photo cred: Jackie Abbot @jma_photography
Kelsey Angel Baehrens was born and raised on O‛ahu, now based in NYC. She’s a proud mixed Filipina-American and aspiring ancestor.
Fave work includes:
Neary/Sothea in East West Player’s 2025 production of Cambodian Rock Band, directed by Chay Yew.
The Heart of Robin Hood and Macbeth in rep with Great Lakes Theater, Idaho Shakespeare Festival, and Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival.
Cordelia and Fool in Notre Dame Shakespeare Festival’s King Lear, directed by Pirronne Yousefzadeh.
Sara in Theater Mu’s 2025 production of Stop Kiss, directed by Katie Bradley.
co-producer for the new Hawaiian theater initiative, Talk Story Collective. Our debut performance event, “Hawai‘i Talk Story”, premiered in Las Vegas in November 2024, and we continue to produce free writing workshops and fundraisers in NYC, focusing on Pasifika storytelling.
Jenée in Blended Harmony, a new musical by Jessica Huang and Jacinth Greywoode about the true story of the Kim Loo Sisters. In co-production with Theater Mu and History Theater in the Twin Cities.
u/s Neary/Sothea & Pou in the 2022-23 national touring production of Cambodian Rock Band.
director for Kate Hamill’s Pride & Prejudice at KOA Theater in Honolulu.
associate to co-directors Erin Ortman and Yusha-Marie Sorzano in development for Ari Afsar, Lauren Gunderson, and Jordan Ealey’s new musical Jeannette.
associate director to Jess McLeod on the NYCLU’s “Sing Out For Freedom” 2021 benefit concert.
Get to know me better on insta! @kelseyangelb
Up Next
The Heart of Robin Hood
& Macbeth
Feb - Sept, 2026 | Great Lakes Theater
Idaho Shakespeare Festival
Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival
The Heart of Robin Hood directed by Jaclyn Miller
Macbeth directed by Sara Bruner
Resume
Gallery
Artivism
The Talk Story Collective
I’m proud to be a founding member and co-producer for a new Hawaiian theater initiative, the Talk Story Collective.
Our production company is led by kanaka and kama‛āina wahine who moved off-island to pursue their careers. It’s our mission to produce theatrical events that offer a home away from home for locals in diaspora and to give local artists a platform to tell their stories in venues all over the world.
Our debut event, “Hawai‛i Talk Story” premiered in Las Vegas on November 2, 2024. Talent traveled in from Honolulu, New York City, Seattle, Utah, Los Angeles, New Mexico, and Chicago to contribute to this live performance event.
The lineup included:
Musical numbers from The Princess and the Iso Peanut, book by Lisa Matsumoto, music and lyrics by Roslyn Catracchia, featuring members of the original ‛Ōhi‛a productions ‛ohana!
Scenes from Hawai‛i playwrights Lee Cataluna, Ed Sakamoto, Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, and Ryan Okinaka.
Oli and hula from Hālau Hula Ka Lei Mokihana I ka Ua Noe.
And so very many more!
In 2025-26, we produced a viewing of the premiere of Chief of War, featuring a kanaka-led panel of historians and cultural practitioners and free monthly writing workshops based out of NYC.
Next year we plan to produce Too Many Mangoes in Las Vegas, a musical based on the children’s book by Tammy Paikai about two keiki sharing an abundant mango harvest with their community and the unexpected gifts they receive in return. Originally produced by Honolulu Theater for Youth, with music and lyrics by Roslyn Catracchia, adapted for the stage by Reiko Ho and the stellar original company of actors.
NYCLU Artist ambassadors
Squad is changing policy.
The New York Civil Liberties Union is one of the nation’s foremost defenders of civil liberties and civil rights. We’re a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to defend and promote the fundamental principles and values embodied in the Bill of Rights, the U.S. Constitution, and the NY Constitution.
The Artist Ambassador program was created to help amplify the NYCLU’s fight for civil rights and liberties. The program engages, educates, and empowers arts community members who are passionate about the intersection of art and social justice. Contact me if YOU want to become a member!
The link below guides you to the NYCLU website, where you can find simple ways to make very real change in your NY community. If you didn’t know, now you know.