Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Kelly.
Hi Kevin, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, tell our readers some of your backstories.
I’ve been performing professionally as an actor and cabaret artist for over 25 years. I am the youngest of 5 and the son of a preacher man. As a family, we often sang in front of the congregation, so the performance life was a perfect fit. Since then, I’ve been hamming it up on stages and venues throughout the US. I’ve lived in all four corners of the US and points between. After High school in Edmonds, Washington, I graduated from Kansas State University and made my way to Florida by way of Rhode Island. In addition to being a working actor, I own a studio where I offer vocal and audition coaching and piano instruction for clients of all ages. Over the past few decades, my forte has been helping performers of all ages find musical excellence through solid technique and interpretation.
You wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
I’ve been fortunate that my career has been doing what I love: performing and teaching. When I first moved to Florida, I became disillusioned and stepped away from performance for a few years. I didn’t have a feel for how I fit into the entertainment industry and suffered from imposter syndrome. Fortunately, I met a director named Alan Bruun, who took a chance on me, and cast me in my first production in Orlando, and I was thrilled to reclaim my spark. We’ve been friends ever since, and I’ve had the pleasure of doing multiple shows for him and musical directing a few.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a seasoned stage performer with over 25 years of professional theatre and cabaret credits. I have performed rave reviews in theaters across central Florida and beyond and have been a featured soloist with the Orlando Philharmonic and Sarasota Orchestra. I even have my own jazz trio, and we play toe-tapping standards of the 50’s & 60’s as Kevin Kelly & the Mood Swings! My favorite form of entertainment is the cabaret forum. I love the intimacy and connection with the audience while crooning a tune or telling jokes. Growing up, I knew that I was different from the other kids. While they were listening to Bon Jovi & Adam Ant, I was listening to Sinatra, Mel Torme, and Ella Fitzgerald, so I probably wasn’t the easiest kid to relate to. Now that I’m grown, my happy place is singing the standards made famous by those artists of the mid-century. I’m not an impersonator, but I share my take on the nuances of my musical idols.
Bottom line: I can swing a sentimental tune and tell a good “guy walks into a bar” joke!
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
Orlando is the one place I’ve lived the longest. Coming from Rhode Island and living in colder climates, I enjoy Orlando’s warmth and pace. We have a wonderful pool of talent in the area, so there’s always something wonderful to see. What do I like least would probably be I-4. I cringe when I have to take it, and I rarely leave a three-mile radius of Baldwin Park while I’m home.
Pricing:
- for booking, go to KevinKellySings.com
Contact Info:
- Website: KevinKellySings.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcv-h5vTIPMEevyAoj3GBfg
