Shelby Seeley

Shelby R. Seeley (she/her) is a Yale-certified director and new work developer from "Downriver" Michigan. Collaborators call Shelby nuanced, honest, passionate, and creative. She is currently serving as Associate Artistic Director & Literary Manager at Theatre Nova in Ann Arbor, MI.

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Shelby goes to the theatre to be affirmed, challenged, and ignited. Amidst the American loneliness epidemic, she goes to experience something as a collective and form a deeper connection with her community. As a young director, she's inspired by violently tender, ferally feminine narratives that challenge the theatrical form. She's interested in stories where the characters bleed for the audience. Her aim is to cultivate a transformative, resonant, and communal theatrical event.

Director: World Premiere of...

Shelby R. Seeley (she/her) is a Yale-certified director and new work developer from "Downriver" Michigan. Collaborators call Shelby nuanced, honest, passionate, and creative. She is currently serving as Associate Artistic Director & Literary Manager at Theatre Nova in Ann Arbor, MI.

​

Shelby goes to the theatre to be affirmed, challenged, and ignited. Amidst the American loneliness epidemic, she goes to experience something as a collective and form a deeper connection with her community. As a young director, she's inspired by violently tender, ferally feminine narratives that challenge the theatrical form. She's interested in stories where the characters bleed for the audience. Her aim is to cultivate a transformative, resonant, and communal theatrical event.

Director: World Premiere of "In Search of the Mothman", "Death of a Driver" (Theatre Nova), "Lovebird Jamboree" (Planet Ant Theatre), “Man of La Mancha” (The Penny Seats Theatre Company), “Pizza Slut” (Boxfest Detroit), “Twelfth Night” (Phoenix Theatre Productions),  "Driveway Dating" (Open Book Theatre Company), “The Gulf” (Eastern Michigan University Lab Theatre).

Staged Readings: "Funny, Like HAHA (Or, a Play About a Rape Joke)" (Flint Repertory Theatre), "Loretta's Crematorium Hour" (48th Annual Samuel French Short Play Festival), "Imposter!" (Renaissance City Repertory Theatre),  "Bermuda Triangles: The Non-Monogamy Experiment" (Independent). 

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Assistant Director: "Happy Days” “Wrong River” “Death of a Salesman” (Flint Repertory Theatre). 

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Shelby produced "Sassafras and the Captain" for the Fresh Fruit Festival in NYC, winning the award for "Outstanding Production of 2022".

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From 2017-2023, Shelby was the Director of Theatre at Patrick Henry Middle School, where she directed 12 productions and taught hundreds of students. The program goal was to engage, enlighten, and empower students through theatrical productions.

Shelby has professional playwright assisting ("The Future Is Female", Flint Repertory Theatre), acting (University of Michigan's CRLT Players; Michigan Shakespeare Festival Interstate Touring Company; The Call of the Void Podcast), and teaching experience. She attended Yale University's summer session and received a Certificate in Directing (2021) and the Kennedy Center Directing Intensive (2021). She earned her BS in Theatre Arts from Eastern Michigan University (2020).

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    I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. It was funny, sweet, and the characters draw you in. It's an age old should they or shouldn't they, but the language of this piece and the thesis really soar and hit home. How do you describe, or even feel, a feeling if you don't have the words for it? Is ignorance bliss, or is knowledge power? Truly Mallory's descriptions of feelings without using the word for them was the most outstanding part. A sweet drama worth the read.

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    I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. It was unique and heartfelt story about two people connecting, or at least trying to. Understanding between generations. Use of language barrier and how it is overcome/utilized is smart and fresh. Excellent title and the theme that goes along with it.

    I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. It was unique and heartfelt story about two people connecting, or at least trying to. Understanding between generations. Use of language barrier and how it is overcome/utilized is smart and fresh. Excellent title and the theme that goes along with it.

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    I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. This play is FUNNY FUNNY, academic, sweet, and fun to watch. A satisfying will-they-won't-they meet cute that will give you butterflies. Seeing queer, black joy on stage is so needed and important. A strong new voice that I can't wait to see more from.

    I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. This play is FUNNY FUNNY, academic, sweet, and fun to watch. A satisfying will-they-won't-they meet cute that will give you butterflies. Seeing queer, black joy on stage is so needed and important. A strong new voice that I can't wait to see more from.

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    I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. This was easily one of my favorites of the festival. It was smart, suspenseful, and hilarious. The story thrusts us into space with a unique setting and high stakes, has well rounded characters, and asks important questions without stopping the flow of the action or urgency of the story. I completely bought it, even as a staged reading. Could go on forever- please read this play and consider producing it!

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    by Darius M. Buckley

    I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. It was outstanding and left me blown away. The poetry cuts to the heart of the characters and their circumstances and heightens the drama. The text drives and soars. Somehow it accomplishes being both tender (about the characters) and razor sharp (about the issue of police brutality and mass incarceration). WATCH THIS PLAYWRIGHT.

    I had the privilege of seeing this piece performed at the 48th Annual Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival. It was outstanding and left me blown away. The poetry cuts to the heart of the characters and their circumstances and heightens the drama. The text drives and soars. Somehow it accomplishes being both tender (about the characters) and razor sharp (about the issue of police brutality and mass incarceration). WATCH THIS PLAYWRIGHT.

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