BIOGRAPHY

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Erik Champney is a writer, director, and Kennedy Center honoree. A proud native of Shreveport, Louisiana, he has also planted roots in Seattle, Singapore, and New York. Inspired by his personal history, Erik is a steadfast advocate for LGBTQ+ artists living with disabilities.

"Funny, visceral, intriguing, sexy, horrifying and utterly beguiling - all at once." Stephen Collins, British Theatre

Erik’s professional career began at the age of 15 when he was commissioned to write a play by Isobel Rosenbloom for renowned children’s theatre Peter Pan Players. Since then, his work has been produced, developed, and celebrated across the United States and beyond. Throughout the decade of 2011-2021, he wrote 18 plays and received 42 productions, workshops, and readings.

“One of the finest new playwrights of our time.” Jim Kierstead, Tony Winning Producer of the New York Premiere of Champney’s Dead Brains.

In 2021, Erik wrote and directed his first film, Tuesday, which has gone on to become an Official Selection of more than a dozen film festivals around the world. It is now streaming on WeShort, a partner of Sundance Film Festival and sponsored in part by Versace. Erik has recently completed his second film, The Screens, based on his acclaimed stage play, published by Left Coast Publishing in its Screaming Queens anthology, available in paperback and on Kindle.

“Erik Champney wrote about an artist wanting to create a masterpiece. I guess it was Champney who actually did that.” Justin Cheang, Arts Independent

Erik has enjoyed collaborations with remarkable people, including Alan Cumming, Christy Altomare, Garrett Clayton, Stephanie Styles, Misha Osherovich, Susannah Perkins, Marrick Smith, David Pittu, Mao Sun, Erich Bergen, Jeremy Tiang, and Sawyer Spielberg.

“Erik Champney’s writing is equal parts deep literate drama, witty contemporary humor, and base raw sexuality…makes you question your own mortality and even your own perceptions of life.” Mia Moreta, Outer-Stage

In his formative years, Erik was a member of Young Playwrights Inc., where he studied under Stephen Sondheim, John Weidman, and Wendy Wasserstein. Other notable influences have been Jim Sheridan, B. Mark Seabrooks, Leigh Silverman, and Craig Lucas. He received a B.A. in both Theatre and English from Centenary College of Louisiana followed by a M.F.A. in Dramatic Writing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

"Mr. Champney's writing is searing, insightful and believable...Exceptional...Precise, detailed and effective." Darryl Reilly, TheaterScene