Kelly Eviston Quinnett is a professor and head of acting at University of Idaho and the current past chair of Region 7 Kennedy Center American Theatre Festival.

In 1990, she was the recipient of the National Irene Ryan Scholarship presented by the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, which led to her being placed under a development contract with ABC. She appeared on "All My Children" as Maria Monterey in 1990, 1991 and on "One Life to Live" as Blaine Adams, 1991.

She received the Regional Irene Ryan Scholarship in 1995. Films include: "The River Murders" with Ray Liotta, "Without a Ladder" with Jack Bannon, "Frank" with John Gries and Britt Robertson, "Home of the Brave" with Samuel Jackson, Mozart and the Whale" with Josh Hartnett, "The Basket" with Peter Coyote, "Mr. Write" with Paul Reiser and Martin Mull, "Brothers and Sisters" with Franco Nero.

Plays include: National New Play Network’s rolling premiere of "Lucky Me" by Robert Caisley, "Bus Stop" with Ellen Travolta, "Rainmaker" directed by Dale Moffit, "Circle Mirror Transformation," "Noises Off," "Grace and Glory," to name a few.

Kelly has had the good fortune of being a guest artist for the MFA Playwriting Workshop at the Kennedy Center with the National New Play Network and worked on plays with and by Steve Yockey, Martyna Majok, Meg Miroshnik, Michael Mitnick, Dan Le Franc, Aurin Squire and Lindsey Ferrentino.

In 2016, Kelly was honored with the National KCACTF, Special Achievement in Performance as Medea in "Medea: Her Story."

She is the first ever Uta Hagen Teaching Award recipient presented and sponsored in April, 2019, by the College of Fellows of the American Theatre. In 2018 she was the Moscow Mayor’s Arts Award recipient for Outstanding Achievement in Arts Education.

• Intimacy and Radical Empathy Honoring
• Acting master class with Slava Dolgachev from Actor’s Center
• Acting master class with Kari Margolis
• Acting methodologies of Stanislavski, Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, Uta Hagen, Michael Chekhov with particular focus on objectives and atmospheres

Scholarship Projects/Creative Activities

• Chair, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Region VII, 2015, 2016
• Regional Play Selection Team, KCACTF, Region IVV, 2016
• Respondent and Auditor, Irene Ryan Scholarship Semi Finals, 2016
• Respondent - Irene Ryan Acting Competition, Quarter-Finals, Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival Region VII: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009
• “Coach ”- Erica Curnutte, Regional Winner - Irene Ryan Acting Competition, Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, Region VII, 2004. “Coach ”- Katie Carey - Irene Ryan Acting Competition, KCACTF, Region VII, 2001. “Coach ”- Nancy Lee-Painter, Irene Ryan Acting Competition, KCACTF, Region VII, 1999.
• “The Art of Stage Kissing” Workshop, Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival Region VII: 2004, 2005, 2007, 2015, 2016, 2017
• “The Art of Stage Kissing” Presentation - Interdisciplinary College of Letters, Arts & Social Sciences Colloquium
• “The Business of Acting” Guest Lecture - Washington State University, Department of Theatre. Team taught with Professor Robert Caisley, Spring 2004

Professional Theatre

• 2017, "Medea: Her Story," (UI Theatre Arts) 2016 
• 2016, "Tight End," MFA Playwrights Workshop with NNPN
• 2016, "Lucky Me," Without Decor
• 2016, "The Occupants"
• 2016, "Bad Dates," Without Decor
• 2015, "Lucky Me" NNPN Rolling Premiere, Oregon Contemporary Theatre
• 2015, "This Flat Earth," MFA Playwrights Workshop with NNPN
• 2015, "A Family Manual for Kwanzaa, MFA Playwrights Workshop with NNPN
• 2015, "Lucky Me," Without Decor
• 2015, "Clarkston," Kenworthy Performing Arts Benefit 
• 2009, “High School Musical One Act,” Director, Idaho Repertory Theatre
• 2008, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” Director, Idaho Repertory Theatre
• 2007, “The Rainmaker” as Lizzie, Producer, Interplayers and Lake City Playhouse
• 2007, “Full Monty” as Pam, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre
• 2006, “The Rainmaker” as Lizzie, Interplayers Theatre, Producer – Ellen Travolta
• 2005 “Grace and Glorie” as Glorie, Idaho Repertory Theatre
• 2004, “Same Time Next Year” as Doris, Idaho Repertory Theatre (with guest artist, Rob Estes)

