biography

“I believe in the immortality of theatre. It is the most blessed hiding place for those who secretly put their childhood in their pockets and went off to play for the rest of their lives.”– Max Reinhardt

Who is Kelly?

I've loved playing pretend for as long as I can remember, which is why that Max Reinhardt quote (above) is one of my favorites. My mom fondly recalls frequent afternoons when a pint-sized, 4-year-old Kelly would put on shows in the living room, standing atop an overturned Tupperware container and singing her little heart out. Now, my life is not so different from those childhood days, save for the fact that I'm lucky enough to be performing on stages that are just a bit bigger than a Tupperware.

Career

Growing up in Northwest Indiana, I immersed myself in the Chicagoland theatre scene, and began my training at the age of 10. The art that has always spoken to my soul is that which changes its audience, and leaves them walking away from the performance with the knowledge of something new--about themselves, the human experience, or the world at large. I strive to ground all of my work in love and intention, with the hope that those who witness my performances walk away with not only a different worldview, but a kinder one. As an actor, I love to tackle complex, warm, whip-smart characters who don't back down from their dreams. I hope to spend my career with other kind, ambitious, creative professionals who love telling stories, spreading love, and playing pretend as much as I do. Recent credits: Jo March in Little Women (The GhostLight Theatre), Texas in Cabaret (LIU Post), Laura in Significant Other (The GhostLight Theatre).
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What's next

I am currently in rehearsals to play Sara Jane Moore in Sondheim's Assassins at Long Island University! This is a production that's been in the making since September of 2022, as our ensemble of 10 Suzuki-trained seniors has been working closely with David Hugo and James Crichton to study the complexities of Assassins through the lens of Maria Porter's Re-Purposing Suzuki method. This physical theatre-based, collaborative Assassins is Sondheim like you've never seen it before!
WHERE: Long Island University - Post Campus WHEN: April 7th and 8th, 2023 TICKETS: Email me for more info!