Marie Kohler

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 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 she turned her attention to acting and writing plays and free-lance writing. 

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

Directing Credits

Full Productions
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
DUCK by Christine Kallmann, St. John's on the Lake, Milwaukee, 2017 
DUCK by Christine Kallmann, Brink New Plays, Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee, 2016                         
TRIFLES by Susan Glaspell, American Players Theatre, Spring Green, WI, 2016
FOG by Eugene O’Neill, American Players Theatre, Spring Green, WI, 2016
BUS STOP by William Inge, Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee, 2008
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST by Oscar Wilde, Renaissance Theaterworks, Milwaukee, 2005
CENSORED ON FINAL APPROACH, Milwaukee VA Medical Center, 2013

Journalism

Marie 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