My son Patrick Kelly is a nominee for Best Local Actor in the Free Times Best of Columbia 2023. My mother once said, “if you can’t brag about your children, you are worthless.” Since I do not want to be worthless, I am going to brag about Patrick in today’s KellyGram.

My oldest son had a milestone birthday this week. He has taken 40 trips around the sun. He caught the acting bug at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School and while in High School he was an apprentice at Trustus Theatre. The founders of Trustus, Jim and Kay Thigpen probably taught him more about life than I did in those formative years! In my humble opinion Patrick is a worthy candidate for the Best of Columbia in the local actor category! He, like my other son, is a multi-talented young adult. Some of the recent things he has done include the lead role in Mr. Burns at Trustus, directing Death of a Salesman last Fall at Workshop Theatre, and summer theater in Almost, Maine at the Arundel Barn Playhouse in Kennebunkport, Maine, which I thought was one of his best performances. He has had lead roles in many plays including The Rocky Horror Show, Hedwig and the Angry Inch and way back in the day the Trustus production of The Graduate. In addition to acting and directing locally he has done theater in Norfolk, Virginia on several occasions and was on stage in two Off Broadway plays at the iconic La MaMa Theatre in New York City. He has also been a Production Manager, teaches as an Adjunct Professor at University of South Carolina School of Theatre, worked with sound design, taught choreography and has additional skills in non-profit management.

To say I am proud of Patrick is an understatement! Earlier this week he graduated from the 2023 Class of Leadership Columbia (I was in in the Class of 1992 – 31 years before him). Either for acting, writing, or directing, local folks need to check him out at his next performances. Also, feel free to vote for my son for the Best of Columbia 2023 – Local Actor. It would be appreciated!