"Acting is really believing and really behaving within the confines of an imaginary world."-Meisner/R. Gang (Teacher)
If there's no soul on stage, we lose the power of theater to transform and inspire. So we perform, direct, and teach like each moment on stage is our last.
"Theater is about Joy and Awe!"-Mat Wright (Artistic Director)
Hey. I'm Chelsea. I'm a theater artist that works professionally as an actor, singer, director, writer, and teaching artist, classically trained at Elon University BFA MT (magna cum laude) with a concentration in leadership/directing and working on both coasts. In addition to performing, I've been working as a teaching artist/director for theater companies including Seattle Children's Theater, Seattle Opera, Village Theater, among others and through a dramatic arts program I've founded and developed for a research organization called foundry10, I've produced and directed over a dozen performances, presented curriculum and research from programs I've started at international conferences across the nation. I have performed roles from Helena in Midsummer Night's Dream to Heather in Green Day's American Idiot and in a shows with styles ranging from Carousel to Medea. As an actor with a background in music theory and work as a commissioned writer, I've originated roles and been a part of many new musicals at regional theaters such as the 5th Avenue Theater (workshops, readings of several shows), Seattle Children's Theater (Dick Whittington), Taproot Theater (Persuasion), and Village Theater (the lead role in A Proper Place, Teddy and Max). One of my most beloved experiences was being the swing for all six female roles in the Tony-award winning musical Come From Away (La Jolla Playhouse/ Seattle Repertory Theater). After that there's nothing I can't do, in terms of being a swing (oh, except do heavy dance tracks)! Since then I've also swung all three women in Assassins and Ride the Cyclone both at 5th Avenue Theater/ACT Theater.
Jetta in Angry Housewives at ArtsWest Playhouse
Before moving to Seattle, I worked on the east coast at Hangar Theater for their shows in repertory, Open Space Cafe Theater in North Carolina, and Hamilton Theater in Ohio before being on tour with Missoula Children's Theater. I've won some awards like the Pearl award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for my work as Belle in DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and the Orchid Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for my work at Jo March in BROADWAY'S LITTLE WOMEN. In Seattle, for my first role as Nellie in FLOYD COLLINS I won the Footlight Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, and was nominated for the Gypsy Rose Lee Awards for for the same award for my work as Nellie and also the following year as Jetta in ANGRY HOUSEWIVES with ArtsWest Playhouse. I've received nominations for the Gregory awards by peoples' choice voters for my work as Lady Mary in A PROPER PLACE with Village Theater, Sandra Bloom in BIG FISH with Taproot Theater, Suzy in BUZZER at ACT/Ethereal Mut, and Heather in AMERICAN IDIOT. As a member of the Ensemble of Stu For Silverton with Intiman Theater we received a Footlight award for Best Ensemble. I love being a part of a team and working collaboratively to create art that affects change, inspires thought, and elicits joy and wonder. I am honored to have responsibility in any show to be a part of the story (both backstage and on stage) and play a role in its telling.
Lady Mary in the original cast of A Proper Place at Village Theater
Presenting on using dramatic arts in the classroom at The Clute Institute International Education Conference in NYC 2017
As a writer I've had several new musicals or plays premiered at local theater companies and have recently been commissioned both by foundry10 to finish writing a musical called 78 minutes to be turned into a film and by Taproot Theater for a musical for their Christmas season 2019/2020. I spend my Mondays off hiking or snowboarding, building campfires on the beach, and serving up chilli.
