Hell's Kitchen
"[Kelsee Kimmel] brings undeniable vocal power, earning a mid-show standing ovation for 'Pawn It All.'"
- BroadwayWorld, Tessa Nelson
"Kimmel’s voice had so much power, control and flexibility, there wasn’t anything she couldn’t do. Her entire body sang along with her vocal cords, possessing every song. During “Pawn It All,” the audience went nuts. The man in front of me grabbed his head with both hands. People were wiping away tears. A woman near us let out a gasp. Tears were flowing down my face ... Kimmel’s performance was a force and we were being taken over by it. People yelled out during certain vocal runs and others stood up applauding when the song (not just the show) was over ... I’ve never seen people react the way they did to Kimmel."
- In Good Taste Denver, Courtney Drake-McDonough
"Among the cast, Kelsee Kimmel delivers the evening’s most compelling performance as Jersey ... Kimmel brings a layered mix of toughness, regret and fierce protectiveness to the character. Her Act II solo, “Pawn It All,” is the show’s highlight ... Kimmel’s voice cuts cleanly through the orchestra, and her emotional vulnerability keeps the production grounded when it threatens to drift."
- On Stage Colorado, Toni Tresca
"The voice of Kelsee Kimmel ... is a show stopper."
- Latin Life Denver, Joe Contreras
RENT
"Kelsee [Kimmel] is dynamite as Maureen, the out-there performance artist who turns the heads of all the boys and the girls. This is the role that made Idina Menzel a star, and [Kimmel] dives into it with full force."
- Talkin' Broadway (Minneapolis), Arthur Dorman
"Maureen, played by Kelsee [Kimmel], is bold, bawdy and ready to create change now. [Kimmel] is a powerhouse, vocally, and physically. She is a powerful presence who commands (and deserves) the spotlight."
- BroadwayWorld Houston, Pnina Topham
"Maureen Johnson (the spectacular Kelsee [Kimmel]) ... part Betty Boop innocence, part vamping torch singer, brings down the house. She is a real gem. ... 'Take Me or Leave Me,' is tailor made for [Kimmel] and Mbolekwa, and their performance is hands down the show’s finest."
- The Theatre Mirror (Boston), Michael Hoban
"[Kimmel]’s Maureen is the perfect mix of sass and sex without seeming like overtly fictitious character. Her introductory song “Over the Moon” can come off clunky and unnecessary, but her version is a hilarious few minutes that completely encapsulates the character."
- UHCL The Signal (Houston), Emily Nichelle Wolfe
"...Each had their own numbers that portrayed their immense talent. [Kimmel]'s portrayal of 'Over the Moon' was absolutely hysterical. There was audible laughter throughout the theatre. [Kimmel] took the performance art piece and ran with it and was truly able to make it her own."
- BroadwayWorld Jacksonville, Jordan Higginbotham
"Maureen (Kelsee [Kimmel]) ... stuns with a stage presence and vocals that emphasize the power and dramatic nature of her character."
- MediaMate (Boston), Rachel Erwin
"[Kimmel]’s powerful rendition of ["Take Me Or Leave Me" is] the heart of the play. ... [Kimmel] makes Maureen’s performance piece about the cow jumping over the moon a true highlight."
- Calgary Herald, Louis B. Hobson
"Kelsee [Kimmel]’s performance as Maureen Johnson is unforgettable."
- The Theatre Guide (Philadelphia), Amanda VanNostrand