Kelsey E. Collie is Professor Emeritus of Theatre of Arts at Howard University, He served as Assistant Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard, and in 1973, founded the world renown Howard University Children’s Theatre and developed a major area of concentration in Children’s Theatre (only one of two accredited programs at African American universities).  Professor Collie is, in part, responsible for the entertainment careers of many performers on television, stage and movie screen, included among these are Kellie S.

     Williams, Chris Thomas, Tony Powell, Harriet D. Foy, Frenchie Davis, Karen Malina White Taraji P. Henson, Anthony Anderson, Isaiah Washington, and most recently Marcus Canty who appeared on Fox TV’s“THE X FACTOR”. He has written more than 100 plays and is an international award-winning playwright.  For more than 40 years, Kelsey E. Collie has been recognized as a national and international leader in theater for young people.  He developed a love for performing arts at an early age, writing his first play at 9.  His devotion to writing and performing led him to pursue degrees in Theatre Arts at Hampton University, George Washington University and Howard University.

     In addition to writing plays for children and adults, he has contributed articles to Black Mask Magazine and Dr. Nellie McCaslin’s textbook, “Theater for Young Audiences,” among other publications.  He has directed productions at the Howard University’s  Ira Aldridge Theater, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Empire State Theater (NY), several colleges and universities across the U.S.;  the Caribana Festival in Canada, Town Hall in Dundalk, Ireland and the Ambassador Hotel in Nassau, Bahamas.

He has performed on stage in “Ceremonies In Dark Old Men” with Al Freeman, Jr.; in the film, “Suspect” with Cher; in an HIV-AIDS infomercial; and in churches around the Washington metropolitan area.  Collie, a talent agent/manager, became a part of the talent pool because he believes that he should know what his clients can expect when they are hired.

     As the academician and Artistic Director for “My Little World---A Day in Pre-School,” he brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team. Having taught many of the African American performers on stage, screen and television in the last 25 years, he is devoted to the development of young performers.  When his then 8 year old daughter read an article about him in the George Washington University newspaper which indicated that he “liked” children she promptly protested stating, “They’ve got this all wrong.  You don’t like children, you love them!”   Professor Collie now lends his talent and vast years of experience to the development of the “My Little World” LIVE Theatre Production.