Melissa is excited to direct the New York Premiere of Make Yourself at Home, a new play written by Alexa Belli.

Make Yourself at Home follows Michael, a man struggling with agoraphobia at the height of his anxiety. After losing his girlfriend, Michael attempts to heal in the confines of his home.His need for connection becomes so dire that he starts to imagine his household objects as people from his past, including his girlfriend, Natalie. As the lines of imagination and reality begin to blur, Make Yourself at Home asks audience members to investigate how trauma and mental illness intersect, how we can treat the connections in our lives as a gift, and how to move forward when that is taken away from us. Beyond the question of will he make it outside this play asks can he find safety in himself. This is a heavy story with a lot of heart and hope at the end of the day. This production will challenge how, especially in early adulthood, distracting stimuli actually curtails connection rather than championing it. However, Michael's journey shows us that when he finally accepts that he deserves love as he is, true healing and growth begins.

This workshop is produced through Next Stop Creatives.

Melissa is excited to be co-creating and launching a new theatrical experience entitled ‘The Episodic Theatre Project’ with Lianna Rada-Hung!

The Episodic Theatre Project is a brand-new theatrical experience/process that culminates in 5 self-contained theatrical performances. A new episode of the story is released every Thursday, from April 18 to May 16th. You can buy a ticket for one episode or subscribe to the entire season for a discount (Ticket link to come shortly!).

Designed to kick start the creative process, this project inspires collaboration and risk-taking through an intensive professional experience that strengthens artistic bonds and community, the Episodic Theatre Project embraces and pushes the boundaries of how addictive theatre can be, and just like your favorite television show, have you/audiences coming back next week for more and wanting to binge the whole series.

During this unprecedented time in the theatre industry where we are witnessing a real threat to our art form, we are interested in pushing and reinventing the theatrical medium and reigniting a passion for live performance and theatrical storytelling, a form that is uniquely ephemeral and can captivate in a way that no other medium can. We believe that this project will create community around a story and discourse among like minded theater people, both audiences and artists alike.

This season will focus on the five stages of heartbreak: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Each "episode" is a self-contained emotional rollercoaster, self-contained in an 1 hour or less. Plus, no commercials!

Miss an episode? No worries! Though watching the entire season is the best way to be in the know, we’ll have episode recaps at the beginning of each episode so you don’t miss a beat. A ticket link will be released in the coming weeks but until then…donate to our indiegogo! All proceeds go toward production costs and stipends for our artists.

Melissa will be directing The Addams Family by Andew Lippa, Marshall Brickman, and Rick Elice at Stevens Institute of Technology for Stevens Dramatic Society. She is so excited to be working with college students to bring this production to life!

Melissa will be directing the world premiere of Oh Soledad: Musical of a Journey of Peace by Ken Berry this August at the Actors’ Temple Theatre in NYC!

This fully produced new musical tells the story of a young woman named Soledad who was instrumental in creating change in her community. In the wake of the Costa Rican civil war, Soledad visited all of her cousins across the different regions of Costa Rica. Her warm demeanor and candor galvanized spirit and community in the citizen amidst the political turmoil and uncertainty happening at the time. When the war ended, the Costa Rican government abolished the army and they have now had one of the lowest crime rates in both South America and the world! The playwright Ken Berry (his mother in-law is Soledad!) is incredibly passionate about Soledad and her impact. He wants this piece to promote the idea that peace and change can and should occur at the individual level to promote long-term well being and empathy for all in your home.

Learn more about the production here! Looking forward to seeing you there this August.

Melissa will be one of five directors staging a reading of a young artist’s work at the Young Playwrights’ Festival. In addition to hearing incredible new plays, this weekend is dedicated to helping students become excited and passionate about the performing arts. Learn more about the festival here!

For the second year in a row, Melissa will direct the new musical ‘Starstuck’ by RJ Christian and Cameron Reese. Taking place at Soho Playhouse’s Lighthouse Series, this festival is dedicated to providing a professional opportunity for emerging artists across New York City. Learn more about the festival here and hopes you are interested in attending!