Profile

Chelsey Lee Gaddy is a native of Asheville, NC, and a graduate of Mars Hill University. She returned to Asheville 10 years ago after performing in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, where her work ranged from impersonating Lucille Ball to singing backup for Dolly Parton.

As a director, Chelsey has led productions such as Side by Side by Sondheim, Sweet Charity, A… My Name is Alice (Mars Hill University), and Charlotte’s Web (Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre). Onstage, she has portrayed Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow, Hazel Grubbs in Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge, Linda in The Wedding Singer, Cathy in The Last Five Years, and Alice Murphy in the WNC regional premiere of Steve Martin’s Bright Star.

Chelsey holds an MFA in Acting from Florida Atlantic University, which has shaped her teaching and performance career and led her back to her alma mater as Program Coordinator of the MHU Theatre Arts Program. She teaches a variety of courses, specializing in preparing students for professional careers in the industry.

Beyond the theatre, she is actively involved in networking across western North Carolina to promote inclusion in education and the arts, autism acceptance, and support for survivors of domestic violence. Passionate about using theatre as a catalyst for societal change, Chelsey is grateful to balance life as both an artist and a mother, bringing her dedication and tenacity to the theatrical home that launched her career.