Kelly (Artistic Director) – Kelly is a working professional in the theatre community as a dancer, actress, singer, choreographer, director and producer. Considering herself a dancer first, she enjoys sharing her passion and knowledge of dance and performance with her students and fellow performers. Her favorite “role” is being a mom to her own little dancers.
As a young dance student, Kelly diversified her training by studying with several prominent local dance teachers, as well as attending conventions and workshops. As she continued, she received overall highest honors at several regional and national competitive dance events. Kelly began theatrical performing in her early teens and attended NOCCA as a dance student. Kelly has also trained at dance studios in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York, and attended Tulane University for Dance and Musical Theatre.
She has been employed as a dancer, performer and choreographer in many different facets including conventions in New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Miami, national commercials, a Mariah Carey music video, educational software, and musical theatre. In New Orleans, Kelly has performed in over 60 musicals at various local theatres including Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre, Le Petit Theatre, Rivertown Repertory Theatre, Le Chat Noir, NOCCA, and Jefferson Performing Arts Society.
As a choreographer, Kelly has created works for the University of New Orleans, Tulane Summer Lyric, Tulane Junior Lyric, Rivertown Repertory Theatre, Le Petit Theatre, Jefferson Performing Arts Society, and FourFront Theatre. Her performances and choreography have been awarded by the Big Easy Awards, Storer Boone Awards (a local theatre award whereby outstanding works are nominated and voted on by one’s peers), Ambie Awards and Marquee Awards. Kelly served on the faculty of NOCCA Academy as a jazz and tap teacher, and has received Ancillary Certification by the State of Louisiana to teach Fine Arts.
Extending her love for theatre to the community, Kelly co-founded two theatre production companies: FourFront Theatre and Theatre 13. FourFront Theatre and Theatre 13 produce a variety of shows including children’s shows, Broadway’s newest musicals and comedies/dramas in different theatres throughout the New Orleans area. In 2009, Kelly’s work with FourFront Theatre landed her in Gambit’s acclaimed “40 Under 40″ issue which” honors the community’s newest generation who have achieved amazing accomplishments and make New Orleans a better place to live.” FourFront’s productions have also been nominated for several Big Easy awards. In 2012, Kelly and her partner became the managing and artistic directors of the new Rivertown Theater for the Performing Arts. Since then, she has directed several award-winning large-scale musical productions, including Annie, Peter Pan, Billy Elliot, Oliver, and Matilda. For a performing arts school to essentially have its own home theatre venue is a perfect combination. This presents both performance opportunities and a stage for future Encore music, acting and tumbling showcases. With 2 theatres, a larger main stage and a smaller theatre, Theatre 13 presents a full season of children’s theater and main-stage musicals/plays.
Kelly’s goal as an artistic director is to provide students of all ages with the skills they need to enjoy the performing arts, in whatever capacity they choose, for a lifetime.
