Meet Chelsea Emma Franko
Picture it: 13-year-old Chelsea is on summer vacation with her parents in New York City for the first time. They see 11 Broadway shows in 10 days, the FIRST one being Thoroughly Modern Millie (with Sutton Foster, of course.) There it was. That was the moment; the moment Chelsea decided to leave behind her dream of being a CSI: Crime Scene Investigator (as a tire specialist, thank you very much) and pursue a career in musical theatre.
Well, the Earth went around the sun a few times, and Chelsea started working her way up the figurative Southern California regional theatre ladder. She studied acting, dance, and voice. She went to hundreds of auditions and attended many workshops. She even won a few competitions.
Chelsea was a "goner" as they say. She was hooked and there was no turning back. She landed a few exciting jobs and played a few iconic roles. She was marrying King Arthur by a lake and throwing frozen fractals all around. She celebrated a world where another hundred people apparently got off of the train and had Hope that the people would one day pee for free. She penned the name Shoeless Joe, she was just a girl who couldn't say no and she even defied gravity across North America. Chelsea was 100% doing it.
Every single day she remembers that wide-eyed 13-year-old girl, sitting in awe of those Broadway actors giving their all.
Every day Chelsea tries to live up to the standard of excellence she experienced all those years ago.
Because why settle for mediocrity?
Chelsea Emma Franko grew up in Apple Valley, CA with a love of musical theatre instilled from a very young age. She honed her skills as a musical theatre actress, working alongside some of the industry’s best all across the country. In the spring of 2016, Chelsea was cast as Elsa in the world premiere production of FROZEN: Live at the Hyperion at Disney’s California Adventure. She was also honored to be chosen to portray Elsa in the Disneyland Resort’s Summer Dazzles national commercial series. Throughout 2017/18, Chelsea toured the US and Canada in the National Tour of WICKED as the standby for Elphaba. Some of Chelsea’s Southern California regional theatre credits include: COMPANY (Marta); DAMN YANKEES (Gloria Thorpe); OKLAHOMA! (Ado Annie); SPAMALOT (Lady of the Lake); CHICAGO (Roxie Hart); THE ADDAMS FAMILY (Wednesday Addams); HAIRSPRAY; SUNSET BOULEVARD and SHREK. Outside of her theatre career, Chelsea is also an award-winning cabaret artist, headlining many supper and cabaret clubs in Los Angeles and across the US.
Chelsea singing "Shy" from Once Upon A Mattress. Age 10.
Chelsea singing for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS