Marie Kohler

Marie House Kohler (born 1951) is an American writer and playwright. She is a member of the Kohler family of Wisconsin.

Biography Playwright, theater producer, director and writer, Marie Kohler is the daughter of John Michael Kohler III and Julilly House. Raised in Kohler, Wisconsin at Riverbend, the home built by her grandfather Gov. Walter J. Kohler in 1923. Marie Kohler graduated from Kohler High School in 1969 and holds an Honors BA from Harvard University (1973, Magna Cum Laude) and an MA from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee(1979) – both degrees in English Literature.

Kohler co-founded Renaissance Theaterworks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1993, with four other female theater professionals to create more opportunities for women in theater. She served there as Co-Artistic Director until 2013 and as Resident Playwright through 2019.

Career/personal life Kohler's interest in theater began early, when her mother took her to local and national productions. She formed the first drama club of her high school, earning her the school's first "Humanities Award." In college, she performed with the Harvard Dramatic Society, where she met Colin Cabot; they married in 1974. The couple moved back to Wisconsin where Cabot worked at the Skylight Music Theatre. After the birth of their daughter, Anne, the family moved to Europe for a year when Cabot served as assistant to opera composer Gian Carlo Menotti in Scotland and Italy. When the couple returned to Milwaukee, Kohler began her master's work at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, completing her degree in 1979. Their second daughter, Marie Christine, was born the same year. In 1980, Kohler began freelancing as a journalist for various Milwaukee- and Wisconsin-based publications, as well as national publications, such as American Theater Magazine and National Trust Magazine.

In the mid-1980s, Kohler and Cabot separated, and Kohler turned her attention to acting, writing plays and freelance journalism.

In 1989, Kohler met Brian Mani while performing in Great Expectations; they married in 1992. Mani had a daughter, Tricia Hooper. Kohler has written several roles for Mani, a classically trained actor with American Players Theatre; they have worked often together on plays she has produced or directed. She has written six plays, all professionally produced and garnering strong notice and awards. The Milwaukee Arts Board named her Artist of the Year (2005).

Kohler served on the board of the Wisconsin Humanities Council and commits herself to environmental, cultural and social causes.

Written Works

A Girl of the Limberlost (1993)

Adapted from Gene Stratton Porter's 1909 classic novel. Premiered at Children's Theater of Madison (Madison, WI) in 1993. Published by YouthPLAYS

Counting Days (1995)

An intimate exploration of Katherine Mansfield’s journals. Premiered at Renaissance Theaterworks (Milwaukee, WI) in 1995.

Midnight and Moll Flanders (2000)

A free adaptation of Daniel Defoe's classic novel Moll Flanders. Premiered at Renaissance Theaterworks in collaboration with University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 2000. Published by Dramatic Publishing

Boswell's Dreams (2005)

Premiered at Renaissance Theaterworks (Milwaukee, WI) in 2005.

The Dig (2008)

Premiered at Renaissance Theaterworks (Milwaukee, WI) in 2009

Witch House (2015)

Boswell (2019)

Adapted from BOSWELL'S DREAMS. Premiered at Festival Fringe (Edinburgh, Scotland) in 2019. Published by Dramatic Publishing

Maybe We'll Fly (2026)

Will premiere at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre (Milwaukee, WI) in 2026.

Directing credits

Productions

THE CHILDREN by Lucy Kirkwood, Next Act Theatre – 2025 OLD COMISKEY PARK by Peter Filichia, Within These Walls Monologue Festival, Forward Theater Co. – 2021 HAPPY DAYS by Samuel Beckett, Renaissance Theaterworks – 2020 BOSWELL by Marie Kohler (co-directed with Laura Gordon), Edinburgh Fringe Festival – 2019 DEAR ELIZABETH by Sarah Ruhl, Milwaukee Chamber Theatre – 2015 THE KREUTZER SONATA by Nancy Harris, Renaissance Theaterworks – 2015 HONOUR by Joanna Murray-Smith, Renaissance Theaterworks – 2012 A PHOENIX TOO FREQUENT by Christopher Fry, Renaissance Theaterworks – 2012

