The inimitable K. Brian Neel has been amazing audiences around the globe for over fifteen years. From his award-winning published writing to his dynamic, highly physical performance style, Brian is sure to captivate and inspire.


For nine years Brian directed and performed with KINGS' ELEPHANT THEATRE, America's premiere experimental improvisational ensemble. He became Artistic Foreman of the SEATTLE MIME THEATRE -- an internationally renowned touring company stretching the definitions of mime, being neither white-faced nor silent. He is now a free-lance theatre artist -- performing, writing, directing, and teaching.


Recently as a performer . . .
Brian was in On The Boards' Northwest New Works Festival with the performance art ensemble Helsinki Syndrome in an ensemble-generated highly physical show titled The Main Event. In 2005, Brian acted in the Tony Award winning Intiman Theatre's production of Chekhov's The Three Sisters, directed by the Tony nominated Bartlett Sher. He originated the role of Hamster in the world premiere of the musical Emperor Incorporated at Children's Theatre Company of Sioux Falls. He played Oscar Wilde in Left Coast Theatre's run of the award winning musical Vera Wilde, and fifteen characters in the world-premiere of John Moe's rock musical The Big Time at the 2004 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.


Other acting credits include . . .
Noises Off at the Village Theatre . . . several 14/48 festivals . . . Snow Queen with theater simple . . . Eternal Vaudeville at The Moore . . . Waiting for Lefty and Waiting for Godot with One World Theatre . . . The Maids at Theatre Babylon . . . several episodes of The Twilight Zone Live on Stage at Theater Schmeater and much, much more.


Brian is represented by Topo Swope Talent. He has performed in commercials and industrials for the Seattle International Film Festival, Car Toys, the Tulalip Casino, Quest, Microsoft and more.





As well as being an accomplished performer, Brian is also a talented director . . .

Directing two shows for theater simple: 52 Pick Up by Rita Bozi and T. J. Dawe, which has toured all over the world, including the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, South Carolina, in Australia at the Perth and Adelaide Festival Fringes, and most recently in Singapore! The second show was Trailer Tales, an on-site interactive performance inside a vintage Airstream. This show performed in parks and festivals across western Washington in 2005, and was a resident at the Adelaide Festival Fringe in 2007.

Directing and adapting the critically acclaimed Pieces of the First, comprised of text from landmark free-speech court cases. POF received Garland Awards for Best Direction and Best Ensemble Cast from Backstage West Magazine.

Directing the west coast premiere of the Off Broadway smash hit The Erotica Project by Lillian Ann Slugocki and Erin Cressida Wilson. The show played to sell-out crowds, extending for months in Seattle and receiving critical acclaim.

Directing Mark Boeker's hysterical and controversial solo show
Unhinged & Low Flying at Consolidated Works in Seattle.

Adapting and directing the standing-room-only thriller Kentucky Ghosts, comprised of stories collected by professor William Lynwood Montell at Western Kentucky University, and starring Seattle theater veteran Troy Mink of Carlotta's Wing Ding fame.

Other shows directed by Mr. Neel include Third Days Child by John Kaufmann and Living With Betty by Heather Benton (directed with John Longenbaugh), which also played at the New York Fringe Festival.

S E E t h e A C C L A I M f o r N E E L ' S D I R E C T I N G





In July 2007, Brian was allowed to write two plays for the Summer installment of 14/48, the world's quickest theater festival. See the Events section for notes on his experience and to read the plays.

The Devil's Mile, written by Mr. Neel in association with Paul Shipp, was workshopped at A Contemporary Theatre in 2003. Brian has written three screenplays (One Night Fall, Double Climax, andBelly Talk), several plays and a few short stories.

In 2003 Brian received the Seattle Fringe Alumni Award (The Kibby). He has also been seen around town as Cecil B. DeUkulele, playing his original traveling songs. He is a member of the Tumbling Tumbo Brothers.

Brian has studied with . . .

Del Close of the COMPASS PLAYERS and SECOND CITY . . . Byrne Piven of NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY . . . Sheldon Patinkin of COLUMBIA COLLEGE . . . Donna Blue Lachman of the BLUE RIDER THEATRE . . . Amy Legendre of VELOCITY DANCE . . . Beverly Mann of IMAGO THEATRE . . . Richard Henzel's MASK THEATRE . . . and more.




Brian has created six amazing full-length solo shows . . .

VAUD RATS premiered at the inaugural Capital Fringe Festival in Washington DC in 2006,
and played the 2007 Bumbershoot Arts Festival

PRYK was accepted as the final workshop show in the Empty Space Theatre's 2001 - 2002 season
and played to standing ovations at Re-bar in Seattle in 2003.

DOUBLE CLIMAX was crowned Best of Fest at the Edmonton Theatre Festival in 1999,
performed at the Bumbershoot Arts Festival in 2001 and across southern Australia in 2002,
including a run in the Adelaide Festival Fringe.

CRAZY 8 was a sell-out at the Vancouver Theatre Festival in 1997.

THE 42ND FLOOR premiered at On The Boards in Seattle in 1996, played the Bumbershoot Arts Festival
in 1996 and was crowned Best of Fest at the Vancouver Theatre Festival in 1998.