photo cred: Jackie Abbot @jma_photography

Kelsey Angel Baehrens (that’s me) was born and raised on O’ahu. She’s a proud hapa Filipina-American and aspiring ancestor.

Fave work includes

u/s Neary/Sothea & Pou in the national touring production of Cambodian Rock Band,

director for Kate Hamill’s Pride & Prejudice at KOA Theater,

assistant to the National Music Theater Conference’s artistic director, Alex Gemignani, at The O’Neill Center in Waterford, CT,

associate director to Erin Ortman (@erinortmandirect) in development for Ari Afsar (@ariannaafsar), Lauren Gunderson (@lalatellsastory), and Jordan Ealey’s (@jaealey) new musical Jeannette (@jeannettemusical),

associate director to Jess McLeod (@mcjessmc) on the NYCLU’s “Sing Out For Freedom” 2021 benefit concert,

Alice in Playhouse Square’s Lizzie, the rock musical,

Nell in KOA Theater’s Wild Swimming,

Wanda in Theaterworks USA’s national tour of The Magic School Bus.

When she’s not basking in theater spaces, Kelsey’s running the socials for @cambodianrockband, jamming with The Tarantulas (Hawaii’s favorite Dengue Fever cover band), frequenting local dessert businesses, hiking up green and precarious things, or binging Lord of the Rings (the director’s cut, OBVI). Will drop anything to play Carcassone or Scrabble.

insta: @kelseyangelb

Gallery

Pals Doing the Things!

NYCLU Artist ambassadors

Squad is out on those NYC streets shifting policy. Check them OUT.

The New York Civil Liberties Union is one of the nation’s foremost defenders of civil liberties and civil rights. We’re a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to defend and promote the fundamental principles and values embodied in the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution, and the NY Constitution. The NYCLU’s 2022 legislative agenda includes badassery such as reducing the size and harm of our incarceration system, stopping abusive policing, protecting immigrant New Yorkers, and investing in our communities.

The Artist Ambassador program was created to help amplify the NYCLU’s fight for civil rights and liberties. The program engages, educates, and empowers arts community members who are passionate about the intersection of art and social justice. Contact me if YOU want to become a member!

The link below guides you to the NYCLU website, where you can find simple ways to make very real change in your NY community. If you didn’t know, now you know.

Equity quotient

I’ve been quoting co-founders Keryl McCord and Lisa Mount since I met them. Their Learning Lab is gorgeous and one of the most effective equity training experiences I’ve had. Check out the button below for more info.

honolulu theatre for youth

HTY is an Emmy award-winning theatre of place, deeply rooted in the cultures and people of the Pacific. Founded in 1955, HTY is one of the oldest and most respected children’s theaters in the country. HTY has served over five million people through school and family performances and drama education programs. HTY works primarily through the public and private school systems in the state. HTY reaches out to all children in the state regardless of race, economic condition or geographic location. They have taken leadership in seeking out and developing new work for young people that reflects on the cultures that make up modern Hawai‘i (primarily Pacific and Asian) – folklore, history or issues that impact local kids. Nearly one-third of HTY’s productions have been world premieres.

This company is built and run by truly exceptional artist-advocates and provides local actors with the only professional acting gig in the islands.