Kelly with a Big Ol’ K

I believe in Gay Magic!

Kelly with a Big Ol' K is a revolution in spandex. AKA, Kelly Kerr, shot straight from her mother’s womb directly into stardom. By age 5, her massive drive towards the limelight motivated her to become a member of West Side Dance Company and Dance Connection, however, she was often cast as the Big Dancer or the Funny Girl. While other performers might have shied away from the spotlight because of their size, Kelly embraced it, allowing her to establish a niche early on. While continuing to bubble over in her spandex, Kelly refined her skills in dance, as well as adding Tang Soo Do and comic elements into her repertoire.

Throughout high school and college she started to audition for local plays, which then added theater into her skill set. Landing a role in the Playwright Theatre’s Zoo Crisis and cut her musical chops in vocal classes at Phoenix Community College, she was embracing all forms of art. Along with classes, Big K landed a gig as lead singer in a local rock band performing in venues that included Mason Jar, Joe’s Grotto, Big Fish Pub, The Nile, Chasers, and the Orpheum Theatre.

Next, the well-rounded performer left home on a travel adventure that took her from the Comedy Underground in Seattle to the Upright Citizen’s Brigade in New York City and on to Los Angeles. All the rejection only fueled a fire that helped formulate her own comic inspirations. With the help of a costume designer friend, Kelly developed her own one-woman show, incorporating her vocal, dance, and comedic abilities, which then officially birthed Kelly With A Big Ol’ K in 2005! The show opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews and was an enormous success in New York City’s Duplex Little Theatre, packing the crowd beyond capacity.

Performing in Phoenix

In 2008, Big K made her homecoming to Phoenix, where she not only found true love with a local rock god and became a mom, but also lit a comic fire for the dance troupe Scandalesque. After a pregnant pause, Kelly has returned to the stage since 2014 to emcee many shows from Phoenix’s Crescent Ballroom and Cocopah Casino in Yuma, AZ, Arizona Unzipped: A Scandalized Celebration of the Arizona Centennial at Phoenix Center of the Arts, Phoenix PRIDE’S Erotic World, Alwun House, Stir Crazy Comedy Club, Arizona Chapter’s Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Fundraisers, Corporate Events as well as regularly doing stand-up at a multitude of local AZ venues.

Entertaining the masses and bringing you miracles through laughter is what you can expect from, Kelly With A Big Ol’ K~

What made you get into stand-up comedy? 

I think Stand-up comedy got into me! I have been "funny" and very outgoing since birth. I used to powder my entire body in baby powder, put on my moms high heels and scooootch across the floor and tell my family to "Watch Me Entertain You!" And they literally shut the TV off and watched me sing or dance or do a funny comedic silly act! 

Do you identify as a feminist? If so, what does that look like for you?

Absolutely! It looks like a lot of standing up for myself when I am threatened in anyway, especially from a group of people attempting to over power me or my feminine based friends, no matter if male or female. I think I identify as an Anti-Bullying stud before there was even a word for it! In kindergarten is when it started for me, I could see and feel when others were being isolated or ganged up on. Usually small feminine boys or large shy quiet girls, all kids of all shades, yet it did lean towards all my Mexican or African American Boy friends most. By the time we were in 3rd grade we had a Pact! I definitely used the karate I learned 3 times a week on many little A-hole bully kids and protected others from an early age.

What would you say are some of your major career milestones as an artist? 

Still doing this after all the years of rejection is a big one! 16 years deep into being a paid performer and 35 years of performing!!! Not sure this is a milestone but I have to share that I really got into stand up due to the small talk in between songs while in bands in my early years. My first band "2420" back in the day on the streets of AZ, when I was 22 through 27. Then the amazing blues rock band "Happy Fingers" I was a part of in Seattle, WA in 2003 & 2004. It was in NYC when I moved to Astoria, Queens in 2005 and got very focused on comedy and took Improv classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade and wrote my own One Woman! 5/25/05 was the opening night! I did it four nights spread through that summer. It wasn't a big success , yet is was HUGE for me because that is when I let go of needing anyone's approval, audition call back or opportunity from someone else. All I needed was my own creativity which lead me to Authentic, humorous FUN!!! Since 2008 I have been performing on a regular basis which is very empowering from where it all began. Most recently I just performed in front of 1300 or more audience member at the Celebrity Theatre Phoenix. It felt like home being in front of so many people. 

 Where can we find you?

www.Kellybigk.com website / @Kellywithabigolk Instagram / Kelly With A Big Ol K on Facebook 

 Do you have any upcoming performances? 

Yes! Los Diablos Gay Bar on Wed. Nov. 20th @ 7pm / Alwun House on Sat. Nov. 23rd @ 8pm / Alwun House again on Sat. Dec. 21st @ 8pm / With a few pop in Hot Mic performances at the Crescent Ballroom in between! 

What can we as a community do to support you as an artist?

Come to shows! Hire me for Any Event whether private or public! I do many Events for individuals and companies from Corporate Christmas Celebrations, Weddings, Festivals, Private events to Funerals! Or one can simply spread the word to others when seeing shows and point them in my direction if the connection feels right! 

I noticed that you do a great deal of collaborating with local designers, comedians and performers?  Is this intentional and can you tell us a little more about that?    

I guess I intentionally pay attention to unique, creative artists who inspire me, which in turn motivates me to work with them to create something original for my act! Or create something for a scene we may need for the overall look of the stage. I am extremely lucky to have naturally created a tribe of my own through this hectic life that happens to be a lot of extremely talented people who support my and our friendships are priceless! I keep a very non-judgmental frame of mind in my life so I flow with most performers, AKA FREAKS! (I speak Freak!) 

In addition to being a single mom, stand up comedian, working a 9-5 you also make dingle dangles. What is your secret to time management as a woman of many hats (and wigs)? 

Positive Thinking and YOGA! You must stretch your body to rinse your Mind and Soul to keep the important things your main focus! I believe in Magic...especially Gay Magic! And we say, Keep those double chins in and Don't Fuck it up! I encourage anyone who loves living an Aware and Conscious Life of true life purpose to be brave and be solid about your time management and who you put your energy into, which includes intent, thoughts AND actions!