04/10/2024
Honored to have been the subject of the March MTA spotlight!
MARCH MTA SPOTLIGHT
JENNIFER O'KELLY
Painter. Light designer. Muralist. Set designer. Sculptor. Jennifer O'Kelly: Theatre Magician. The work and mastery of Jennifer has gone beyond the regular bounds of our theater family. But for the sake of this spotlight, we want to attempt to single out this fantastic spirit and the magic she has sprinkled on our MTA community. Her immense talents have been seen with numerous companies in our Metrolina area including BNS Productions, CPCC, Free Reign Theatre Company, Piedmont Players, Theatre Charlotte and Three Bone Theatre among others. So let us find out more about this incredible spirit!
So tell us about yourself
I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas, received my bachelors at the University of Texas at Arlington after college hopping from one arts program to another, in order to work with the range of visual artists that were teaching in the Texas University system at the time. I was accepted Into the MFA program at North Carolina School of the Arts after working for two years with Dallas Repertory Theater Company as Assistant Lighting Designer to Kraig Aaronson and Technical Director at the Rosebud Theatre.
While earning my MFA in Scenic at UNCSA, I began a five year cycle as the scenic designer for Blowing Rock Stage Company’s summer theater. I spent 2 1/2 years at the University of Tennessee Knoxville as Guest Artist and Assistant Professor of Scenic and Lighting Design before deciding with my husband, Patrick (a Film Charge Scenic Artist), to settle in North Carolina in the foothills just north of Winston-Salem.
Your creative talents have had a far-reaching effect on so many areas of the arts. But as far as theater goes, have you had any favorite or a few favorite productions you have been involved with?
Lighting and scenic design for La Boheme at CPCC, directed by Becky Cook-Carter would be one. Rent at Piedmont Players in Salisbury directed by Bradley Moore, Carmia Burana with Caroline Calouche & Co. at the Booth Playhouse, Tony Stone for Three Bone Theatre directed by Corlis Hayes, Leaving Eden and Mary's Wedding for Rhinoleap theater in Asheboro, and A Soldier's Play directed by Corlis Hayes for Free Reign Theatre Co. Are among my favorite projects for all around, theatrical, collaboration, and recent memory, but I am happy to say it is difficult for me to choose a favorite. It is the camaraderie and overcoming challenges that are present with every theatrical production that gives me the most satisfaction in this Lifelong pursuit.
Anything on the bucket list of shows you would love to design?
Faust, The Magic Flute, Rake's Progress, Tales of Hoffman, the entire 33 of the Masonic Scottish Rite and the fascinating play, rock show or musical that has not been written yet that involves a gripping, suspenseful plot, clockwork like scene changes with elements that fit together in unexpected ways to create new scenes, enchanted, vocal textures and choreographed movement that expresses emotion that cannot be telegraphed via word. I can’t wait for someone to write that whatever it might be.
Anything about you that most people would not know?
That’s a good question. I am very into carving and sculpture, but don’t have a lot of time or the facilities to pursue that like I would like I am slowly learning the finer points of iron, casting so maybe sometime in the near future that will be something I can share, I dislike social media but I recognize the importance of it for ticket, sales and influencing culture and I enjoy working in Salisbury with Piedmont Players for the positive change that I see in a community of Creative people every time we open a new show despite the obvious challenges of being in a smaller town And the recent tumult which I do not fully understand it is still a place where young people can get excited about collaborating and supporting each other and older people with different views come together and do something for the good of the community. There’s a lot to be said, for that I am reminded of many trite sayings to the effect change does not come instantly it comes from time and maybe a little, gentle pressure.
Let's say you have the ability to have the production of your dreams. Describe that to us.
It would be to collaborate with a group of performance creators, landscape architect, theatre architect and an audio engineer to design an outdoor arts park that would include an outdoor theatre stage, naturalist gardens and sculpture park and rotating mural gallery with a catering pavilion and picnic area.
The Site would be 10-12 acres, have varied topography including a hillside that would provide the foundation for a natural Amphitheater.
The Cast
Closs, Oldenburg and James Searls would be my sculptors of choice with environmental installations by Red Grooms and Judy Chicago.
They are too many theater creative for this cast for this list, though if pressed, I could put that together, I feel in this forum it is better to say we would accept proposals and interview candidates. I will have to do some research for landscape architecture collaborators, but would certainly look to the room project for one of the outdoor theater consultants.
What are you currently working on and what may be next for you?
I have several projects in the works at the moment. By the time this comes out, I will be focused on the set design for Twelfth Night for CPCC's drama program at the Parr Center. We had our initial design round table February 1 and I am excited for the directing we are heading. After that, I will be taking a brief break from production to spend 4-6 weeks on my visual art series which includes small sculptures and large paintings. I'm also designing Bright Star for Rhinoleap Productions and Leaving Watermaine for Charlotte Conservatory Theatre and just completed The Mountaintop for Theatre Charlotte and The Piano Lesson for Brand New Sheriff Productions.
Wow, Kelly! Thank you so much for sharing here! Not only with this spotlight, but also the wealth and magic of your talents to all of us!! You are indeed a treasure, and we are so fortunate to have you here with us!!
