Nathan Holley, a Utah Valley-based playwright and actor, is recognized for his compelling (and often absurd) original works, including Lifeboat and Godot, Searching. Having studied Musical Theater at SUU, he continues to enrich his theatrical expertise at Brigham Young University, where he's focused his studies on playwriting and dramatic theory.
At BYU, Holley's play Archipelago was recently presented as part of the College of Fine Arts' Writer/Dramaturg/Actor Workshop series. Simultaneously, he oversees podcast distribution for the institution's well-received broadcasting network, BYUradio, contributing his voice to promotions on KUMT 107.9 FM and playing various roles in the audio drama podcast, Kaboom.
In 2023, BYUradio brought Holley's one-act play, True Bugs, to life as a fully-realized audio production. The radio drama is now available on BYUradio, KUMT, and various podcast platforms and radio affiliates globally. An accomplished composer, Holley provided the original score for Utah's premiere production of Parfumerie. In 2020, he was honored with the Deseret News Sterling Scholar Award in the Theatre Arts category and has received numerous recognitions from local and nationwide performance organizations.
Notable Acting Credits: Seussical (Hale Center Theater Orem), Once (Hale Center Theater Orem), Pump Boys and Dinettes (Buffalo Theatre Co.), One for the Pot (Hale Center Theatre), As You Like It (Grassroots Shakespeare Co.), The Importance of Being Earnest (Southern Utah University)
Connect with Nathan on Instagram: @noofin_hoopley
Plays
The Pulitzer Prize-nominated playwright, Will Arbery (Heroes of the Fourth Turning, Plano), hailed this script as "a story of grief so powerful, it tears the very fabric of the universe apart." On the banks of the Scottish Northern Isles, Bosco and Marcelle once cared for a son, but now they mourn the missing child. In fable, a young lad called Otter searches for a way to start over. A rich exploration through the depths of the seas brings the family freedom, love, heartbreak, and darkness. Reality and fable are far more connected than we see. A twisted and lively tale, Archipelago is a charming and surprisingly hilarious story of imagination, grief, and second chances.
On the westward trails, when our pioneering trains and companies found themselves less than fortunate, difficult decisions were made in preservation of the party. One of these decisions involved the “leaving behind” of widows and women, stranded on the side of the road, where they would wait for a more prosperous party to come along that might take them in.
The Stars, the Trail, and All’s Inbetween tells the grim story of five valiant women, stuck at a crossroads, waiting for prospects to pick them up. In this strange wilderness, stranded by their parties and their pasts, they discover the irony of the plains, the futility of their decisions, and the camaraderie of Zion.
In 1953, Samuel Beckett introduced a literary masterpiece that would become synonymous with the dramatic absurdist movement. Waiting for Godot chronicles the tale of two men engrossed in philosophical conversation, contemplation, and carrots as they await assistance under a solitary tree from a mysterious figure called Godot, who fails to appear. Seeking to unravel the question of "who is Godot, and why is he a flake?," Godot, Searching delves into the ambiguous and time-defying circumstances from Godot's perspective. By exploring his endeavors to locate his ardent followers, we discover the intricate interplay of egos and ids that hinder his untimely arrival.
MIX-UPS, MAYHEM, and MESSES! In the cozy confines of her Mississippi home, Nanna Merriam dwells less-than-peacefully with her well-meaning yet seemingly inept grandson, "Happy" Henry Jones. Facing slippery ground in all his relationships, Happy is one misstep away from a frigid plunge through the thin ice! So when Jonathan, his desperate, geology-obsessed college roommate, arrives heartbroken at his doorstep, Happy finds himself entangled in a comedic escapade to prevent Merriam from uncovering her unexpected new tenant. A whirlwind of uproarious twists and turns, The Pests promises a laughter-filled spectacle, with hilarious homage to comedy classics like The Foreigner and The Nerd. Get ready for a hilarious journey that will leave you in stitches!
Of the two-thousand two-hundred and eighty hopeful passengers that boarded world's grandest ship, only seven hundred would survive to recount the harrowing tale. In disbelief, the passengers quickly escalated into panic as they, one by one, plummeted from the majestic decks of the RMS Titanic into freezing Atlantic. Lifeboat, a gripping reinterpretation of the infamous disaster's final moments, delves into the minds of both passengers and crew. It unveils their poignant judgments, anxieties, and inner monologues amidst the unfolding tragedy.
In the rustic sitting room of Buddie's quiet, rural home, Stephanie hosts an endearing surprise party for her reserved but warmhearted ex-boyfriend. What begins as a quaint celebration descends rapidly into madness when each of Buddie's six guests unexplainably disappear. With reality blurred, a startling light is shed on the true nature of the evening's festivities.
When Roxey the Ladybug is caught by a human child and trapped in a jar she must lead her fellow captive bugs on a daring escape mission.
Successes
Waiting for Waiting for Godot wins 1st Place, 10-Minute Plays in Vera Hinckley Mayhew Creative Arts Contest
Archipelago wins Best Overall Play in Vera Hinkley Mayhew Creative Arts Contest