With her powerful and vivid imagination, Melissa demonstrated an uncommon capacity for creativity at an early age- beginning with the games of "dress up" she played with her Mother. She excelled in writing and performance throughout her formative years in the Chicago suburbs.
In 2003 Melissa received a BA in Theatre at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Among her accomplishments there, Melissa produced and directed the University's production of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues in 2003. Upon completion of her studies there she returned to Chicago to begin life as a professional theatre artist.
Melissa worked steadily as a Stage Manager and Assistant Director with Stage Two Theatre (Lincolnshire - now Theatre in the Woods), Keyhole Theatre Company (Chicago), Bohemian Theatre Ensemble (Chicago), Trama Theatre Company (Naperville) and Theatre-Hikes (Chicago). She received a Curator's Choice Award for her production of Prometheus Bound at the Around the Coyote Arts Festival in 2004. She directed her first full production at Lake Forest College (Lysistrata, 2005).
In 2008 Melissa received her Master's Degree in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University in London (now the University of Essex/East 15 Acting School). She worked as apprentice to award-winning international theatre director Mick Gordon on his production of On Death at the Wellcome Gallery. She studied for a term at the Russian Academy of Performing Arts (GITIS) in Moscow, learning the techniques of Meyerhold, Chekhov and Stanislavsky from the masters.
Now a resident of the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago, Melissa founded Focal Point Theatre Company in 2010 and as Artistic Director there, she fostered the successful Against Type Project. In 2014, Focal Point expands its operations into the realm of feature film. Melissa served as Resident Director and Literary Manager for 20% Theatre Company from 2009 to 2014.
She has a passion for devised theatre, comedy, literary adaptations, and Arts in Education. Believing that all children deserve exposure to arts and culture, she currently works as Assistant Troupe Director for OMNI Youth Services REALITY Theatre and enjoys playing tourist in Chicago, socializing with friends, and spending as much time with her husband and family as possible.
In 2003 Melissa received a BA in Theatre at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Among her accomplishments there, Melissa produced and directed the University's production of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues in 2003. Upon completion of her studies there she returned to Chicago to begin life as a professional theatre artist.
Melissa worked steadily as a Stage Manager and Assistant Director with Stage Two Theatre (Lincolnshire - now Theatre in the Woods), Keyhole Theatre Company (Chicago), Bohemian Theatre Ensemble (Chicago), Trama Theatre Company (Naperville) and Theatre-Hikes (Chicago). She received a Curator's Choice Award for her production of Prometheus Bound at the Around the Coyote Arts Festival in 2004. She directed her first full production at Lake Forest College (Lysistrata, 2005).
In 2008 Melissa received her Master's Degree in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University in London (now the University of Essex/East 15 Acting School). She worked as apprentice to award-winning international theatre director Mick Gordon on his production of On Death at the Wellcome Gallery. She studied for a term at the Russian Academy of Performing Arts (GITIS) in Moscow, learning the techniques of Meyerhold, Chekhov and Stanislavsky from the masters.
Now a resident of the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Chicago, Melissa founded Focal Point Theatre Company in 2010 and as Artistic Director there, she fostered the successful Against Type Project. In 2014, Focal Point expands its operations into the realm of feature film. Melissa served as Resident Director and Literary Manager for 20% Theatre Company from 2009 to 2014.
She has a passion for devised theatre, comedy, literary adaptations, and Arts in Education. Believing that all children deserve exposure to arts and culture, she currently works as Assistant Troupe Director for OMNI Youth Services REALITY Theatre and enjoys playing tourist in Chicago, socializing with friends, and spending as much time with her husband and family as possible.
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