National and Community Recognition
Chelsea Holland – Bayside Council Citizen of the Year
I’ve received the 2026 Citizen of the Year Award for Bayside Council for my work as President of The Regals Musical Society.
I’ve been performing since age 4 and always dreamed of running a theatre company (I went to NYU for this and worked for the Roundabout Theatre Company on Broadway for a couple years). Through life’s twists and turns, I have since landed in the tech industry but keep my passion for the arts alive through community theatre. I’ve performed, directed and choreographed many shows over the years, and after answering a Director EOI request for The Regals Musical Society’s Moana Jr, I found my new home, joining the committee in 2022 and becoming president in 2023. But I’m proud to say I’ve also performed with Miranda Musical Theatre Company and Rockdale Musical Society because I’m a firm believer that community theatre is strongest when we all work together, and that includes sharing resources 🙂
Winning this award was a huge honour personally because while I love running The Regals and find it very rewarding, it can be incredibly time-consuming and sometimes very stressful. There are a lot of personal sacrifices that are made, especially on my time (I think my husband also deserves an award for his patience!). And although I’m sure it’s never been easy, I think there are a lot more things we as a committee have to think about (and budget for) in modern times that were not concerns even 10+ years ago, let alone 50+ years ago. So, in short, it’s lovely to know that the effort I put in has been noticed and is valued by the entire community!
But honestly, I’m more excited for this award because of what it means for The Regals and all local arts. The Regals celebrated their 80th anniversary last year, so it’s not just me who has put in the work but MANY presidents and committees over the years. They all deserve to share in the applause. We also try so hard at The Regals to champion diversity, provide unique programming, and cultivate a positive experience for all involved (onstage, backstage, and more), that again it’s wonderful to see so many people rallying behind our society and the direction we’re taking.
And seeing local arts given such a fantastic platform by Bayside Council means a lot as well. The arts are often seen as an afterthought or discretionary, whereas I would argue that the arts are critical to creating and maintaining strong communities.
Here’s an excerpt from the speech I made upon receiving my award:
And in times like these—when so many of us are feeling the weight of the world—there’s something profoundly healing about musical theatre. Whether you’re singing, dancing, or simply sitting in the audience letting the story carry you away for a few hours, live performance has a remarkable ability to lift our spirits. If you’re searching for a way to build empathy and strengthen the bonds of a community, look no further than the stage. Acting invites us to step into someone else’s shoes—quite literally—and in doing so, it reminds us how connected we really are.
Any time there is attention on the arts, it’s a win for the WHOLE community!
Chelsea Holland
