hose stage name is Porter Kelly, is a former Escanaba resident and graduate of Northern Michigan University is adding to her television credits . She appeared in the NBC series New Amsterdam on Tuesday and will also appear in a series on Apple plus later this year. (Photo courtesy of Porter Kelly Facebook page)

By: DREYMA BERONJA

Journal Staff Writer

ESCANABA – Barbara Porter, otherwise known as ‘Porter Kelly’ in the acting world, is set to appeared in the series finale of NBC’s New Amsterdam on Tuesday.

Porter will also appear in the series premier of AppleTV+’s Hello, Tomorrow opposite Billy Crudup on Feb. 17.

Porter’s love of theater and call to act came about in high school when she played the lead role of Annie in Annie and the director of the show, Lynn Miller.

“I didn’t really think of it as a career until I was in college,” Porter said. “I started out with an English degree but I sort of got sucked into the theater program.”

Porter was approached her senior year of college by now retired professor Shelley Russell who asked Porter about what she was pursuing in school.

“She actually caught me in the hall and was like, ‘what are you doing? You could do something with this degree, you could really pursue this.’,” Porter said. “And she talked me into doing some auditions which led to a job with Missoula Children’s Theatre.”

For her first two years out of college, Porter toured with Missoula Children’s Theatre.

“I’m a professional actor because of my time in the U.P.,” Porter said.

When asked how people in smaller towns, such as ones in the U.P., can get involved with acting, Porter said to get involved with community theater. Some of the best actors have come from Escanaba or Northern Michigan University according to Porter.

“I look back at when I did Into The Woods at Northern Michigan and I see videos from [Into The Woods] and it still stands out to me as one of the best productions I’ve ever seen, let alone been involved with,” Porter said. “So there’s really good theater happening almost anywhere and definitely in the U.P.”

For Porter’s full filmography and to learn more, visit her website at porterkelly.com.

Dreyma Beronja can be reached at 906-228-2500 ext. 248. Their email address is dberonj@miningjournal.net.