Staged Readings

THE CHILDREN by Lucy Kirkwood, Third Avenue Playhouse (via Zoom) – 2021 DUCK by Christine Kallmann, St. John's on the Lake – 2017 DUCK by Christine Kallmann, Brink New Plays, Renaissance Theaterworks – 2016 TRIFLES by Susan Glaspell, American Players Theatre – 2016 FOG by Eugene O’Neill, American Players Theatre – 2016 CENSORED ON FINAL APPROACH by Phylis Ravel, Milwaukee VA Medical Center – 2013 THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde, Renaissance Theaterworks – 2005

Journalism

Kohler has been a freelance journalist for Wisconsin and national publications since 1980. She has written film reviews for the Milwaukee Sentinel; theater reviews for Art Muscle; feature articles for Milwaukee Magazine; essays for Milwaukee Footlights, Shepherd Express and The Wisconsin Academy Review; and pieces for American Theater Magazine. She has also been published in National Trust Magazine, Great Lakes Stages and Milwaukee Metro.

Her articles explore a range of subjects – from Wisconsin's tradition of Friday night fish fries to Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture to airport mosaics to trends in theater and film.

American Theatre Magazine

A Volley of Plays X Marks the Spot

Shepherd Express

Milwaukee's Grassroots Storytellers - Ex Fabula’s community-building ‘Close Encounters’ From Milwaukee to Broadway and Back - A conversation with Chike Johnson Fabulous Stories - Ex Fabula’s new Executive Director Megan McGee Listening, Not Just Talking! Anne Strainchamps on Wisconsin Public Radio INVIVO's Maurice Dumit on Health and Fitness Leslie Fitzwater: 'Once More with Feeling'…Piaf CORE/El Centro's Healing Center Secrets of the Milwaukee Public Museum Beans and Barley's Long-Term Success Dialogue with Laura Gordon Josh Jaszewski - Theatergoer Extraordinaire The Renewed Surprising Appeal of Mah Jongg Indian Mounds: Wisconsin's Priceless Archaeological Treasures Frank Lloyd Wright's Burnham Street Vision Carlos Alves Beautifies Mitchell Airport Dermond Peterson's Stunning, Milwaukee-Made Textiles Bringing the Story Home The Look of Law and Money

Milwaukee Magazine

Old Money The Gathering

Wisconsin Academy Review

MIDSUMMER in October - An End of Season Bow

Milwaukee Metro

The Sendik Legacy

Milwaukee Footlights

A Carver of Bears

Awards

A GIRL OF THE LIMBERLOST

Julie Harris Playwright Award, Beverly Hills Theatre Guild, Honorable Mention - 2014

COUNTING DAYS

Best New Regional Play, American Theatre Critics Association - 1995 New Play Festival, Charlotte Repertory Theatre, Finalist - 1995 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, Nominee - 1995

MIDNIGHT and MOLL FLANDERS

Best New Play - Milwaukee Magazine - 2000 Inkslinger Playwriting Competition, Semi-finalist - 2018

BOSWELL'S DREAMS

Susan Smith Blackburn Prize - Nominee - 2005 Best of Year - Milwaukee Magazine - 2005 Abingdon Award - Finalist - 2005 Wisconsin Wrights - Finalist - 2005

THE DIG

Susan Smith Blackburn Prize - Nominee - 2009 Playwrights' Center Lab - Finalist - 2009 Playwrights First - Semi-finalist - 2009

WITCH HOUSE

Todd McNerney Playwriting Award, Finalist - 2017 Wisconsin Wrights New Play Festival, Finalist - 2017

Career Awards

Artist of the Year, Milwaukee Arts Board, 2005 Friend of the Arts, Milwaukee Arts Board, 2020 Fellow, Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters, 2024