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Ken Urban

@kenurbanplaywright

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rep by Luke Virkstis @wme
musician in @occurrencemusic
Director of Dramatic Writing at @mitmta

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Next season at American Blues Theater in Chicago. THE CONQUERED / Directed by Jonathan Berry. Jane suffers a recurring nightmare in which a young man breaks into her house, and her quest for answers leads to a dangerous discovery. Summer 2027 by @kenurbanplaywright

“It is hard to believe that a random Facebook message to Cat could lead us on such a magical journey. It is also hard to believe that a date with Johnny could have led to a whole new chapter in my life. Looking back at that time, it feels impossible. It feels impossible that reaching out to Cat after not speaking for nearly twenty years could have led to MY DAYS AND NIGHTS BELONG TO YOU. It feels impossible that the painful end of my relationship could have led to not just a new relationship and but a whole new music partnership between Johnny, Cat and I. I typically hate the lure of nostalgia, its trap that the past was somehow a magical place. But the start of Occurrence was actually magical. To have the opportunity to go back to our earliest songs and take what we have learned to reimagine these songs, well, it is a gift in the true sense of the word. Love, Ken’s SOUL HOLE” by @kenurbanplaywright

“Occurrence came to me as a surprise. Ken and I were just getting to know each other, and we started dating. I remember one time I sang in front of him. Something operatic, I think. The first thing out of his mouth was, “That’s so many notes.” A confusing yet charming comment, but in a way, it was the beginning of an exploration of how my style could intersect with an electronic pop genre.

When I met Cat, I knew right away that she was Occurrence. Not just because of her powerhouse voice and powerhouse personality, but because her lyrics revealed the entirety of who she was, with an authenticity that I wanted for myself too. I wanted to express myself through my own music and be the most authentic me I could be, bringing a past that would last forever into a future that might help me answer questions about myself, my dreams, and my longings.

Occurrence does that. It gives me a place to explore all of it. Ken and Cat allow me to be me, and I hope I allow them to be them. Together, the three of us have created something that feels impossible to replicate: a perfect combination of fun, history, sadness, insane happiness, and eternal autumns. XOXO, Johnny” by @kenurbanplaywright

“I was in a very low place when Ken first asked me to sing on an Occurrence song…and then another, and then another. Soon he said, “we are in a band now.” I can’t quite capture what that meant to me then, in that dark moment. The three of us have had a beautiful ten-year collaboration that has changed my life. I’m so proud of all we’ve done, and excited for everything to come—which will undoubtedly be weird. Our new EP ANNIVERSARY drops this Friday. (Link in bio.) I hope you enjoy this blast from our past, remixed and remastered in all its glory. Sexy nihilistic bangers 4 ever. Xoxo, Cat” by @kenurbanplaywright

Ten years as a band. One EP to celebrate. Pre-order ANNIVERSARY now and share in the love. by @kenurbanplaywright

“THE MODERATE”
By Ken Urban

Winter 2026
Boston, MA (Central Square Theater)

*CRITICS PICK, Boston Theater Critics Association*

🏆 WINNER OF (Elliot Norton Awards)
*BEST NEW SCRIPT
*BEST SOUND DESIGN
*BEST SCENIC

NOMINATED FOR
-BEST ENSEMBLE
-BEST PLAY
-BEST DIRECTION
-BEST LIGHTING
-BEST ACTOR, LEAD
-BEST ACTOR, FEATURED ROLE

————-

I had the privilege of directing and designing the multimedia for Ken Urban’s new play THE MODERATE. We had one central actor onstage while 4 other actors performed live somewhere in the building and were projected through live-feed, in scenes performed in real time.

It’s a play that takes place in the pandemic and centers around content moderating online. It’s a beautiful text, a haunting experience.. and oddly taps into a new nostalgia for some of our memories of 2020… a total privilege to direct.

Also a new leap for me, as my first real production adding projection design back into my role as a director. Thank you to Emery Frost for expertly being at my side as video associate. It helped me understand the way to be directing: to incorporate my own multimedia intuitions into the rehearsal process like it *is* an actor in the ensemble. To champion making digitally-forward relationships, even our first day of rehearsal was over cameras - to identify the unique ways we love, care for, and behave when gathering in a site-specific space (online).

It was particularly joyous to hop behind a computer to *show* my creative team a design impulse, instead of just explaining it. I felt a new form of collaboration in my artistic journey that I’ve never felt before, creating authentic synergy between the design team and the performers onstage.

Congrats to all on the production.
It was a dream to enter 2026 this way.

—————

THE MODERATE
Written by @kenurbanplaywright
Directed by @jaredmezzocchi

Produced at @centralsqtheater

Scenic @sibylwickersheimer
Sound @cefmusic
Lighting @kevkevkevlar
Video @jaredmezzocchi
Video Associate @_emfro
Costumes @kerlscostumes
Stage Mgr @charleswaiteclay
Asst. SM @katecarvalho6
Production Mgr @saraahutch

CAST
@naelnacer
@actingcelested
@gregmaraio
@jules_talbot
@seanwendelken by @kenurbanplaywright

Birthday celebrations with my boo Johnny and our boo Cat Lady. Listen to our new album in honor of my 52nd birthday. How the f**k am I this old?!? by @kenurbanplaywright

Johnny wears things and then we sing at him. #afterparty #katebush @katebushmusic by @kenurbanplaywright

We three are becoming ONE. by @kenurbanplaywright

New album GEMINI HOLE out on Thursday June 18th. by @kenurbanplaywright

Thanks to the Boston Theater Critics Association for their recognition of THE MODERATE. Apologies for the free-wheeling acceptance speech. I was genuinely shocked. I share this award with everyone who made the show possible. Jared, Nael, Celeste, Greg, Jules and Sean: our rehearsals rank as some of my happiest times in theater. All of the 13 actors who were filmed for the video content: thanks for your bravery. Sibyl, Christian, Kevin, Chelsea: what a dream design team. Thanks to Charlie, Kate, Susan and everyone on the production team who kept the show running. Lee, Cathy, Maggie, Nick, Roberto and everyone at Central Square for believing in it. Thanks to Venturous Theater Fund, Roy Cochran Foundation, EST/Sloan, Zach & Willis and all the donors. Thanks to Theater at MIT for their support. I also must thank all of the content moderators and scholars who spoke to me. Those conversations inspired the play and truly changed my relationship to the internet. by @kenurbanplaywright