Marella Martin Koch

Biography

Marella Martin Koch is a librettist, playwright, and lyricist whose work explores agency and its absence. Her writing for the stage has been produced in one quarter of the United States. Recognized for her “lean and well-trimmed” storytelling “full of nuance and emotional pull” (Operawire), she has been praised for her “pointed lyrics reminiscent of Sondheim” (SF Classical Voice), “complete characters in swift sure lines” (The Washington Post), and “cleverness in constructing humor for opera” (DC Theatre Scene).

Directing credits include the workshop of Pym (book/music/lyrics by Sarah Fiete) at Dixon Place and the world premiere of The Great Cat Massacre (book/music/lyrics by Greg Moss and Casey O'Neil) at Frigid Festival. She also directed and co-created the fully-immersive, collaboratively-authored Ragercize: an aerobic catharsis (conceived by Ellen Mullen, choreographed by Erin Kohout, and written by Aferdian, Laura Barati, Minhui Lee, Sarah Heffner, Marella Martin Koch, Ellen Mullen, Tim Parker, and Jeena Yi) with support from The Awesome Foundation and Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

Plays: Friend Animals, L Train Play, nonprofit trash. Musicals: 5th Grade Prison Ship and Adam & Eve (music by Minhui Lee), Danny & The Rocket (music by Casey O'Neil). Operas: Pepito, Tres minutos, and Dolores (music by Nicolás Lell Benavides), Ten Minutes in the Life or Death of… (music by Tyler J. Rubin), Elinor & Marianne (music by Aferdian). Residencies: Catwalk Institute, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley Writers Retreat. Commissions: Chicago Opera Theater, Music of Remembrance, Parea Series, The Rally Cat, Washington National Opera, and West Edge Opera/Opera Southwest/San Diego Opera/BroadStage.

Since 2018 she has worked as a guest director and mentor for the NYU/Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, UCLA/Herb Alpert School of Music, and USC/The School of Dramatic Arts. She also teaches Shakespeare, improvisation, and acting to middle and high school students with Classic Stage Company.

MFA, NYU/Tisch. BA, UC Berkeley.

Up next: Trusted (music by Aaron Israel Levin).

www.marellamartinkoch.com