Andy Kelso didn’t see theater as a legitimate career path when he graduated from Eaglecrest High School in 1998. The Aurora native would quickly change his tune, however, changing his academic path from a focus in sound engineering to a full focus on musical theater and straight drama at the University of Northern Colorado. The shift paid off. After appearances on local stages, Kelso moved to New York to pursue his stage career, landing a high-profile part in the Broadway production of “Mamma Mia” relatively soon after his arrival. Kelso is back in Colorado as a company member in the touring production of the blockbuster musical “Wicked,” playing the role of Fiero in his first traveling show. We caught up with Kelso at Eaglecrest, chatting in the same auditorium where the Broadway veteran took part in his first productions as a spotlight operator and later as an actor. Kelso talked about his dramatic roots in Colorado and the value they had on stages in New York and beyond.
How did you get involved in the Eaglecrest theater scene?
My first experience was kind of because of my sister – she made me join the choir and then she made me audition for the musical, “The Secret Garden.” My audition went horribly. They ended up singing along with me to make me feel better and I ended up running spotlight for the production. I got to be involved. I felt just as included as the actors were, and that production ended up going to Lincoln, Neb. for the International Thespian Festival. I think I learned a lot just watching what the other actors were doing onstage. It wasn’t until then that I said, ‘Let’s try to figure this out.’
Did you learn how to give a better audition?
The very next year the school did “Into the Woods,” and I ended up getting cast as a baker. It was a 180 from where I was before. The cool thing about the character and Stephen Sondheim in general is they are huge acting shows. The baker isn’t too vocally demanding, the songs were fairly easy. I was really involved in the theater for the rest of my time here. “Evita” was the next big musical. I was also in a couple of plays, “The Wayside Motor Inn” and “Prelude to a Kiss.” I directed “Charlie’s Aunt.” I was Lysander in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
Were you set on a career in theater by the time you graduated in 1998?
No. I didn’t think it was something I wanted to pursue as a career. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do and in fact, my senior year … I just knew I was going to end up staying in state. I ended up going to Colorado State University and my best idea of what I wanted to do was to be a sound engineer. After a year being away from theater, I realized I missed it. I ended up auditioning for the program at the University of Northern Colorado and getting accepted to both musical theater and theater programs.
After graduating from UNC and making appearances at the Country Dinner Playhouse, the Arvada Center and other local stages, you set out for New York, where you landed a spot in the Broadway production of “Mamma Mia” in 2005. What was it like to achieve such high-profile success relatively soon after your move from Colorado?
It was a huge shift. I was really intimidated, and I knew it was a big deal, any time you’re able to put that Broadway category on your resumé, it’s nothing to look at lightly. I was also like, ‘When are they going to call and tell me that this isn’t happening, that they made a mistake.’ The more I worked at it, the more I realized that this was just like any other show. It was just that I was working with people who were more experienced. Everything was more put together. It’s the same thing that I did here at Eaglecrest, it’s just amplified. But this is the roots of everything.
What’s it like to be able to come home with the touring company of a high-profile, blockbuster show like “Wicked”?
This is my first tour, the first time at the Buell Theatre. It’s just incredible. Vocally, “Wicked” is more challenging than some of the things I’ve done. The fact that it’s such a hit and has such a huge following can be kind of intimidating. There are so many people who have played this role, and you can start to ask, ‘How do I stack up?’ It is a bit of a challenge … You want to do it justice.
It sounds like the theater crew at Eaglecrest tackled some fairly demanding material when you were a student here, from musicals like “Chess” and “Into the Woods” to safe stock like “Charlie’s Aunt.” How do you think that experience in high school shaped you as an artist and a performer?
Even now, I’m not really turned on by the more traditional shows. I’m not an “Oklahoma” or a “Hello Dolly!” guy. Those aren’t the things that interest me first. The newer things are what I like. That probably has a lot to do with what we did here.
Reach reporter Adam Goldstein at agoldstein@aurorasentinel.com or 720-449-9707
“Wicked”
Through May 20
The Buell Theatre, 1101 13th St., Denver
Tickets start at $35
Information: denvercenter.org or 303-893-4100