Monson in Hollywood
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Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life. Kenley Monson, BFA ’08, has taken this advice to heart. Working as “Kenley Shea,” she’s traded the golden cornfields of Ada for sunny Hollywood, Calif., where she’s doing what she loves: acting, singing and inspiring those around her.
Less than two years after graduating with a musical theatre degree from Ohio Northern University, Monson has worked with pop artists Kelly Clarkson and Will.i.am. as well as actors Hugh Jackman and Shia LeBouf. She’s appeared in music videos by alternative rock groups Rise Against, Nickleback and Kings of Leon. Monson has also appeared in a number of television commercials for companies like Doritos, Lucky Brand Perfume and Axe Body Spray.
Yet, in the midst of her early success, Monson made the long trip back to Ada for Homecoming to catch up with old friends. While admitting that returning to ONU as an alumnus rather than a student is a strange feeling, she says, “This is the one place I want to be in the fall.”
Monson chose to study musical theatre at ONU because she wanted to hone her craft. She says, “You have to learn how to do things properly. A lot of people say it’s unnecessary to get a college degree, but you have to study your art.”
And who can argue with her, considering her accomplishments thusfar? Less than a year after graduation she was cast as Kelly Clarkson’s best friend in the singer’s “I Do Not Hook Up” video.
Monson says, “Kelly is so down to Earth. She’s really cool.” She relays one instance during the video shoot in which Clarkson stood up to the director’s decision to cut some of the female members of her band from the video due to their weight.
While Monson savors opportunities to play the best friend of a pop-music icon or to work with Hugh Jackman as Melanie Griffith’s stand-in, she makes sure to stay grounded. One of the other gigs she enjoys is playing Belle, Snow White and Cinderella for Disney special events. Such is Monson though, always looking for venues through which she can use her talents to stimulate imaginations and bring joy to others.
Monson is currently writing music and preparing to record an album in Nashville, an opportunity that arose out of her growing popularity on CMT’s “The Singing Bee,” on which she is the house band’s lead vocalist.
Monson is happy to continue doing what she’s doing at present, being able to make a living using her craft and the training she received from ONU. And she says she has no desire to become excessively famous.
“I just want to keep doing what I love, to keep inspiring and imparting creativity onto others.”
Andrew Merecicky
Senior creative writing major from New Royalton, Ohio
Less than two years after graduating with a musical theatre degree from Ohio Northern University, Monson has worked with pop artists Kelly Clarkson and Will.i.am. as well as actors Hugh Jackman and Shia LeBouf. She’s appeared in music videos by alternative rock groups Rise Against, Nickleback and Kings of Leon. Monson has also appeared in a number of television commercials for companies like Doritos, Lucky Brand Perfume and Axe Body Spray.
Yet, in the midst of her early success, Monson made the long trip back to Ada for Homecoming to catch up with old friends. While admitting that returning to ONU as an alumnus rather than a student is a strange feeling, she says, “This is the one place I want to be in the fall.”
Monson chose to study musical theatre at ONU because she wanted to hone her craft. She says, “You have to learn how to do things properly. A lot of people say it’s unnecessary to get a college degree, but you have to study your art.”
And who can argue with her, considering her accomplishments thusfar? Less than a year after graduation she was cast as Kelly Clarkson’s best friend in the singer’s “I Do Not Hook Up” video.
Monson says, “Kelly is so down to Earth. She’s really cool.” She relays one instance during the video shoot in which Clarkson stood up to the director’s decision to cut some of the female members of her band from the video due to their weight.
While Monson savors opportunities to play the best friend of a pop-music icon or to work with Hugh Jackman as Melanie Griffith’s stand-in, she makes sure to stay grounded. One of the other gigs she enjoys is playing Belle, Snow White and Cinderella for Disney special events. Such is Monson though, always looking for venues through which she can use her talents to stimulate imaginations and bring joy to others.
Monson is currently writing music and preparing to record an album in Nashville, an opportunity that arose out of her growing popularity on CMT’s “The Singing Bee,” on which she is the house band’s lead vocalist.
Monson is happy to continue doing what she’s doing at present, being able to make a living using her craft and the training she received from ONU. And she says she has no desire to become excessively famous.
“I just want to keep doing what I love, to keep inspiring and imparting creativity onto others.”
Andrew Merecicky
Senior creative writing major from New Royalton, Ohio