Lee Papa is an associate professor in the Department of English at the College of Staten Island. He has taught playwriting and dramatic literature at CSI since 2003, along with directing productions for the Performing and Creative Arts Department. Lee is the author of the books Staged Action: Six Plays from the American Workers’ Theatre and The Rude Pundit’s Almanack, as well as a playwright whose works have been performed around the United States, the UK, and Canada. Most recently, his play Midnight in Nashville was produced at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, followed by a 2026 run at the Glitch theatre in London. His new solo show, Best All-Around White, will premiere in January 2027 at the One Yellow Rabbit Theatre in Calgary. He is also a political commentator who appears regularly on radio, podcasts, and streaming shows.
Degrees
PhD, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, English
MA, University of Louisiana, English (Creative Writing)
BA, University of Louisiana
Books:
The Rude Pundit's Almanack. New York: OR Books, 2012.
Staged Action: Six Plays from the American Workers' Theatre. Ithaca: ILR Press, 2009.
Plays:
Best All-Around White. One Yellow Rabbit Theatre. Calgary. January 2027.
Midnight in Nashville. 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Glitch. London. August-September 2026.
It's the End of the World As We Know It... One Yellow Rabbit Theatre, Calgary. January 2020.
Heterosexuals. New York Fringe Theatre Festival. August 2010.
The Road to Rude. One Yellow Rabbit Theatre. January 2007.
The Year of Living Rudely. New York Fringe Theatre Festival. August 2005.
