Hobart and William Smith Colleges

19 September 2011 Burke 05 Shines in Blue Surge

All the worlds a stage for Kelly Burke 05, an actress whose success has extended beyond HWS and into the vibrant life of theatre in London. Last month, Burke was on stage at the Finborough Theatres production of Blue Surge, a show by playwright Rebecca Gilman.

The show, which marked its U.K. debut, centers on Curt, a cop in a small, Midwestern American town, who is facing pressure from locals to close down a questionable massage parlor. When Curt meets Sandy, a young prostitute employed at the parlor, a simple shut-down becomes less clear cut. Burke played the role of a fellow prostitute, Heather.

Blue Surge, premiered from Aug. 2 27. The production, directed by Che Walker, was met to glowing critical acclaim and received four stars from numerous news outlets including The Guardian, The Times and London Theatre Reviews.

Information on the Finborough Theatre can be found at http://www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/.

Burkereceived her B.A. in English from William Smith in 2005. On campus, she was a member of the Phoenix Players theater troop, participated in numerous Bartlett Theatre productions and received multiple awards including The E.E. Griffith Award in Theatre, the Nathan D. Lapham Prize in Public Speaking, the Ann Palmeri Prize, the Presidents Public Service Award and the Elizabeth and Ruth Young Peace Prize. Burke also complete an honors project, Zelda Fitzgerald: An Investigation through Performance, with Professor of Theatre Robert Gross.

Since leaving HWS, Burke graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She has performed with many theatres throughout the United Kingdom and United States. Her performance in Zelda at the Charing Cross Hotel, earned her an Off the West End Theatre Award Nomination for Best Female Performer. Burke has also lent her voice to BBC Radio 4 in programs such as The Big Sleep, The Little Sister, and These Are the Times.