Ryan Kelly - I'm also a dancer and choreographer

"Girl Ryan", that's how many of my friends program me into their cell phones. How'd I get the name. . . Ryan's Hope. People also refer to me as Miss Staten Island, cause I was lucky enough to hold that title in 2002. I'm a native New Yorker; I live in the greatest city since the Trojan War! Whoo hoo!In grammar school, I won every borough science fair from grade 5 up through grade 8. (It's crazy to see my catholic school uniform as the chosen fashion of today.) Then spent 4 years in a public High School for science and engineering and finally wound up in a conservatory for Musical Theatre and Acting. Ok, It wasn't that sudden I'd always had dance lessons, voice lessons, did community theatre, and loved Shakespeare.

My mom, also an actor/singer/dancer, (we have a mother daughter act, tell you more about it later), got me hooked on theatre. My dad was also into the arts. He's big on reading Ben Brantley’s NY Times reviews and almost always agreeing with them. They aren't your typical parents; they are my closest and dearest friends and the two most supportive people on the planet.

I'm dedicated to American Popular Standards, The Beatles, Motown, Doo Wop, Musical Theatre, & Jazz; you name it, Chances Are. . . I know it, love to sing it, and know every harmony, and alternate verse. Writing music is the only thing I dig more than performing it. I don't compose because I want to, but because I have to, (and always at 3:00 AM, can't complain, as long as the muse shows up, I don't mind the hour.)

My other passion is acting. I've been studying ever since I can remember. I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from Carnegie Mellon, with a major in Musical Theatre, but I've learned more about acting from watching old movies than anything else. Some of my favorites are, Some Like it Hot, 12 Angry Men, Roman Holiday, Gas Light & The Long Hot Summer. . . (I was re-incarnated.)



I'm also a dancer and choreographer. People get a big kick out of my vocal impersonations. I've probably booked more work from that gift than any other skill. I started mimicking when I was around three. My parents bought the original cast Album of Ain't Mis'behavin, and I can emulate every voice on that record. Now, I have a one-woman show, (Radiant Women), and impersonate everyone from Judy Garland to Billie Holiday. . .it's a pisser. I love making people laugh. The most gratifying hand from a crowd is a big belly laugh.

I've been lucky enough to have been cast in great roles, and work with amazing and talented people. My favorite, and most recent acting gig was playing Maggie in Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. I've also appeared off-B'way as Elsa in Joy, and am featured as, you guessed it, a vocal impersonating swing dancer in a wonderful film called Dorian Blues. I've done many shows at Snug Harbor, (Follies, Fiorello, The Gifts of the Magi etc), and the powers that be had enough faith in my work to employ me not only as a performer, but also a choreographer.

As a singer I've played (in Manhattan), Birdland, The Bitter End, Danny's Skylight Room, The Duplex, The New York Comedy Club, The Garrick Hotel, (on Staten Island, remember, I was Miss Staten Island, and I love this little town), The Staten Island Hotel, The Lake Club, The Alice Austin House, The Staaten, The South Shore Pier, La Sabia, The College of Staten Island & The Hilton Garden Inn. I took my one woman show to The Prime Hotel in Saratoga Springs, and performed my original works at Northwestern University in Chicago.

I also teach voice, acting and speech. Teaching is as wonderful as learning. Nothing is greater than seeing the glint behind a student's eyes when they "get it." I coach for pageants as well. My specialty is interview prep, (I say it's the most important skill, and the category Miss America watchers know the least about.)