New Orleans’ Southern Belle sings, dances, acts and even impersonated Stevie Nicks
Kellie Karl may be one of the most versatile entertainers on the Las Vegas Strip and presently can be seen nightly in “The Sopranos Last Supper” at the Harmon Theater at the Aladdin’s Desert Passage.
She said, “I play Tony’s psychiatrist in the musical at the Harmon Theater. I’m from New Orleans, the city that used to be and is no longer. My entire family is from there and came here during the storm. Her house survived but my other relatives lost everything. My mother could not wait to get back home.”
Kellie said, “I played Stevie Nicks in a show called `Hail Hail Rock ‘n’ Roll’ at Whiskey Pete’s. That was my first impersonation. My first professional show was in `Can Can’ at the Royal Sonespa Hotel.”
She quipped, “I’m the most networking girl in Las Vegas and saw that `The Sopranos’ had an audition. They thought I looked the most like the mob psychiatrist and they hired me. It’s a lot of fun. I’ve been playing this character since April. I love doing Dr. Melfri. Her cousins came in to see me perform a couple of times. They said you are just like my cousin Lorraine Bracco. One of them was more reserved but the other was saying `You really remind me of my cousin. You really did a good job. One came and then the sister told the other to see the show.”
Kellie said, “I was a cheerleader growing up in New Orleans. I loved to dance but my parents think I was rebellious. I was a good kid. I had a stay at home mom and my dad was a chemical engineer. I always knew I would be a dancer. I trained for singing, dancing and acting. My father used to love watching `The Sopranos’ but he has passed away. I’m not Italian but rather of French and Irish descent. The late Christopher Reeves movies are my favorite. I like the late River Phoenix too.”
She said, “I love taking all my friends to Terrible Herbst’s late night specials from midnight to 6 a.m. There are all kinds of entertainers that hang out there. The last book I read was a self-help book `Path to Recovery.’ I’d rather be Oprah if I could be any star. I love her philanthropy efforts. I worked in `Creole Heat’ on Bourbon Street before I came to Las Vegas. Then I came here about four years ago. I don’t like living on the west side because of the traffic on US 95. I have an addiction to Doritos. I love instrumental music. I am a DJ and try to keep up on all that kind of stuff. I love the Moody Blues. My favorite song is `Nights in White Satin.’”
Kellie said, “I would love to live in Hawaii. I worked as a novelty act on a cruise ship It was so wonderful. I sang and did some comedy in a show. This show has everything and the food is great. Uncle Junior is my favorite character. He makes me laugh. My favorite restaurant is MIXX at the top of The HOTEL.”
For tickets or information call (702) SEE TONY and come on down. A&E recently bought the episodes at $2.5 million per show after a six season run on HBO. “The Sopranos” begins airing this fall.