Paula Alma Kelly (October , â€" February , ) was an American actress,
singer, dancer and choreographer in films, television and theatre.
Kelly's career began during the midâ€"s in theatre, making her
Broadway debut as Mrs. Veloz in the musical Something More!,
alongside Barbara Cook. Kelly's other Broadway credits include The
Dozens (), Paul Sills' Story Theatre (), Ovid's Metamorphoses (), and
Sophisticated Ladies (), based on the music of Duke Ellington,
appearing with Gregory Hines and Phyllis Hyman.Born in Jacksonville,
Florida, Kelly was one of three daughters born to Ruth and Lehman
Kelly[citation needed], a jazz musician. By age six, Kelly's family
had relocated to Harlem neighborhood of New York City. For high
school, Kelly attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music
& Art, majoring in music. Kelly continued her studies at the Juilliard
School of Music, where she majored in dance under Martha Hill.
Graduating in with an M.S. degree, Kelly performed as a soloist with
major modern dance companies such as Martha Graham, Donald McKayle,
and Alvin Ailey.Kelly performed as guest artist and sometimes
assistant choreographer for numerous television musical specials,
including Sammy and Friends (starring Sammy Davis, Jr.);
co-choreographer of the BBC production of Peter Pan, in which she also
performed the role of Tiger-Lily; Quincy Jones' TV tribute to Duke
Ellington, We Love You Madly; The Richard Pryor Show; and Gene Kelly's
New York, New York, in which the two Kelly's performed a duet.Kelly
performed a dance solo at the st Academy Awards for the nominated
title song from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (). She appeared on the London
stage in Sweet Charity with dancer and actress Juliet Prowse, for
which Kelly won the London Variety Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She starred in the record-breaking west coast premiere of Don't Bother
Me, I Can't Cope at the Mark Taper Forum, for which she was awarded
the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, Variety, and the first of
three NAACP Image Awards.
singer, dancer and choreographer in films, television and theatre.
Kelly's career began during the midâ€"s in theatre, making her
Broadway debut as Mrs. Veloz in the musical Something More!,
alongside Barbara Cook. Kelly's other Broadway credits include The
Dozens (), Paul Sills' Story Theatre (), Ovid's Metamorphoses (), and
Sophisticated Ladies (), based on the music of Duke Ellington,
appearing with Gregory Hines and Phyllis Hyman.Born in Jacksonville,
Florida, Kelly was one of three daughters born to Ruth and Lehman
Kelly[citation needed], a jazz musician. By age six, Kelly's family
had relocated to Harlem neighborhood of New York City. For high
school, Kelly attended the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music
& Art, majoring in music. Kelly continued her studies at the Juilliard
School of Music, where she majored in dance under Martha Hill.
Graduating in with an M.S. degree, Kelly performed as a soloist with
major modern dance companies such as Martha Graham, Donald McKayle,
and Alvin Ailey.Kelly performed as guest artist and sometimes
assistant choreographer for numerous television musical specials,
including Sammy and Friends (starring Sammy Davis, Jr.);
co-choreographer of the BBC production of Peter Pan, in which she also
performed the role of Tiger-Lily; Quincy Jones' TV tribute to Duke
Ellington, We Love You Madly; The Richard Pryor Show; and Gene Kelly's
New York, New York, in which the two Kelly's performed a duet.Kelly
performed a dance solo at the st Academy Awards for the nominated
title song from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (). She appeared on the London
stage in Sweet Charity with dancer and actress Juliet Prowse, for
which Kelly won the London Variety Award for Best Supporting Actress.
She starred in the record-breaking west coast premiere of Don't Bother
Me, I Can't Cope at the Mark Taper Forum, for which she was awarded
the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award, Variety, and the first of
three NAACP Image Awards.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.