...in full vanity

Kelsie Huff

...in full vanity

MYFACE/bcjheadshot2.jpg

As a zygote Kelsie was stuck in her mother's womb-bone. It took some pullin’ and yankin’ but the good people wearing stiff scrubs got her out and only damaged her right ear flap with their shiny medical tools. But who really needs two ear flaps anyway? Ear flaps are overrated. Kelsie has been living a 1/2 earflap life ever since and it’s been good. She uses said earflap to make comedy.

Photo by: www.bcjphotography.com Make-up by: Neda Stevic

Kelsie in the News

“Huff owns this story. With a Sedaris-like attention to detail and a playfulness that’s infectious, she continually serves up the type of unexpected turns that smack of honest-to-God truth. Huff pulls you in with wide-eyed physicality and razor-sharp focus. True to her best comedic forbears, she plays the absurd so pitch perfectly that when the climax arrives, it feels less like a major tonal shift than a revelation of something we knew was always just offstage. Undoubtedly, this show (wo)man is headed for an even bigger stage. DON’T MISS: Solo artists Kelsie Huff’s tragicomic story of a trip to a Midwestern funeral will make you love one-person plays again.-Dan Granata; Time Out Chicago

“A high energy Kelsie Huff takes us to her grandfather’s funeral in small-town Illinois in HUFFS, a monologue well served by her unique perspective, vivid imagination, and willingness to embarrass herself. The memories aren’t always sunny, but they deliver some hearty laughs along with the bitterness and guilt.” HIGHLY RECOMMENDED -Jenn Goddu; Chicago Reader

"Kelsie Huff is another standout. This is an actress who makes confident choices and creates loud, defined characters that are both unbearable and hilarious." - Nina Metz; Chicago Tribune

2008 Camera Eye Awards! Kelsie Huff, WINNER in the category of Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Comedy) for her performance in square's production of HUFFS, presented at the 2008 Boulder International Fringe Festival.

HUFFS-Voted Best of C.R.A.B. @ Boulder's 2008 International Fringe Festival!!!

HUFFS got 4 out of 4 stars in Boulder's The Daily Camera!

Here's some of what Mark Collins, The Daily Camera theatre critic had to say about HUFFS:
"It's a darkly funny show that takes an unexpectedly poignant turn. Her performance crackles with life and at its very best, gets into rare reaches of emotional ambiguity. Huff leads us into laughing and crying territory, but not in the Joni Mitchell way. More in a Bart-Simpson's-world-gone-bad kind of way."

Here's what other folks in Boulder had to say about HUFFS:

"Totally funny and moving. I loved it." - L.R.

"Kelsie Huff is a gifted performer with often great comic timing. Her story is engaging, its emotional range vast." - Randy Kaplan

"Wonderful show. Funny and heartbreaking..." - Aaron

"Loved it! Kelsie tells a whale of a story through humor, physicality and a ten gallon heart." - Mary-Laurence Bevington

Special thanks to Emily K. Harrison and square product theatre for all their help with the Boulder premier of this show. And to Howidgedown for the artwork and to all the folks at the fringe who were super cool and super welcoming to a Midwestern gal doin' her first fringe show.

...nothing like a long a*s third person bio to swell the ego...

After graduating from Columbia College Chicago in 2002 Huff was accepted into the Second City Conservatory where she graduated AND met Amy Sumpter and formed the two women sketch comedy team Children of the Absurd. Their signature show titled 10% Less Fat focused on the absurdity of female body image and was performed at Second City’s Donny’s Skybox, Frankie J’s, Chicago Sketchfest, The Beverly Arts Center, Neo-Futurarium, Cornservatory, the space, and Kentucky and Indiana State University. During this time Huff also created several solo pieces produced by The Box Theatre Group, an all female theatre company formed by fellow Columbia College Chicago Alumni. In 2005 Huff wrote and produced her acclaimed one woman show Huffs which explored the struggle to find forgiveness in one dysfunctional family tree. The show was staged at the Royal George Theatre and was directed by Jason Madeja (Columbia College Chicago 02’). Huffs was voted best in C.R.A.B and given four out of four stars at the 2008 Boulder International Fridge Festival. HUFFS will also be re-opening, at Memorial Hall Theatre this January in Richmond, IL - produced by Theatre Underground. Huff also co-wrote Don’t Ever Change a story of two high school friends that reunite in their small town only to find that time has changed their once meaningful relationship. The piece has been read at Three Pear Studios and the Theatre Building Chicago. She has performed with the Beast Women Female Cabaret and is an Artistic Associate of Babes with Blades. Huff is very proud to be the co-creator, director, and writer of an all women solo performance troupe The Muffin Basket Cases, seven women whipping up a new solo show every week. Kelsie can currently be seen performing stand-up around Chicago and is jazzed to head up, the kates, who perform the last Saturday of the month at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square. She will also be performing in Drinks are on the House (but the house is in foreclosure) in Second City's Donny's Skybox Friday nights at 9pm in March. August 2010...a new one woman show...THAT'S RIGHT!!!