Hometown: Born in Williamsport, PA but moved around America a lot growing up (Monroe, CT; Buffalo, NY; Phoenix, AZ; Mechanicsburg, PA; Clifton, VA; Elmira, NY; and then lots more moving around as an adult)
Education: BA in Theater & in English from Rollins College (magna cum laude); Actors Theater of Louisville Acting Apprentice.
Favorite Credits: Angels in America, Part 1: Millennium Approaches & Part 2: Perestroika (Harper, Signature Theatre); The Glass Menagerie (Laura, Long Wharf, Roundabout, and the Mark Taper, Theater World Award Winner); F2M (Parker, NYSF); Proof (Catherine, MRT)
Why theater?: I wanted to live as many lives as I could, so being in theater allows me to be many people with different jobs, perspectives, and passions.
Tell us about How to Make Friends and Then Kill Them: This is a twisted comedy that follows two sisters (played by me & Katya Campbell) and their friend (played by Jen Ponton) free-falling from childhood through adulthood without any guidance while trying to grow and mature into independent healthy well-adjusted adults, which is basically impossible. They only have each other, and it’s like the blind leading the blind full of codependency, bullying, manipulation, betrayal, and fatal loyalty. It’s a really stylized production that clips along at only 90 minutes with lots of laughter and lots of gasps. I think it’s kind of like riding a wooden rollercoaster.
What is it like being a part of How to Make Friends and Then Kill Them?: Intense! I feel like an athlete considering how much running and jumping and stage combat I do every night! Or maybe a warrior! I love the collaboration and I have a lot of fun performing this role. This show challenges me, and I like it. Everyone involved in this production is so smart, creative, and courageous.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Shows that take risks, that are raw, vulnerable, and fierce. Shows that upon seeing, change the individuals of the audience and how they perceive and interact with the world. People. Watching people—strangers—go through moments of their day and wondering what their story is.
Any roles you’re dying to play?: I think I’d have a lot of fun playing Puck. I’d also like a crack at Lady Gertrude or even Hamlet. And you can sign me up for anything by Beckett. I also really love New Works—giving a character on a page breath, life, movement for the first time.
What’s your favorite showtune?: Aw jeeze, I see musicals and enjoy them, but I don’t have a lot of showtunes on my iPod—certainly not enough to declare a favorite. Sorry!
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Quentin Tarantino & Woody Allen.
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: I bet Juliette Lewis or Parker Posey would do a bang-up job. I’m the 4th of 5 children, and all our names start with “K,” so maybe “K4” would be a good title. Sounds like an adventure!
What show have you recommended to your friends?: I put recommendations of shows I’ve seen on my public Facebook page; Signature Theater in NYC often delivers.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Marathon watching a TV series—easiest guiltiest way to lose a day.
What’s up next?: I have been cast in a theater production here in NYC immediately following How To Make Friends and Then Kill Them, but it’ll have to stay hush-hush until the official press release. ☺ Stay tuned on my website www.keirakeeley.com and on my Facebook and Twitter!