Julie Kelly fell in love with theatre after seeing a one-man show and experiencing willing suspension of disbelief for the first time in high school. She had always wished to help people in her studies and career choice and this moment sparked her discovery of how theatre can truly affect people’s emotions and psyche, taking them out of their own world, even if just for a moment. She further explored this in high school, when her theatre teacher introduced her to drama therapy, which she spent her Monday afternoons volunteering at the convalescence home, the impact of which solidified her decision to pursue theatre. 

She graduated from The University of South Carolina with a BA in Theatre. From there, she went on to complete her apprenticeship at Flat Rock Playhouse, and later took acting classes at NYU. She found her passion through teaching middle schoolers theatre and realizing how it truly impacted their confidence. She also directed, acted and stage-managed theatrical performances at the Science Museum of VA, where her love of science and drama ended up intertwining. 

She took a break from the theatre to be with her family and raise her three children. Julie is happy to be back at it at On the Stage Children’s Theatre.