Knoxville, TN: On Wednesday April 24th from 12PM-1PM, writer and actor Ian Kelly will join students and faculty for a Q&A session on the life of a professional writer in the world of theater and film. Ian Kelly is a multi-award-winning author and actor, a New York Times bestselling historical biographer, and a screenwriter and playwright. He is currently at UT as playwright-in-residence. Kelly was recently interviewed about his experience as a creative professional by the College of Arts and Sciences
His works include biographies ranging from Casanova to Vivienne Westwood, and his works have been performed on the West End stage and Off Broadway. Kelly’s five historical biographies have garnered international acclaim, awards, film, TV and theatre adaptations and have been translated into over twenty languages. Kelly’s play Casanova was named Sunday Times Biography of the Year, Mr Foote’s Other Leg, the biography, won the 2013 Theatre Book of the Year Award before being adapted for the stage.
Currently Kelly is co-writing TV with Julian Fellowes, more plays, and even ballets and is filming Apple Originals TV series in Paris based on his book and play about the first celebrity chef.
As an actor, Ian is perhaps best known either for his appearances as Hermione’s father in the Harry Potter films or for his role in Lee Hall’s The Pitmen Painters, as the art teacher Robert Lyon in the hit play which ran for over four years, via Broadway, the West End and the National Theatre.
Kelly will discuss a wide-ranging life in the arts and publishing. The Q&A will take place from 12PM-1PM on April 24th in the Mary Greer Room in the John C. Hodges Library. The event is free and open to the public; all are encouraged to attend.
This event is sponsored by the English Department. For more information, contact Erin Elizabeth Smith at esmith83@utk.edu.