Paulanne Kohn

Paulanne Kohn Simmons is a multi-faceted writer whose work has been seen in magazines and newspapers, and on stage and television. Her writing abilities were recognized early on, when she was chosen to read her essay, “What My American Citizenship Means to Me,” at her 6th grade graduation.

Paulanne began her professional writing as a copywriter for various New York City advertising agencies. After a decade of writing ads for the likes of Oscar de la Renta and Alitalia Airlines (to say nothing of American Standard plumbing products), she moved on to journalism, writing for such publications as Newsday, The Big Apple Parent’s Paper and The Brooklyn Papers.

But ever since Paulanne’s first experience at a Broadway show – Dory Schary’s Sunrise at Campobello – her biggest love has been theater. After several years of reviewing theater, she succumbed to the challenge, “If you think you know so much, why don’t you write a play yourself?” and penned her first drama, Basketball Lessons, which was produced at Theater for the New City in 2001.

Since that inaugural production, Paulanne’s work has been produced at Theater for the New City, The Ensemble Studio Theater’s Octoberfest, Makor/92 St. Y, the New York Fringe Festival and The Richmond Shepard Theatre. Her theater reviews can be seen on curtainup.com, nytheatre-wire.com, theaterpizzazz.com and theaterlife.com.

Paulanne is a proud member of several professional organizations, including The Dramatists Guild, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and League of Professional Theatre Women.