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Coaching

Working one on one is my favorite kind of work.

I am an audition and acting coach specializing in personalizing your sides, book, and monologues. I’m a big believer in walking into the audition room with something great to offer. My coaching style unlocks what makes you special, taps into your uniqueness. I strive to find what is blocking you and your choices to thrive and hope to discover a genuine humanness in your material. ~ MRA

Let’s Get to Work!

Caitlin Kinnunen headshot
Caitlin Kinnunen

Broadway: The Prom (Tony Nomination), Bridges of Madison County, Spring Awakening

Melissa is hands-down amazing and my go-to coach of choice. I’ve worked with her on SO many successful auditions ranging from film and television to important out-of-town shows and a national tour, even Broadway! She has helped me develop my craft as a well-rounded performer, and I’d gladly recommend her for anyone of any age! Even when I’m not focusing on an important audition, I’d choose to keep working with her to keep fine-tuning my skills. I’ve worked with her on acting, acting in song, dialect, movement, and overall musical theatre coaching.

Happy McPartlin headshot
Happy McPartlin

Broadway: Come From Away, Hands on a Hardbody

Working with Melissa is always a revelation. She is a truly collaborative artist and so incredibly inciteful. She always manages to find angles that both compliment and challenge your initial way of thinking about material, giving it a deeper and more true life. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her as a director and as a coach and she has an uncanny way of drawing out my best work and the best work of everyone in the room. I can’t think of anyone I would trust more to bolster and enhance my work. In her work, Melissa is absolutely clear, giving a focus and specificity that makes behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances almost effortless.

Kara Lindsay headshot
Kara Lindsay

Broadway: Newsies, Wicked, Beautiful

Melissa brings such a positive and energetic approach to her work that makes it so exciting, as an actor, because she creates an environment in which anything is possible and fears don’t exist. She has a wealth of knowledge and skill to help you navigate a scene, song, monologue, etc. After my coaching with her I felt confident, invigorated, and excited to go into the audition. She is brilliant!

Martine Fleurisma headshot
Martine Fleurisma

Ruth in A Raisin in the Sun at Bristol Riverside Theatre

Melissa is the best at what she does. She is astute in this field from classical to contemporary. She gives you the room to grow and leads you to see beyond the text and see who the character is. She is your champion and gives you ideas and tools you need to succeed. I am so glad to have her  in my corner.

Kirk Lydell headshot
Kirk Lydell

A Bronx Tale (National Tour)

Getting to work with Melissa is truly a game changer! Her ability to help understand the language and the importance of every moment can’t be matched. She’s helped me understand the beauty in specificity and then letting it all go to tell the story! Take one coaching session, I dare you, you’ll get a callback… I did!

Kayla Ryan Walsh headshot
Kayla Ryan Walsh

Alana in the regional premiere of Jeremy O. Harris’ Slave Play

There’s a special kind of person who is able to truly collaborate within a coaching environment, and Melissa does this tenfold. She welcomes and encourages collaboration and quizzical thinking throughout the coaching process, so you leave truly feeling like it’s a shinier version of your OWN. She’s thoughtful, articulate, specific, and really values the actor and person in front of her, which I feel translates into the work. I leave standing up a little taller, and a bigger smile on my face than when I walked in. She’s my go-to recommendation if you’re wanting to have elevated work and stimulated craftsmanship, but more importantly, and safe environment to play, fail and grow.

Rachael Logue headshot
Rachael Logue

Actor, Director, Producer – NYC/Houston

Every time I coach with Melissa I wonder why I didn’t see her sooner. She’s the difference between a good audition and a great one. I wouldn’t go into an important call without her coaching. She maximizes my preparedness and minimizes my nerves in the room. She’ll give you that little something extra you’ve been missing and take you to the next level.

Paul Ianniello headshot
Paul Ianniello

Elf (MSG)

Melissa is a true collaborator. Everytime I have a coaching with her I leave inspired. She has a way of interpreting material to keep it fresh and relevant. The atmosphere she provides during her coachings is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before; it’s all about the work and figuring out every nuance so that you leave KNOWING the material inside and out. If finding your truth, keeping to your authentic self, and having a one up on your other auditioners is what you are looking for – then Melissa is the secret weapon you need!

Mikki Sodergren headshot
Mikki Sodergren

Singer, Actor, NYC

Melissa possesses a unique enthusiasm for helping actors. Whether you meet with her to strengthen your natural abilities, polish monologues or scenes, prepare for an upcoming audition or simply to converse about the business, Melissa is knowledgable, easygoing and jovial. It is rare to find a coach that is so completely on your side, and that is a great gift of Melissa’s. She makes you feel confident on your materials due to her effervescence and naturally sparkling personalty. She also knows who the best people are in any specialized field you may need help with, and happily recommends them to you, and vice versa. Melissa has been a life-saver for me many times, and I am so glad to feel that she is a part of my “team”.

Audra Cramer headshot
Audra Cramer

Actor, Musical Director, Coach, NYC

Melissa has always had the ability to bring out in my material what I would never be able to discover on my own. I’ve sat in as pianist on coachings with Melissa and believe this is true for everyone she works with. Her attention to detail and great understanding of telling a story through song is the number one reason I call her, or recommend someone, for a coaching whenever prep for an audition or callback is needed.

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