2021 & Before
Actor, Director, Costume & Lighting Designer
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Actor, Director, Costume & Lighting Designer 〰️
My theatrical philosophy is to paint with bold colors, to try my best not hide behind self doubt, to lead by example to build the equitable theatrical landscape I want to see in Chicago and beyond. I can accomplish this both onstage and off:
Onstage as an Actor - “Work Hard, Play Hard” you’d be pressed to find an actor more committed to their craft AND committed to lifting up those around me. The joy I get by creating laughter and escapism for audiences is unparalleled, except when I can support my fellow theatrical creatives by being a force of positivity and encouragement.
Offstage as a Director/Choreographer - Creatives do their best work when you as a leader care more about them as humans then their performance. When you pour passion, encouragement, and a drive for seeing the excellence that you know your actors have in them; while creating a safe environment for them to fail and grow, that is the foundation for not only a stunning production, but also a theatrical community that reflects the world around it.
Offstage as Lighting Designer - Have you ever painted with a canvas that is 50 feet wide? Lighting Design is like painting with the boldest colors imaginable while creating the world in which our stories take place.
Offstage as a Costume Designer - Treating each cast member that I designed for as a human first and supporting the show’s visual narrative second, allowed me to create an environment where teens & young adults felt comfortable and confident in their own bodies.
Light Up The Lake -
Actor - Holiday 2021
Navy Pier’s Light Up the Lake running November 26th-December 24th, 2021.
Melissa joined her actor husband, Jon for their 9th season as Mr and Mrs Claus. Improv at it finest - creating scenes, memories, character work, and performance stamina for 7 hours at a time surrounded by some of the best Improv Actors in Chicago.
Shrek the Musical -
Choreographer & Lighting Designer - December 2021
Shrek - The Children’s Theatre of Western Springs - December 10th - 19th, 2021
Mamma Mia -
Actor - Fall 2021
Melissa was a guest artist in Dominican University’s production of “Mamma Mia”. She strutted across the stage as Tanya, from November 12th - 21st, 2021.
This production brought together two of my greatest passions - creating laughter onstage & building community offstage. By mentoring and investing in the college students by working side by side and leading by example on the qualities of work ethic, joy, and embodying the phrase “work hard, play hard”. We laughed, we stretched our creative muscles (and I got to wear 12 spectacular costumes!)
Director/Lighting Designer - Summer 2021
Director/Lighting Designer - The Little Mermaid Jr.
The Children’s Theatre of Western Springs
3 separate productions in the same summer!
Also - Lighting Designer - Something Rotten - same theatre, same summer!
Tales from the Chair -
Actor & Producer - Holiday 2020
In 2020, Melissa and her husband, Jon, built a virtual experience in their own living room, bubbled with two other actors for the elves and launched - Tales from the Chair a virtual 20 minute interactive play performed over zoom to 500 families across the USA and Canada.
Director/Choreographer/ Lighting Designer - Summer 2019
Director/Lighting Designer - Frozen Jr.
Director/Lighting Designer - Peter Pan Jr.
Choreographer/Lighting Designer - Footloose (seen here)
at The Children’s Theatre of Western Springs
Urinetown -
Costume Designer - Summer 2019
Urinetown - Schaumburg Summer Theatre at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum -
Actor - Spring/Summer 2019
Performing at Metropolis Performing Arts Center from May 16th - June 29th, 2019.
“Melissa Crabtree uses her incredible and athletic voice to great comic effect as Domina throughout, but especially when holding an impossibly long note at the beginning of “That Dirty Old Man.” Crabtree’s performance highlights what is perhaps the biggest flaw of the play: it could use more Domina.” - Erin Fleming www.chicagolandmusicaltheatre.com
And before all of this:
Performed multiple shows with: Light Opera Works (now Music Theatre Works), Brightside Theatre, Music On Stage, The Tall Ship Windy, Navy Pier Entertainment, Al Larson Prairie Center for the Art, Woodstock Opera House, & many more since 2011
Directed at: Edge of Orion Theatre, Schaumburg Summer Theatre, Christian Youth Theatre, Spotlight Youth Theatre, The Children’s Theatre of Western Springs, & guest taught at many more since 2010
Costume, Lights, Set, Props, & Sound Design for: Edge of Orion Theatre, Schaumburg Summer Theatre, Christian Youth Theatre, Spotlight Youth Theatre, The Children’s Theatre of Western Springs, and many more since 2010