True North Holiday Christmas Musical creative team

HOLLY REED (Book, Lyrics, Music) is the owner and Creative Director of Reed Creative Group, an award-winning graphic and web design studio. She is past owner and CEO of MusicalWriters.com, a resource to encourage and equip new musical theatre writers. In addition to bringing over 20 years experience in creative direction, marketing and brand consulting for the non-profit, startup, and entertainment industries, she is also a speaker, writer, and coach to aspiring entrepreneurs and dreamers of all sorts.

Holly is grateful to have grown up in a very musical family, where she began performing at age 3 with mom on piano and dad on guitar. Holly also took piano and guitar lessons very young, as her mother insisted she take piano “as long as you live under my roof.” Holly was a vocal jazz performer in high school and attributes much of her arranging ear to singing tight harmonies under the influences of New York Voices, Take 6 and the Manhattan Transfer. She also grew up singing in church choir and loved following the various SATB lines in the hymnal.

In college, Holly needed an accompanist for a vocal jazz gig, and invited pianist Kelvin Reed to join her. They’ve been making music together ever since.

Along with husband/composer Kelvin Reed, Holly was commissioned to write “That’s What Friends Do” for Girlhood the Musical (CPA Theatricals) and Camp McAuliffe, which is now Camp [MySchool] the Musical, a fully customizable grade school musical. Holly was also recently commissioned to write lyrics for the Alma Mater for Legacy High School in Tyler, Texas.

Holly is a member of ASCAP and the Dramatists Guild and holds a BFA in design and music from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is co-founder of the Ally’s Wish Foundation, a nonprofit organization based in North Texas devoted to granting a last wish to young, terminally ill mothers with children. For a peek into Holly’s personal life and interests, visit WhimseyJane.com.

KELVIN REED (Music) has served in church music ministry for over 25 years as choral director, pianist, and pastor. He has also produced multiple choral recording projects, and his student and adult choirs have performed in Chicago, New Orleans (with Lenny Kravitz), New York City, Los Angeles, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. Kelvin is also creator and producer of a variety of immersive holiday entertainment events, as well as music director for numerous theatre productions.

Kelvin began playing piano for church at age 13, where lots of “little old ladies” encouraged him to continue using his gift. As a child, he loved writing and performing puppet shows, which naturally evolved into creating inspiring and entertaining productions for much larger stages.

Kelvin was co-composer (along with wife Holly Reed) of “That’s What Friends Do” for Girlhood the Musical (CPA Theatricals), Camp McAuliffe, and True North: A  Magical New Holiday Musical. 

RICHARD H. BLAKE (Director) recently directed the musical A BRONX TALE at The Axelrod Performing Arts Center, a show in which he originated the role of Lorenzo, famously portrayed by Robert De Niro in the film. Other directing and producing credits include the new musicals STORYTELLERS, TAKING WING, WHISKEYLAND and the play UNCLE JACKIE. He can currently be seen as Charlie McClurgle on the television series “The Bite” streaming on the Spectrum Network and gangster Jonny O on “The Equalizer.” Before that he was stabbing Lou Diamond Philips as Aaron on Season 1 of “Prodigal Son” on Fox. He has starred in fifteen Broadway shows including JERSEY BOYS, WICKED, LEGALLY BLONDE, THE WEDDING SINGER, HAIRSPRAY, AIDA, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, RENT, MATILDA, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, MACBETH, TEDDY AND ALICE, and as “The Prince” in THE PRINCE OF CENTRAL PARK, a role for which he holds the honor of being the youngest person to ever have his name above the title of a Broadway show. He has used that extensive Broadway career as the backdrop to his one-man-show “15 and Counting: The Music Of My Life” which he has performed all over the United States. His film and television credits include Life of an Actress, Ascent To Hell, Any Day Now, Red light August, Law & Order, Madame Secretary, Blue Bloods, HBO’s High Maintenance, Instinct, Dietland, Kevin Can Wait, Elementary, All My Children, The Babysitter’s Club, Toonces and Friends, and more. Richard also has numerous Off Broadway, commercial and radio credits. His favorite roles to date are that of husband and father to his amazing wife and son. @richardhblake.

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