Dan Kelley Named New Artistic Director of Stage Door Theatre

When Dan Kelley met Derelle (Dee) Wilson at an audition for Company for the Ft. Lauderdale Players in 1989 for the first time, Kelley somehow knew they had a future together, says Bunn. "I don't know who that woman is," he told his partner, "but I will know her the rest of my life."

And on October 1st, 2015 - 27 years later - Dan Kelley took on the official role of Artistic Director at Bunn's Stage Door Theatre.

Originally known as an actor, Dan Kelley made his debut at the Ruth Foreman Theatre in 1989, and subsequently appeared "on every South Florida regional stage for the next ten years," he says. Jack Zink of the Sun-Sentinel wrote "Dan Kelley, possibly the region's best known song and dance man..."

But in 1998 co-founders of The Broward Stage Door Theatre Dee Wilson Bunn and David Torres asked Kelley to direct his first show - he had never directed before - "so it was a giant leap of faith / crapshoot on their part which seemed to work out because 17 years and over 100 shows later I'm still directing here at Stage Door," he says. Kelley is proud to be on a very short list - that includes Daivd Arisco and Lou Tyrrell - of individuals who have been nominated for the Carbonell Award as both actor and director.

Some major highlights over the years include - Zaza/Albin in La Cage 2000 ( Carbonell nomination best actor in a musical ), Parade (regional premiere, Carbonell nomination best direction ), The Drowsy Chaperone (winner Silver Palm Award - nominated Carbonell award best actor, direction) , and Neil Simon's Rumors ( winner best ensemble Carbonell Award).

Kelley takes great satisfaction in looking back at all the careers that he helped start at Stage Door . Actors fresh out of college playing their first roles in the professional arena who have gone on to major Broadway and Regional careers. "As I learned back in 1998, that's what it's all about - taking a giant leap of faith/crapshoot on someone and seeing it all work out."

Derelle Bunn is the Co-founder and Producing Artistic Director of the Stage Door Theatre. She has a life-long career in the performing arts, producing more than 300 productions, and performing as an actress in more than 50 shows from New York to Florida. She graduated with honors from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater, and a co-major in Theatrical Business Management. She also attended New York University's Masters Program. She was the Founder and choreographer for the Urban Ballet Company in Atlanta, Georgia., receiving grants from Coca-Cola and winning numerous awards for her work there. She is a two time winner of the prestigious Candler Grant, and received three Governors Honors Awards in recognition for her work as a choreographer. As a singer, she has been a two-time finalist for the NYSTA awards, sponsored by Stephen Sondheim. Stage Door audiences may remember her for performances in Deathtrap, Side By Side By Sondheim, and Prisoner Of 2nd Avenue. Directing credits at the Stage Door include The Convertible Girl, Star Spangled Girl, and An Evening With Rodgers And Hart.

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