b i o g r a p h y

Most recently, Nambi served as a writer/co-producer on Peacock's Bel Air.  Previous television credits include:  Lady In The Lake (Apple, Black Reel episode nomination), Our Kind of People (Fox), and The Chi (Showtime). Nambi is also in development for television with multiple projects including a project executive produced by award winning rapper, Nas, and MacArthur genius Tarell McCraney, TBA. Nambi's newly formed production company, FIRST WOMAN, recently produced a film version and two in-person national tours of Nambi's young audiences' play, Jabari Dreams of Freedom, winning the Black Panther International Film Festival in India, and The IBDFF International Film Festival in Toronto (Best Kids Film). Also an accomplished playwright, Nambi is developing multiple projects for Broadway including projects respectively with Laurence Fishburne, and Ruben Santiago Hudson and Ken Davenport, tba.  Nambi received The Prince Prize to develop a play based on the life of Stokely Carmichael/Kwame Ture which premiered in Chicago at Court Theatre. Her play Re-Memori was presented at WP's Pipeline Festival in New York City and recently celebrated a world premiere at Penumbra Theatre Company in St. Paul.  Nambi was chosen by Toni Morrison to adapt her novel Jazz. Her adaptation of Richard Wright's Native Son (Sam French, Concord Theatricals), has been produced all over the country and premiered in New York at The Duke on 42nd Street (Drama League nomination, Audelco Award winner, The Acting Company, producer). Also an award winning actress, recent stage credits include: Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Goodman Theatre), Pipeline (City Theatre), Court Martial at Fort Devens (New Federal Theatre), Seven Guitars (TheatreWorks Colorado Springs), Gees Bend, (Arkansas Repertory Theatre), Harriet Jacobs (Steppenwolf, Kansas City Rep), The Good Negro (Goodman Theatre) The Glass Menagerie (Steppenwolf Theatre) The Ballad of Emmett Till (Goodman Theatre), Crumbs from the Table of Joy (Goodman Theatre) Drowning Crow (Goodman Theatre) Nikki Giovanni:  New Songs for a New Day (Steppenwolf)  Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, (Fountain Theatre), Antigone (South Coast Repertory). Select television: Chicago Med (NBC), Chicago Justice (NBC) Madam Secretary (CBS), Elementary (CBS), Person of Interest (CBS), The Beast (A&E) and City of Angels (CBS, recurring). Nambi has a B.F.A. from The Theatre School at DePaul University, and an M.F.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Goddard College. www.nambikelley.com

Left: Tracey Bonner and JeRod Haynes in Nambi's NATIVE SON, Court Theatre
Right: Chester Gregory and Nambi E. Kelley TWO TRAINS RUNNING at the Goodman Theatre