Photo by Jesse Genito
Director. Collaborator. Mentor. Leader. Creator.
To me, there is no greater freedom than the complete vulnerability of the theatre – a space (both physical and ephemeral) where differing identities converge, collaborate, and bear witness to each other’s offering and, often, liberation of self. I believe theatre is an essential, communal, life-giving act between artist and audience. Not only in the way we gather together to see characters brought to life on stage, but also through the resonance illuminated by the stories being told – our stories and the stories of those next to us.
My body of work has frequently explored the loss of childhood innocence and how we are able to rediscover that innocence and nurture its rebirth as adults. This connects to a years-long, ongoing investigation of the definition of “home” and what belonging to a place and to a people means. Additionally, I am invested in creating work that invites audiences into a theatrical “event”. I do not create theatre with a “lights up, lights down” mentality. I strive to create work that engages an audience with intention and immediacy from the moment they enter the theater. I believe when we invite audiences into the broader world of a play, we encourage more long-term engagement and depth of understanding and empathy.
I am currently focused on telling stories of awakenings, queer love and identity, and stories about the lasting impressions of theatre. Through these stories and my own offering of vulnerability as an artist, no matter what role I serve in a process, I aim to encourage curiosity in and empathy for others, as well as uncover and, indeed, give life to our most authentic identities.
Kelsey Leigh Ervi, or Kels, (they/them) is a Texas-born, queer, trans-masc, nonbinary theatre artist currently based in Chicago, IL. Their interests include queer stories, devising, ensemble-driven work, stories about cross-generational connection, body-inclusive stories, classic stories reimagined, and community-based work. They currently serve as the Manager for Drunk Shakespeare Chicago.
Kels earned their MFA from Northwestern University, creating work focused on identity, community, and loss which culminated in a thesis production of Indecent by Paula Vogel. Prior to grad school, Kels was the Associate Artistic Director for WaterTower Theatre (WTT) in Dallas-Fort Worth from 2016-2019. During their full tenure on the artistic staff at WTT (2013-2019), they directed many plays and musicals as well as produced multiple festivals including the annual Out of the Loop Fringe Festival and the inaugural DETOUR: A Festival of New Work. Most notably, Kels was the conceiver, director, and co-creator of the celebrated The Great Distance Home (DFW Theater Critics Forum Award - Outstanding Creative Contribution), an imaginative and nearly wordless story about the search for life’s purpose told through movement, music, and object puppetry.
Prior to Chicago, Kels spent eight years in the Dallas-Fort Worth region where they worked with many area theaters including Dallas Theater Center, Cry Havoc Theater, Stage West, Junior Players, Echo Theatre, Uptown Players, Shakespeare Dallas, Rite of Passage Theatre Company, Festival of Independent Theaters, and Shakespeare in the Bar. Regionally, they have also worked with Theatre For One, Cape Cod Theatre Project, and Greyman Theatre Company.