Joy Franz (born June 13, 1941 in Modesto, California) is an American actress and singer, best known for her stage work. She most recently appeared as the Dowager Empress in US National Tour of Anastasia.^[1] She also played Susan in the original 1972 West End production of Stephen Sondheim's Company, and the role of Cinderella's Stepmother in the original 1987 Broadway production of Sondheim's Into the Woods.^[2] (She also understudied the role of the Witch). She was also in the ensemble of the 1965 New York City Center production of Guys and Dolls and understudied the female lead Sarah Brown.^[3]

She reprised her role of Cinderella’s Stepmother in Into the Woods twice. First, in the 1988-90 US Tour,^[4] and then again in the 2002 Broadway revival. In the Broadway revival she also played Little Red’s Granny and understudied the role of Jack’s Mother.^[5]

She was one of the Street Singers in the world premiere of Leonard Bernstein's Mass at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on September 8, 1971. She currently portrays the role of the Mother in My Damn Channel's television series Horrible People.