Kelly Atkins

Kelly Atkins has had a prolific and varied career in the performing arts spanning three decades. Primarily known as a versatile musical theatre actor with a powerhouse voice and a flair for physical comedy, she has appeared in over seventy leading and supporting roles on the stages of professional theaters throughout the country. In addition to her theatre credits, Ms. Atkins has been seen in countless national and regional commercials and industrials, on concert and cabaret stages, and in voiceover and print. She has been a member of Actor’s Equity Association, the only union for professional stage actors, since 1997. 

 

Recent theatre performances include Souvenir (Florence Foster Jenkins), POTUS (Jean), Living on Love (Raquel DeAngelis), A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (Miss Shingle), Scrooge in Rouge (Vesta Virile/Scrooge), Hand to God (Marjorie), and The Toxic Avenger (Mayor Belgoody) at the Hippodrome Theatre, and Mamma Mia (Donna), The 25th Annual Putnum County Spelling Bee (Rona), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (Christine), and Hairspray (Velma Von Tussel) at the Alhambra Theatre. Other notable engagements include starring roles in The Great American Trailer Park Musical at Actor’s Playhouse at Miracle Mile, My Way- a Tribute to Frank Sinatra at Florida Studio Theatre, Victor/Victoria and The Will Rogers Follies at The Show Palace Theatre, Little Shop of Horrors at American Stage and My Fair Lady and Camelot at Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre. Of particular note is her star turn in the first regional production of The Great American Trailer Park Musical as Pippi -the stripper with a heart of gold-  at the Hippodrome Theatre, a production that tripled the previous box office record, extended its run three times, and was remounted three seasons later with Ms. Atkins reprising her role to similar success. 

 

Ms. Atkins has performed musical theatre roles at the Tony Award -winning regional companies Riverside Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. She has had the pleasure of starring alongside Emmy Award-winning television luminaries Sally Struthers in Hello, Dolly!, Jamie Farr in Lend Me a Tenor, and Loretta Swit in the world premiere of the new comedy, Amorous Crossing. Recognizable appearances in film and television include guest hosting on Lifetime Network’s Designing Spaces, and roles in HBO’s Recount and FOX’s America’s Most Wanted. 

 

As a vocalist, Ms. Atkins has sung in concert with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra in the leading role of Mabel in Pirates of Penzance and as the featured soloist in their Holiday Pops concerts. With Opera Theatre of Connecticut, she has been featured in the staged concert productions of A Gershwin Celebration and Romantic Favorites from Opera and Broadway. She has had the honor of being selected as a national finalist in the American Traditions Vocal Competition, and has been awarded First Place awards on four occasions from the NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) competition. Her solo jazz cabaret was an ongoing event for nearly a year at Rhett's Piano Bar and Bistro in the historic district of downtown St. Augustine, Florida. During the pandemic, she created a new cabaret, Cocktails and Classics, to be performed at Bo Diddley Plaza and other outdoor venues in Gainesville, Florida.

Ms. Atkins received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Theatre from Shenandoah Conservatory and a Master of Music degree in Performance from University of Florida. She currently maintains a busy private studio in Gainesville, Florida offering technical training and performance coaching for singers and actors of all levels of experience. Additionally, her skills with photography and make up artistry have led to a growing side business - Headshots by KAM Photography - creating compelling natural light headshots for performers of all ages.​​​​