Repertory Company
December 1, 2025

Review: EVIL DEAD THE MUSICAL at Stageworks Theatre
October 25, 2025

Previews: 1776 at Eight O'Clock Theatre
June 19, 2026
Eight O’Clock Theatre reimagines 1776 for the 250th Anniversary with a sharp, contemporary staging that brings the Continental Congress into the world of today.

Previews: 2026 JIMMY AWARDS at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre
June 15, 2026
Tampa Bay’s Broadway Stars of the Future winners, Jayden Vega and Emma Armstrong, are on their way to New York to join 116 of the nation’s top high‑school performers at the 17th Annual Jimmy Awards, taking place Monday, June 22, 2026 at 7:30 PM at Broadway’s Minskoff Theatre.

Previews: PREDICTOR at Powerstories @Stageworks Theatre
June 9, 2026
The Florida Premiere of Predictor brings Meg Crane, inventor of the first home pregnancy test, to Tampa for a Zoom conversation on June 28 and in person on July 24 and 25.

Interview: Constantine Maroulis of THE FLORIDA ROCK SYMPHONY SERIES at Ruth Eckerd Hall
June 8, 2026
Ruth Eckerd Hall and 107.

Review: RENT at Carrollwood Players Theatre
June 8, 2026
The performances, the vocals, the intimacy of the space, all of it hit me in the best way.

Previews: BASH OF THE TITANS at FreeFall Theatre
June 5, 2026
freeFall Theatre unleashes Bash of the Titans this summer, where Greek gods collide with 80s fantasy flair, opening on June 12.

Previews: END OF THE RAINBOW at Gulfport Community Players
June 5, 2026
End of the Rainbow offers a rare chance to witness Judy Garland’s final chapter brought to life with extraordinary depth by Tammy Lukas.

Interview: Samantha Martí-Parisi of THE SAINT OF SCANDAL
May 28, 2026
Tampa Fringe is about to welcome a queer ancestor who has been waiting three centuries to walk back into the room.

Previews: THE NOTEBOOK at Straz Center
May 26, 2026
Anne Tolpegin steps into two pivotal roles as The Notebook opens tonight at the Straz Center, portraying both Allie’s protective mother and the no‑nonsense Nurse Lori.

Previews: TAMPA CITY BALLET'S SLEEPING BEAUTY at New Tampa Performing Arts Center
May 15, 2026
On stage at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center on May 16 and 17, a kingdom awakens as Tampa City Ballet brings Sleeping Beauty to life in a swirl of magic, music, and movement.

Review: SIX IGNITES THE STAGE at Straz Center
May 13, 2026
It was empowering and absolutely outstanding from start to finish, the kind of night that hits with attitude, precision, and pure joy.

Previews: SIX at Straz Center
May 11, 2026
SIX brings the Tudor queens roaring into the spotlight with a pop‑powered retelling that has captivated audiences worldwide.

Previews: DREAM CHILD: THE TRIAL OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND at Powerstories Theatre
May 8, 2026
For three days only, see Roxanne Fay as you've never seen her before.

Previews: CRAZY FOR YOU at Eight O'Clock Theatre
April 27, 2026
The production follows Bobby Child, a New York banker sent to Deadrock, Nevada, to foreclose on a rundown theatre, only to fall for Polly Baker, the theatre owner’s daughter.

Previews: THEATRE SUMMER CAMP at Ovations Repertory Company
April 24, 2026
Ovations Repertory Company, home of Ovations Dance Academy of Tampa, launches a full season of themed camps, Summer Stock musicals, and professional intensives for young performers ages 3 and up.

Previews: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE at The Studio@620
April 20, 2026
The production also reframes the Kowalski home as a biracial marriage, a choice that deepens the story’s examination of identity, power, and community.

Previews: AND THEN THEY CAME FOR ME: REMEMBERING THE WORLD OF ANNE FRANK at FreeFall Theatre
April 6, 2026
freeFall Theatre presents And Then They Came For Me: Remembering the World of Anne Frank.

Previews: CINDERELLA BALLET at Ovations Repertory Company
April 6, 2026
Experience the enchantment of Ovations Repertory Company’s Cinderella Ballet, performed by a young cast at Sickles High School.

Previews: THE MAGICIAN'S TABLE at Straz Center
April 3, 2026
An intimate evening of close‑up magic where five magicians rotate through twelve‑seat tables with live music and cocktails.
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