Originally from outside of Boston, Melissa earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.  After graduating from UMass, Melissa lived in New York, where she created her own solo cabaret show, which she performed several times at Don’t Tell Mama, including a performance with friend, Florence Henderson.

In 2001, she moved to Los Angeles, and within six months, met her future husband, Scott, at an audition for The Secret Garden at the South Bay Civic Light Opera. Melissa and Scott created a duo cabaret act (a la Steve & Eydie) that they performed in clubs throughout Los Angeles including the The Gardenia, The Vermont, Ten20, and Vitello’s; in New York at Don’t Tell Mama; and in Palm Springs at the McCallum Theater.

Over the years, Melissa and Scott shared the stage in several musicals, including two seasons in Scrooge: The Musical, as Ethel and Bob Crachit at the Big Oak Theatre; Assassins at the Westchester Playhouse and Theatre Palisades, playing Sarah Jane Moore and John Wilkes Booth; It’s A Wonderful Life (Glendale Centre Theatre), Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story (Theatre Palisades), and Little Mary Sunshine at West Valley Playhouse. They also sang the roles of Mimi and Roger in a concert performance of Rent with the New Musicals Inc. (formerly the Academy for New Musical Theatre) Perpetual Surrey theatrichorale.

Melissa joined The Group Rep in February 2023 after being a guest performer in the company’s production of Christmastime Origins, playing Martha Mears and a variety of other characters in December 2022/January 2023. More recently she was see at GRT as Kitty in The Orphan’s Revenge. Other GRT credits include a Juror in Twelve Angry Jurors and a member of the hotel staff in  Room Service.

Melissa’s other credits include Young Phyllis in Follies (Kentwood Players), Missy Hart in 9 to 5: The Musical (Repertory East Playhouse), Sally Slaton in Parade and MJ in Inspecting Carol, with Panic! Productions, Adult Female in Spring Awakening (Noho Arts Center), Mrs. Pinkerton in Pinkalicious the Musical (El Portal/Kelrik Productions), and Pam in Baby at Conejo Players Theatre.  She also enjoyed several seasons singing in the SAG-AFTRA Holiday Radio Plays at the Autry Museum.

Television and film credits include portraying Patsy Ramsey in both “People Magazine Investigates” and “Dr. Phil”; Teacher in “Grease Live!,” and supporting roles in independent films, “Killer Weekend” and “Hugs.”

Member: SAG-AFTRA.  Website: www.cabaretstar.com