News
HOLD
HOLD, a narrative short film written by Kelly, is making it's way around the world in film festivals such as Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival, Soho International Film Festival, and Montreal International Film Festival where it won BEST PICTURE. Find out where HOLD will be next at holdshortfilm.com or on Instagram.
Christmas in the North Country
Kelly enjoyed the winter magic of Northern New Hampshire as part of Weathervane Theatre's Holiday Rep Season. Kelly appeared in and co-created the original review NORTH COUNTRY CHRISTMAS, and reprised her off-Broadway role in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE.
What the Constitution Means to Me
Like playwright Heidi Schreck, Kelly was an American Legion Scholar & her father, Art Strandemo, was an active Legionnaire. So, she was thrilled to bring this achingly relevant, real and raucous story to life at the Weathervane Theatre in 2024. Future dates for WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME to be announced soon!
photo by Lew Whitener
BEAUTIFUL
Kelly returned to the Weathervane Theatre's Resident Rep Company to appear in BEAUTIFUL and WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME. Kelly played "Genie" in BEAUTIFUL, and she also directed Weathervane's annual community Shakespeare project: NORTH COUNTRY SHAKES.
PRIMARY Reading in NYC
Prior to its World Premiere at the Weathervane, PRIMARY was workshopped in readings, including an industry reading starring Debra Monk, Robert H. Fowler, Michael X. Martin, and Kathy Deitch. The NYC reading was coproduced by Weathervane Theatre, Out of the Box Theatrics, and Breukelen Stage & Film.
CARDIFF
Kelly can currently be seen in playing coal-loving "Tammi" in CARDIFF - an award-winning short film by Director Sarah Smith and Writer Phillip Guttmann. Visit CARDIFF online to see where screenings may be happening in your area.
THE CONGRESSWOMEN
Kelly's full-length reimagining of Aristophanes' comedy, THE CONGRESSWOMEN, premiered at the 2018 NY Fringe Festival and has subsequently been performed at additional theatres. The play is currently available on NEW PLAY EXCHANGE.
THE THANKSGIVING PLAY
Kelly was excited to return to her home state of South Carolina to play "Logan" in the Warehouse Theatre's production of Larissa Fasthorse's THE THANKSGIVING PLAY, directed by Kerrie Seymour. (photo by Will Crooks).
PRIMARY - World Premiere!
Kelly's farcical comedy, PRIMARY, recently completed its World Premiere run at the Weathervane Theatre in New Hampshire. The cast featured Broadway's Robert H. Fowler and Valerie Wright. Please contact us for inquiries on rights and future performance opportunities.
2026 Dates TBA!
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME
Kelly plays "Carly" in this independent feature debut by Zander Kirby. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME is distrubuted by FilmHub, and is now available to stream on TUBI and Amazon Prime.
Summer at Weathervane
Kelly appeared as a member of last summer's Weathervane AEA Acting Company. She performed in NORTH COUNTRY SHAKES, and served as an understudy & swing for their productions of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, EURYDICE, and A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER.
Plays During Plagues
During the COVID pandemic, Kelly was fortunate to work with some great theatre companies as they made a necessary pivot to streaming. Kelly appeared in readings with NEW YORK STAGE & FILM, MENACED MINDS, and in Renee Calarco's THE RELIGION THING with Company-19.
MY REAL MOTHER @ NYMF
Kelly appeared alongside Broadway's Elena Shaddow in Riley Thomas' new musical, MY REAL MOTHER, as part of the last New York Musical Festival (NYMF). The musical played the Signature Theatre and was directed by Misti B. Wills.
NARNIA Off-Broadway
Kelly spent an enchanting year and a half off-Broadway journeying to Narnia in THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, directed by Julia B. O'Brien.
Reviews
“ The Congresswomen is chocked full of well-timed humor, references both subtle and poignant, and is a true joy of feminine rage and pride. Strandemo crafts a narrative that is timely, relevant, and speaks expertly to a wide variety of contemporary anxieties and conversations with both tact and humor. This playful, complex, and vibrant adaptation comes to a thoughtful and satisfying conclusion, and really “seizes the patriarchy by the manhood.” A delightful revival that takes the issues of ancient Greece and places them neatly into the here and now. ”
ELIANA M. TATE / New Play Exchange
For CAMELOT:
"Kelly Strandemo as Guenevere, and Al Bundonis as King Arthur, carry the show with their strong voices and impish expressions"
JENNIFER KRONHOLM
Lakeville Journal
For CAMELOT:
“Splendid and Entertaining! Kelly Strandemo as Guenevere is the definition of the Broadway ingénue - as lovely to listen to as to look at...”
DAN SHAW
Rural Intelligence (CT)
For LUCKY STIFF:
"Kelly Strandemo is one of Harry's inheritance rivals (from a canine welfare charity) and his eventual love interest. She has the best musical moment with the simple and sweet 'Times Like This.'."
JOSEPH McDONOUGH
Cincinnati Enquirer
For "ONE, TWO, WHATEVER YOU DO ...boasts some of the finest acting I've ever seen at FringeNYC. As the chorus, Becker, Perez, and Strandemo demonstrate versatility and a range as they take on multiple personas on the turn of a dime..."
MARTIN DENTON
nytheatre.com
For FUENTE OVEJUNA:
"Jane May and Kelly Strandemo encapsulate a female strength as they rally the women, maenad-like, to tear the commander to pieces. ...The strength of every member of the Ducdame Ensemble makes them a company to watch. I cannot wait to see what they have to offer next."
JARED R PIKE
theasy.com
For YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN:
“...poignant and funny “You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown,” with a superb cast including the very, very, vee-e-ry crabby Lucy, played expertly by Kelly Strandemo..."
BETH SATTER
Conway Daily Sun
For MY FAIR LADY:
“Though the stars of the show are wonderful, bit players ...enhance every aspect of the production surrounding them... [E]very one of these actors shines. ...Kelly Strandemo, Susan Terner and Corey Wiesner all deserve a mention and a round of applause.”
AMY TAGLIAFERRI
Cape Cod Chronicle
For BELLES:
"As whimsical as these characters are, it is not their quirks, but WHY they have those quirks that is gripping, and enchanting. Kelly Strandemo as Audrey ...did a 180-degree turn in the second [act] and transformed into one of the most compelling characters. Perhaps the best scene in the play was her conversation with 'Aneece" where, sitting in the bathtub she truly seemed like a frightened little girl, who, though she grew up, had never truly combated her childhood demons."
ASHLEY GRIFFON
theatreonline.com
For BELLES:
“Marisa Viola's direction gives the production admirable pace, and the six actors are as engaging. ...Strandemo also has some endearing moments as Audrey.”
RON COHEN
Backstage
For THE CONGRESSWOMEN:
"The classic play...shines with some modern updates. Ducdame Ensemble is a female-driven powerhouse."
ED MALIN
theasy.com
For THIRDS:
“The most comedic of the three sisters is Maya, a directionless artist whose imagination runs wild with elaborate daydreams. Strandemo bursts out in wide-eyed, large-gestured dramatics that make you chuckle (just wait until you hear about “baby sister Cordelia” and the baboon) because she reminds you of every attention-seeking baby of the family.”
AMANDA MASHACK
BroadwayWorld
For THIRDS:
"Maya (the delightful Kelly Strandemo) is still the baby of the bunch"
SANDY MacDONALD
Theatremania