Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Chelsea Braverman of Costa Mesa

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Chelsea Braverman. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Integrity is most important to me. It’s one of the Four Agreements and I try to be impeccable with my word-always. If I say I am going to do something, I always follow through and I expect the same from others.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Chelsea Braverman, Artistic Director and Founder of Braver Players Musical Theater Foundation. Our organization is a place for kids, tweens, and teens to learn about the art of theater. It is also a place for teaching artists to work and build community,
Our students learn many skills beyond acting. They learn stagecraft, dance and movement, music, teamwork, responsibility, public speaking, storytelling, history and probably our most important value – how to be a giving person, both on stage and off.

Many of our students work hard to succeed in school, participate in community service, empathize with others and have an expanded knowledge of the complex world we live in, thanks to the lessons they learn from our staff, each other and our audience members.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
My earliest memory of feeling powerful was in 2nd grade. I had a very empowering teacher, Mrs. Lass, who nominated me to direct the classroom play of “Annie.” She agreed to play the piano but said I had to do the rest. I cast the show, (made myself Annie), had my mom type out a script and procure costumes, and I ran the rehearsals and staged the show. I was seven.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Running an arts non for profit is extremely challenging. There are days I want to give up like when Covid shut live theater down, or toilets are overflowing, or I am getting rejected from grant after grant. But I get up the next day and do it all over again. Because I go back to the mission and how much it is helping others so I dig my heels in and refuse to surrender.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes the public version of me is me. One thing I have always been good at is being myself, unapologetically. Since my job is very people-oriented and social I do love my down time, but what you see is the real me.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
I understand deeply the benefits of optimism. It requires so much less energy looking at things in an optimistic light than in a negative one. I always choose rose-colored glasses. I get that from my mom and dad. My dad is the eternal optimist and my mom always says, “Never problems, just situations.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.braverplayers.org
• Instagram: BraverPlayers_theater
• Facebook: Braver Players Musical Theater Foundation

Image Credits
Mia Rasinski, Lila Cupolo-Bausch