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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: THE GOOD PEACHES at Mahaffey Theatre
Previews: THE GOOD PEACHES at Mahaffey Theatre
September 11, 2025

​​​​​​​St. Petersburg is set to host a singular artistic event this fall as American Stage, The Florida Orchestra, and projectALCHEMY present their first-ever collaboration: The Good Peaches. Premiering for one day only at the Mahaffey Theatre on September 20, with both matinee and evening performances, this multidisciplinary production seeks to push the boundaries of live performance and storytelling through a seamless synthesis of theater, music, and dance.

Previews: DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS at Straz Center
Previews: DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS at Straz Center
September 8, 2025

Says actor Kelly Bashar says, “This Dracula is so campy and fun and fluid. I truly think there is something or someone for everyone in this show. I think the way we play with gender and sexuality and romance is perfect for our times.”

Previews: EVERY BRILLIANT THING at Carrollwood Cultural Center
Previews: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY at TheatreFor
Previews: THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY at TheatreFor
August 28, 2025

Oscar Wilde’s scandalous novel gets a razor-edged revival at TheatreFor, where director Michael Cote and actor Juan Toro pull back the velvet curtain on The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Previews: TELL ME ON A SUNDAY at FreeFall Theatre
Previews: TELL ME ON A SUNDAY at FreeFall Theatre
August 25, 2025

Experience the emotional highs and lows of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 'Tell Me On a Sunday' as Julia Rifino stars in a stunning solo performance, backed by a talented cast and live band. This rarely produced musical promises a journey of hope, heartbreak, and self-discovery, set against the vibrant backdrop of 1980s New York.

Previews: NUWORKS PRESENTS TIGHT at The Studio@620
Previews: NUWORKS PRESENTS TIGHT at The Studio@620
August 12, 2025

Studio@620 launches its bold new play development series, NuWorks, with a staged reading of Tight by acclaimed playwright Tina Esper. This daring and darkly funny work-in-progress explores aging, desire, and the pursuit of transformation through the eyes of a 78-year-old widow who refuses to fade quietly. NuWorks invites audiences to engage with fresh, provocative theatre and be part of the creative process through live feedback and conversation.

Preview: Powerstories Presents ADA AND THE ENGINE at Stageworks Theatre
Preview: Powerstories Presents ADA AND THE ENGINE at Stageworks Theatre
August 11, 2025

Powerstories Theatre invites middle & high school students to experience Ada and the Engine — the inspiring story of Ada Lovelace, the first computer programmer and a pioneer for women in STEM. Think Bridgerton meets Steve Jobs. Free youth tickets - RSVP required: bit.ly/ADAYOUTH ✨ Dream Big. Change the World. Meet the spark that ignited generations of innovation.

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

Last night, I stepped into a world where brushstrokes seemed to breathe and masterpieces moved—Beyond Van Gogh and Beyond Monet: The Immersive Experience at Tampa’s Straz Center. This wasn’t merely an exhibition; it was a transformative journey through light, color, and emotion that blurred the boundary between viewer and art.

Previews: LEGALLY BLONDE The Musical JR. at The Mahaffey Theater
Previews: LEGALLY BLONDE The Musical JR. at The Mahaffey Theater
July 24, 2025

The beloved story of Elle Woods comes alive, powered by a cast of young performers ranging in age from 7 to 17—54 young actors and 11 technical students, all ready to deliver a fresh spin on the iconic tale.

Previews: ARTS PASSPORT'S MAMA MIA! KARAOKE at The Studio@620
Previews: ARTS PASSPORT'S MAMA MIA! KARAOKE at The Studio@620
July 18, 2025

Kick off Tampa Bay’s newest arts movement with Mamma Mia! Karaoke Night, hosted by Arts Passport founder Avery Anderson. Happening July 25 at 7 PM at The Studio@620, this glittery launch party invites everyone to sing, connect, and celebrate the joy of creative freedom—no theater experience required.

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
July 1, 2025

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
June 21, 2025

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
June 19, 2025

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
June 14, 2025

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
June 11, 2025

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
June 6, 2025

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
June 5, 2025

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
Review: SHUCKED at Straz Center – A Bushel of Laughs and Broadway Brilliance
June 4, 2025

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
June 2, 2025

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.



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