Meet Tommy Kelley | Retired Veteran and owner of The K Palace Theater

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tommy Kelley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tommy, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was always interested in movies and TV growing up. I got started in theater in 1981 when I was a new lieutenant in the Army stationed at Fort Huachuca, AZ. After doing 6 or 7 shows on the post, I left for a new assignment and focused on my career as a soldier in the U.S. Army. I didn’t get back into theater until 2011. I formed my own theater company (Theater on the Move, LLC) in 2014 with two very special and talented ladies. In 2021 after doing 7 years of live shows in various venues in Sierra Vista, Tombstone and Bisbee, we decided it was time to get our own theater. Working very closely with our team (Dale & Beverly O’Shaughnessy and Barry & Tess Nelson), we bought a building, had it completely remodeled, and we had our grand opening 23 March 2023. I’ve never regretted the decision. The theater is named “The K Palace Theater” and it has enjoyed great success during our initial 9 months. We have performed three separate shows, and the audience attendance has been overwhelming. Our upcoming show, “Christmas in Arizona” is schedule to open 7 Dec. I have been blessed with the quality of folks who have helped me along the way and blessed with such great talent for our shows. The folks we have involved with us are all top-notch!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
The K Palace Theater is an elegant and extremely comfortable venue (5400 square feet) able to seat 105 folks in plush chairs and tables. We have a beer & wine license serving fine wines and beer, Pepsi products, water and freshly made popcorn to include several popcorn seasonings – unique for this area and a real crowd pleaser. Our stage is 32′ x 21′ with very modern lighting, sound, microphones, video and music. Our backstage has ample dressing rooms and seating for our actors. We have 2 x 75″ LED TVs on either side of the stage to enhance all of our performances. The restrooms are twice the capacity of what is required by law (another crowd pleaser for our audiences), and their design is exquisite. We write our own shows, and we tailor them to fit southern Arizona. We have lots of audience participation in our shows and the addition of sound effects, music and videos make us very unique. You have to have a sincere passion for what you’re doing to be happy and successful. It has been said, “if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life!” And we do!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Sierra Vista and the surrounding areas have so much to offer. Things to do while here: hiking – some of the most beautiful spots are in this area. Bisbee – a quaint city with lots of creativity and artist. Cafe Roca is the place to eat. Tombstone – the site of the famous OK Corral. There are several other cities and towns in southern Arizona that have a wealth of activities to enjoy. And of course, what visit to our fair city would be complete without attending one of The K Palace Theater’s fabulous shows! Doc’s Watering Hole:  a great honky tonk restaurant, bar and dance hall featuring great western music and food!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, The K Palace Theater’s advisory board: Dale & Beverly O’Shaughnessy, Barry & Tess Nelson. Without them, The K Palace Theater would still be an unfilled dream. They are intelligent, creative, talented and they do so much for me and the theater. And to all the actors and crew who have been with us over the last 10 years -THANK YOU! Without all of you, we would be just another empty hall.

Website: www.thekpalacetheater.com

Instagram: instagram.com/thekpalacetheater.com

Facebook: facebook.com/thekpalacetheater

Other: email: totmarizona@gmail.com phone: 520-222-8711

Image Credits
Tommy Kelley