Upcoming Work
A Christmas Carol
- A Christmas Carol
Director - Denver Center for the Performing Arts
- By Charles Dickens
- Adapted by Richard Hellesen
- Music by David de Berry
- Performs: November 19 - December 26
Recent Work
RII
- RII
Director - Santa Cruz Shakespeare
- William Shakespeare
Conceived and Adaptated by Jessica Kubzansky - July-August 2021
Romeo and Juliet
- Romeo and Juliet
Director - Redhouse Arts Center
- by William Shakespeare
- Feb. 13-23, 2020
- The romantic tale of a forbidden love comes to life with a fresh take on the characters, time period, and costumes. The result is intriguing and captivating...Redhouse's Romeo and Juliet, under the creative direction of Melissa Rain Anderson, is refreshing from the casting choices to the setting and especially the line delivery. It is a beautiful, thought-provoking, and creative production of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
– Natasha Ashley, Broadway World - Under Anderson’s direction, the show moves across the thrust-styled stage with real grace and urgency.
– Len Fonte, Syracuse.com
The Wolves
- The Wolves
Director - Syracuse Stage
- by Sarah DeLappe
- January 22 - February 15, 2020
- ...a captivating and raw production of Sarah DeLappe's The Wolves under the impressive direction of Melissa Rain Anderson.
– Natasha Ashley, BroadwayWorld - Central New York - ...because the dialogue is so sharp, authentic, and kinetic I quickly got caught up in the girls’ stories/lives. Of course it helps that the play is smashingly well acted by an incredible ensemble and directed brilliantly by Melissa Rain Anderson. ...take my word go see it. It’s a knockout.
– Craig Thornton, WWNY 7News
All Is Calm: THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE OF 1914
- All Is Calm
Director - Alabama Shakespeare Festival
- By Peter Rothstein
- Vocal Arrangements by Erick Lichte and Timothy C. Takach
- December 7 – December 29, 2019
- “All Is Calm” uses an incredibly talented 10-man cast to tell this story with powerful simplicity and subtle beauty. The fine acting and Anderson’s direction adds depth to the story and a bittersweet quality to the Christmas miracle.
– Rick Harmon, Montgomery Adviser - As a lament to this loss of life and dignity, this production directed by Melissa Rain Anderson stuns her audiences with its simple messages and warnings. The richness of four-part men's harmonies, and the quality of individual voices [“O Holy Night“, for example], stress the senselessness of war, a potent theme of All is Calm that leaves a lasting memory.
– Michael P. Howley, Theatre Montgomery
PCPA’s Production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid
- Disney's The Little Mermaid
Director - PCPA Theaterfest
- Book by Doug Wright
- Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and Disney film
- Music by Alan Menken
- Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater
- November 7th - December 22nd
- In adapting the animated original of Disney's The Little Mermaid for the stage, director Melissa Rain Anderson tosses in magic and motion.
To elevate the fairytale magic of the story, Anderson brought in the team of circus artists, Ben Franklin and Joshua Dean, who trained the cast in trapeze and other circus arts for this production; they also lend their acrobatic talents to it as performers. The trapeze and circus aspects add a feeling of weightlessness along a vertical plane as kelp, anchor lines, and floating jellyfish take flight. In the musical number, "Kiss the Girl," the circus elements create an aerial spectacle as birds soar down from the sky to the sea.
– Anna Jensen, Broadwayworld - Director Melissa Rain Anderson delivers everything we expect from a PCPA holiday production – spectacle, fun and heart.
– Brent Parker, Santa Ynez Valley News - PCPA goes all out in its production of “The Little Mermaid,” and the spectacle is awe-inspiring....Something that makes the show stand out from other PCPA productions is that this one has collaborated with New York City’s 2 Ring Circus to bring breathtaking aerial feats to life on stage. This helps make the action to look as if you’re under the sea, swimming with all the sea creatures, or on a ship watching sailors climb the tall mast.
– Daniel Lahr, Santa Ynez Valley Star
La Cage aux Folles
- La Cage aux Folles
Director - Geva Theatre Center
- Book by Harvey Fierstein
- Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman
- Based on the play by Jean Poiret
- September 3 – October 6
- Geva Theatre's timeless farce 'La Cage aux Folles' is a comedic and visual wonder...an ambitious, madcap extravaganza served with a sea of sequins and a metric ton of mascara... The show’s nonstop energy and visual splendor grabbed hold of the audience immediately and never let go. The laughs came easily, the songs were pleasing and the acting was moving.
– Jason Cottrell, Special to the Democrat and Chronicle - Geva's La Cage Aux Folles is artfully and sensitively directed by Melissa Rain Anderson who skillfully cultivates the chorus line of emotions within the work. With stunning costumes by Kevin Copenhaver, over-the-top dance numbers choreographed by Sam Hay, and musical direction by Don Kot, this production is a celebration of musical theater at its most joyous.
– Carol White Llewellyn, Beyond the Nest - Geva's LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is sassy with unapologetic glitz. It pulses with exuberance, glamour and unrestrained fun. It is an anthem to tolerance and love.
– Dan and Julie Izzo, Broadwayworld.com | Central New York
Selected Work
Recent work 
