Kenneth Lin (playwright)
# Kenneth Lin (playwright)

Kenneth Lin (born 1978) is an American playwright and screenwriter. Lin's plays have been performed throughout the world and his TV shows have been distributed via Netflix, HBO, Cinemax, Hulu and more. In theatre, he is best known for his plays Po Boy Tango, Farewell My Concubine (coming soon), and Kleptocracy. In Television, he is best known for his work on the Netflix series House of Cards, the Hulu Series, The First, and the Cinemax series, The Warrior. He is a member of the theater/music/film collective New Neighborhood.

Upcoming theatrical works include Farewell My Concubine with composer Jason Robert Brown (Cinematic Productions), Life On Paper (Jackalope Theatre Company) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with music by Stew and the Negro Problem. Television credits include The First (Hulu), House of Cards (Netflix, Emmy nomination, Best Dramatic Series), Warrior (HBO/Cinemax), and Sweetbitter (Starz). Feature film credits include Abacus (dir. Justin Lin). Awards/honors include winner of the Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition, Princess Grace Award, L. Arnold Weissberger Award, Cole Porter Prize, Edgerton New Play Prize and Fulbright Scholarship. Education: Yale School of Drama

## Early life and education

Lin was born in the Bronx, New York to parents of Chinese descent and grew up on Long Island, New York.

Lin was born into a Chinese-American family. Lin attended Cornell University and the Yale School of Drama. He is an alumnus of the Fulbright Program and was selected as one of the Dramatists Guild's top “50 to Watch.” In 2013, Lin joined the writing staff for the second and third seasons of the Netflix series House of Cards.

## Personal life

Kenneth Lin and Rebecca Ruth Sawyer married in Riverhead, N.Y. She graduated from the University of Connecticut. She has two master’s degrees, one in East Asian studies from Yale and another in social work from New York University.

## Career

### Film And Television Work

**Warrior (TV Series) 2019**

* (written by - 2 episodes)

**Sweetbitter (TV Series) (2018)**

* (consulting producer - 6 episodes)
* (written for television by - 1 episode)

**House of Cards (TV Series) (2014-2017)**

* (co-producer - 13 episodes, 2016) (supervising producer - 1 episode, 2017)
* (staff writer - 6 episodes, 2014) (written by - 5 episodes, 2014 - 2017)
* (story editor - 13 episodes-2015)

**Stronger (Short) (2016)**

* (executive producer)

**My America (2014)**

* (written by - segment "'John'") (2014)

### Theatre Work

**said Saïd (2007)**

The play received the L. Arnold Weissberger Award, presented annually by The Williamstown Theatre Festival (WTF), on behalf of the Anna L. Weissberger Foundation. Lin received a $10,000 prize and publication of his script by Samuel French, Inc. It also was awarded the Princess Grace Award: Playwriting Fellowship.

The play had its world premiere at the Alliance Theatre and had its West Coast Premiere in 2008.

**Po Boy Tango (2007)**

Po Boy Tango, South Coast Repertory Pacific Playwrights Festival, world-premiere Northlight Theatre Company

**Intelligence-Slave (2010)**

World-premiere, Alley Theatre

**Fallow**

World-premiere, People's Light and Theatre Company

**Warrior Class (2012)**

World-premiere (Off Broadway), Second Stage Theater

**Pancakes, Pancakes! (2016)**

Ran at the Alliance Theatre Atlanta GA between May 31 - July 10, 2016.

**Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (2017)**

Premiered at Alley Theatre Houston in February 2017

**Kleptocracy (2019)**

Performed 2019 at the Arena Stage, Washington, D.C.

**Exclusion (2023)**

First performed May 5-June 25, 2023, at the Arena Stage, Washington, D.C.

### Future projects

* Life on Paper (2020): To be performed in 2020 at Jackelope Theatre Company Chicago IL
* Genius in Love
* About Me
* Agency
* Farewell My Concubine

## Awards and honors

Kendeda Graduate Playwriting Competition (said Saïd)

Princess Grace Award (said Saïd)

L. Arnold Weissberger Award

Cole Porter Prize (said Saïd)

Edgerton New Play Prize (Po Boy Tango)

Fulbright Scholarship

