Kelly Younger
Professor of English and Affiliate Faculty of Theatre Arts | Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA, UNITED STATES
Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts
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Biography
Kelly Younger is a screenwriter, TV writer, playwright, story consultant, and Emmy- nominated producer. He is the writer of the Amazon feature film CANDY CANE LANE, starring Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross, directed by Reginald Hudlin, and produced by Imagine Entertainment, which premiered in December 2023 and quickly became the biggest Amazon MGM Studios-produced title of all time domestically. He is also writing and developing several projects for The Muppets Studio, having already co-created and co-executive produced MUPPETS NOW, and written and co-executive produced MUPPETS HAUNTED MANSION (4 Emmy nominations with 1 win, and winner of the 2022 PGA Award for Outstanding Children's Programming) both of which are streaming on Disney+ to much acclaim. Younger served as a member of the Disney Animation Story Trust, working on such films as RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET (story credit), FROZEN 2, MOANA, and RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON. Additionally, he consulted on the live-action TINKERBELL (Reese Witherspoon, p.) and the live-action ALADDIN (Guy Ritchie, d.), and participated in the Pixar Animation Brain Trust on CARS 3, INCREDIBLES 2, TOY STORY 4, COCO, and ONWARD.
Younger is currently co-writing a feature film for Skydance Animation for directors Rich Moore (ZOOTOPIA) and Jim Reardon (WALL-E). Younger has developed at Amazon, Apple, Hulu, Disney Studios, Paramount Animation, Warner Animation Group, Dreamworks Animation, Disney Originals, and consulted at Skydance Animation and on both SHREK 5 and PUSS IN BOOTS 2 at Illumination. He frequently gives invited studio talks on fairy tales and story structure.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Younger earned an MA in Classics (Mythology, Folktales, and Fairy Tales) at Loyola University Chicago and a PhD in Literature and Drama Studies from University College Dublin in Ireland. He is currently a tenured professor in the Departments of English and Theater at Loyola Marymount University where he leads writing workshops and teaches seminars in fairy tales.
Education (3)
University College Dublin - National University of Ireland: Ph.D., Drama Studies
University College Dublin - National University of Ireland: M.A., Drama Studies
Loyola University, Chicago: M.A., Classical Studies
Areas of Expertise (15)
Muppets
Play Writing
Drama
Theatre
Fairy Tales
Irish Drama
Modern Drama
Contemporary Drama
Screenwriting
Entertainment Industry
Animation
Writing for Animation
Disney/PIXAR
Television Writing
Producing
Industry Expertise (3)
Writing and Editing
Animation
Entertainment
Accomplishments (5)
Fritz B. Burns Distinguished Teaching Award (professional)
Awarded by Loyola Marymount University, 2011
Teacher Eddy Award (professional)
Awarded by LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commerce
State of California Senate Teaching Recognition (professional)
Awarded by State of California
California Legislation Assembly Teaching Recognition (professional)
Awarded by California Legislature Assembly
County of Los Angeles Commendation for Teaching (professional)
Awarded by County of Los Angeles
Affiliations (6)
- Dramatists Guild of America
- Comparative Drama Conference: Board Member
- Pacific Residents Theatre: Associate Member
- Writers Guild of America
- Comparative Drama Conference: Board Member
- Pacific Residents Theatre: Associate Member
Links (5)
Languages (2)
- Classical Greek
- Classical Latin
Courses (21)
Fairy Tales
FFYS 1000
Introduction to Drama
ENGL 2209
Language of Drama
ENGL 2200
Creative Writing for Non-Majors
ENGL 2205
Play Writing Workshop: One Acts
ENGL 4413
Play Writing Workshop: Full Lengths
ENGL 4424
Modern Drama
ENGL 3316
Contemporary Drama
ENGL 3326
RoadRead
ENGL 3373
Chekhov
ENGL 3398
Theatre & War
ENGL 3398
Performance & Media
ENGL 3398
Irish Drama
ENGL 3398
Art of War: Stage & Screen
ENGL 3398
Art of Monologue
ENGL 3398
Fairy Tales
ENGL 3398
Comparative Drama
ENGL 5580
Drama, Theory, Criticism
ENGL 5598
Classical Literature in Translation
ENGL 5598
Critical Methodology
ENGL 6600
Genre Seminar: Drama
ENGL 6602
Articles (2)
Not What, But How
Conversations on Jesuit Higher EducationYounger, Kelly (2010) "Not What, But How," Conversations on Jesuit Higher Education: Vol. 38, Article 10.
Honors, Inc.
Journal of the National Collegiate Honors CouncilYounger, Kelly, "Honors, Inc." (2004). Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council --Online Archive. Paper 140.
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