Kelsey Austin is a writer based in New Jersey. In addition to short pieces, Kelsey has a number of full length works including Outside Job, Cracked Walls, The Essentials, and Blow-out. As an instructor at Rowan College of South Jersey, Kelsey taught a number of literature, theatre, and speech courses. She also has worked as a freelance artist teaching acting and dramatic movement. Kelsey has experience in directing, choreography, scenic painting and design, puppetry, and stage managing. Kelsey is a graduate of Rowan University with a bachelor's degree in Theatre. At the University of Essex in Colchester, England she earned a master's degree with merit in Literature: Theatre and Drama. While at Essex, she studied under playwright Jonathan Lichtenstein. Kelsey has written several plays with Joe Udall for the San Diego Fringe Festival, dinner theatre, and self-produced readings. She is a Chicago Dramatists Network Playwright and a member of The Dramatists Guild of America.

Artist Statement

"The reason you create is because there's a story crawling to get out of you." - Stephen Karam

There are always characters milling about, asking me to let them do their thing. Once a character is born, it's hard to resist writing out the voice and exploring situations. The human condition compels me, and there's not enough time to write all I want to. The questions of why we do what we do and how do we feel about what we do have always interested me. I find people with all their triumphs and shortcomings to be extremely captivating. As I write, I can only hope to relay every detail these characters give me; I often run out of pages. Some of the subjects in my work are distressing, but I try to stay true to what I'm given and believe that the message will bring about change or, at the very least, an awareness.