Born in the United States and raised in Australia, Melissa trained first as a classical dancer and then as an actor. She began her career in Melbourne in roles for the Melbourne Theatre Company, Red Stitch, Hothouse Theatre, and for the Black Lung. During this time she appeared in guest roles on Australian television and also as a voice artist for ABC Radio National, Bolinda Audio and Vision Australia for whom she narrated over 50 book titles.
In 2008 Melissa transferred to New York City where she has since devised and performed for The International WOW Company (RECONSTRUCTION, AUTO DA FE) appeared off Broadway at 59E59 theatres (Ride) and worked in new play development for theatre incubators throughout the city (Ensemble Studio Theatre, Ontological Hysteric, New Dramatists and Dramatists Guild among them).
Her work as a Director has played at ABC No Rio and Rattlestick Playwright’s Theatre, New York, Het Feinhout, Amsterdam, Porsgrunn International Theatre Festival, Norway, and The Rock Surfers Theatre Company, Sydney.
Melissa holds a BA in Acting from the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne and an MA in performance research from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, London. She is has been a two time fellow of the Ian Potter Foundation and has also received support from the Australian American Foundation and the Polish Cultural Institute, New York. She is a current Glorias Foundation Scholar for her post graduate research. Melissa is based between London and New York.