Film and Television

• 2009, “The Snakes of Justice” as Lisa (television spec pilot), Blake Facente and Jonathan Rau – Snakes of Justice, LLC.
• 2008, “The Absent” as Marge Jackson (film), Last Night Productions (with Sam Ball, Yvonne Zima and Vanessa Zima)
• 2005, “Home of the Brave” as Jane Pooks (film), Directed by Irwin Winkler and starring Samuel L. Jackson
• 2004, “Mozart and the Whale” as Dr. Jennifer Trask (film), Robert Lawrence Productions (Directed by Peder Naess and starring Josh Hartnett)

• Guest Master Acting Teacher at WildWind Performance Lab, Texas Tech University, 2018
• Performance, "Reykavík" by Steve Yockey, Kennedy Center New Play Network, 2017
• Performance, Reykavík" by Steve Yockey, Stanford University Center for New Plays
• Performance, "To Tokyo and the Moon" by Steve Yockey, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, 2017
• Performance, "Alter" by Drew Paryzer, Kennedy Center New Play Network, 2017
• Director, Idaho Repertory Theatre’s production of “High School Musical One Act.“ Provided professional training and performance experience to 16 area high school students. Summer 2009
• Host/Mentor, Job Shadow Day – Moscow Junior High School, Spring 1998-Present
• Coordinator, Summer Fine Arts Camp, 2001-Present
• Artist in Residence, McDonald Elementary School, 2006
• “Proof” as Catherine, Moscow Community Theatre, 2004
• Departmental Representative, University of Idaho Vandal Vision, 2004
• “Trust and Connection” Workshop Presenter/Departmental Representative. Borah High School and West Junior High School, Boise, 2004
• Creator/Coordinator, Freshman Theatre Weekend, Department of Theatre & Film, Spring 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

Memberships

• Member of Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Date of Initiation: 1992
• Member of Actors Equity Association (AEA), Date of Initiation: 1990
• Member of American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Date of Initiation: 1990
• Member of Society of American Fight Directors, Date of Initiation: 1990
• Stage Combatant certification in: Rapier & Dagger, Quarterstaff, Hand to Hand

• Uta Hagen Teaching Award, presented and sponsored by the College of Fellows of the American Theatre, Washington D.C., 2019
• Moscow Mayor's Arts Award for Outstanding Achievement in Arts Education, 2018
• Golden Medallion, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, 2017
• Faculty Fellow, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival, 2009
• Spokane Spokesman – Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s Camelot voted best regional theatre production, 2001
• Northwest Inlander – Best Actress Nomination for The Rainmaker, Michael Bowen
• Jackie Award for Outstanding Feature Performance in Dracula: The Untold Story – Cincinnati Inquirer, 2003
• Woman of Distinction, Girl Scouts of America - Inland Empire Council, 2000
• Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award, Presented by Inter-Fraternity and Panhellenic Councils, 1999
• Member of University of Idaho cast of Top Girls, National Finalist, Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival Washington D.C., 1996
• Regional Winner, Irene Ryan Acting Competition - Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, Region VII, 1995
• Voted Outstanding Senior - Northern Kentucky University, 1990
• National Winner, Irene Ryan Acting Competition - Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, Region II, 1990
• Regional Winner, Irene Ryan Acting Competition - Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, Region II, 1990
• Travel Grant Recipient to attend Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, Region VII, Bellingham, Washington, 2002