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Deborah Bostock-Kelley

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 Town

Favorite Show:

Come From Away

Favorite Stories:



MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

Previews: LAB LAUGHS 25 at LAB Theatre Project
Previews: LAB LAUGHS 25 at LAB Theatre Project
July 10, 2025

Owen Robertson, Executive Producer says, '... Coming to our event, supporting LAB is saying that you believe that Tampa can be a place for new works to be nurtured and grown, that new artists are welcome in our community and be given a safe place to explore their work and step into the spotlight as professional theater artists.”

PUFFS, LA GRINGA & More Lead Tampa's Hot Summer 2025 Theater Picks
PUFFS, LA GRINGA & More Lead Tampa's Hot Summer 2025 Theater Picks
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Whether you're after laughter, music, history, or discovery, Tampa Bay’s summer theatre delivers. This July and August, stages of all kinds showcase standout productions full of passion and a whole lot of talent.

Review: TAMPA METROPOLITAN IMPROV (TMI) at The Studio At Carrollwood Cultural Center
Review: TAMPA METROPOLITAN IMPROV (TMI) at The Studio At Carrollwood Cultural Center
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Tampa Metropolitan Improv*'s debut was a sharp, high-energy triumph filled with quick wit, strong ensemble chemistry, and nonstop laughs. The cast delivered a tightly paced, joyfully unpredictable show that left the audience thoroughly entertained and eager for more—a bold and confident start for Tampa’s newest comedy staple.

Previews: TAMPA METROPOLITAN IMPROV (TMI) Debuts at The Studio At Carrollwood Cultural Center
Previews: TAMPA METROPOLITAN IMPROV (TMI) Debuts at The Studio At Carrollwood Cultural Center
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Let’s talk about the name—TMI. Yes, it stands for exactly what you’re thinking: 'too much information.' But there’s more to it than meets the eye. Erica confesses, “Yes, the typo in our logo is purposeful. As the man says, the best jokes are the ones that need to be explained!” If that’s any indication, audiences can expect comedy with a clever twist that will keep them laughing long after the punchline.

Review: BUT RED HOT PATRIOT – THE KICK-*SS WIT OF MOLLY IVINS at TheatreFor
Review: BUT RED HOT PATRIOT – THE KICK-*SS WIT OF MOLLY IVINS at TheatreFor
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One-woman triumph. I was completely captivated by Samantha Marti Parisi’s beautiful portrayal of Molly Ivins in Red Hot Patriot. She didn’t just perform the role—she embodied it, delivering every line with razor-sharp wit and unmistakable heart.

Previews: ARTS LEGACY REMIX: JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATION at Straz Center
Previews: ARTS LEGACY REMIX: JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATION at Straz Center
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The Straz Center’s Fifth Annual Juneteenth Commemoration on June 16 offers an evening of powerful storytelling, original performances, and historical reflection. Storyteller Jennifer Samuel Chance honors the resilience of the Black community and underscores the importance of remembering the past to shape a better future. “Juneteenth needs to be embraced even more than it has been,” she says. “We don’t realize how precious freedom is until it is taken away.”

Previews: RED HOT PATRIOT – THE KICK-A** WIT OF MOLLY IVINS at TheatreFor
Previews: RED HOT PATRIOT – THE KICK-A** WIT OF MOLLY IVINS at TheatreFor
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TheatreFor’s Red Hot Patriot – The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins is a fiery, funny, and fearless tribute to one of journalism’s boldest truth-tellers. Starring Samantha Marti-Parisi, the one-woman show brings Ivins’ wit, grit, and deep love of democracy to the stage in a smart, sharp celebration of free speech and civic responsibility.

Previews: TAMPA BAY TAPS FESTIVAL, Copasetic, and What If? at Straz Center
Previews: TAMPA BAY TAPS FESTIVAL, Copasetic, and What If? at Straz Center
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Experience the pulse of tap dance reimagined. This June, dancer and visionary Ashlyn Bolton brings two thrilling events to the Straz Center: The Copasetic Show (June 7), a high-energy celebration of tap culture and live jazz, and What If? (June 15), a bold, original production blending rhythm, storytelling, and imagination.

Review: SHUCKED at Straz Center – A Bushel of Laughs and Broadway Brilliance
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I had no idea what to expect, but Shucked was a golden ear of comedy, wrapped in clever writing, helmed by powerhouse vocals, and buttered with some of the funniest deadpanned quips you’ll hear on stage this season.

Previews: LADY DAY AT EMERSON BAR AND GRILL at Stageworks Theatre
Previews: LADY DAY AT EMERSON BAR AND GRILL at Stageworks Theatre
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Desiree Montes returns to Stageworks Theatre in *Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill*, channeling the spirit and sound of Billie Holiday in a powerful, intimate performance set during one of the icon’s final concerts. With deep emotional resonance and a voice shaped by years of connection to Holiday’s music, Montes brings new layers to the legendary singer’s story—blending art, history, and activism in a tribute that’s both haunting and deeply human.

Previews: THE HOUSE OF FUTURE MEMORY at FreeFall Theatre
Previews: THE HOUSE OF FUTURE MEMORY at FreeFall Theatre
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With 'The House of Future Memory,' freeFall reimagines Shakespeare’s iconic “Seven Ages of Man” monologue as an interactive performance blending music, improvisation, audience input, and AI.

The Studio@620 Invites Public To Open House
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Previews: SHUCKED at Straz Center
Previews: SHUCKED at Straz Center
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Review: THE UNAUTHORIZED SHAKESPEAREAN PARODY OF GHOSTBUSTER at Carrollwood Cultural Center
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The halls of Carrollwood did ring with laughter. It was a reminder that whether thou art noble or nerd, there’s always room for poetry—and proton packs.

Previews: BROADWAY STAR OF THE FUTURE at Patel Conservatory - Straz
Previews: BROADWAY STAR OF THE FUTURE at Patel Conservatory - Straz
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Previews: FAT HAM at American Stage
Previews: FAT HAM at American Stage
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James Ijames’ 'Fat Ham' has already garnered critical acclaim, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and it's easy to see why. The play’s innovative approach breathes new life into Shakespeare’s tale, intertwining themes of identity, queerness, and familial pressure with a unique blend of comedy and drama. With such a balance of humor and pathos, audiences can expect to be both entertained and deeply moved.

Feature: SEEK AND SPEAK YOUR POWERSTORY Workshop Returns to Powerstories Theatre
Feature: SEEK AND SPEAK YOUR POWERSTORY Workshop Returns to Powerstories Theatre
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Review: MORNINGSIDE IS BRIDESMAIDS MEETS STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Stageworks Theatre
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Previews: POWERSTORIES' WITCH HUNT at Stageworks Theatre
Previews: POWERSTORIES' WITCH HUNT at Stageworks Theatre
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