2022-2024

Actor - Director - Choreographer - Costume Designer

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Actor - Director - Choreographer - Costume Designer 〰️

9 to 5 - Actor

Violet Newstead in Metropolis Performing Arts Center’s production of *9 to 5*!
May 4th - May 26th, 2024
(Seen in Purple with a Brunette Wig in the Video below!)

“Melissa Crabtree is divine… Joe and Violet do a number that will take your breath away” - Alan Bresloff

Around the Town Chicago

“Melissa Crabtree’s Violet is strong and ambitious. Despite the struggles Violet faces throughout the production, Crabtree shows us a resourceful, no-nonsense woman who is able to remain compassionate and caring, mirrored in her strong, yet compelling delivery of the vocal lines written for the character.” - Andy Hillier

LifeandTimes.biz

“As Violet, the long-suffering officer manager struggling to ascend the corporate ladder, Crabtree conveys wry, self-assurance and nice comedic timing.” - Barbara Vitello

Daily Herald

Highlights of my Performance

Avenue Q - Actor

Lucy the Slut/Mrs. T/a moving box in Williams Street Repertory Theatre’s production of *Avenue Q.* Performed at the Raue Center in Crystal Lake.
September 13th - October 20th 2024
“Melissa Crabtree is a seductive, vampy Lucy and domineering Mrs. T; another amazing singer, her vocals are simply stunning, only matched by her physical expression and movements, especially with Lucy.” - **Regina Belt-Daniels -** Shaw Local

All Shook Up - Director/Choreographer

All Shook Up with Schaumburg Summer Theatre at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts.
July 26th - August 4th, 2024
(I also did all of their graphic design & video editing for the production as well - See video below!)

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus - Actor

Female Swing (Understudy for 3 different actors)
Northbrook TYA’s production of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (and Performed as the Bus Driving Bus Driver!).
November 18th - December 2nd, 2023.

Hello, Dolly! - Choreographer/Costume Designer

Hello, Dolly! with Schaumburg Summer Theatre at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts.
July 28th - August 5th, 2023

Avenue Q - Actor

Lucy the Slut, Mrs. Thisletwat, and a Bad Idea Bear in Music Theatre Works’ production of *Avenue Q.*
March 9th - April 2nd 2023.

“Melissa Crabtree is a magnificent singer/actor. She positively wails as she belts out her sexy number “Special,” as Lucy the Slut. The auburn-haired Ms. Crabtree, who has a gorgeous voice, is equally hilarious as both Mrs. Thistletwat and one of the Bad Idea Bears, and she literally lends a hand with portraying Trekkie Monster. Her vocal contribution to every company number is especially vibrant.” - Colin Douglas Chicago Theatre Review

“The smile on my face throughout the show could not have been bigger, especially anytime Andres J. DeLeon and Melissa Crabtree took the stage…” - Amanda Finn New City Stage

“Crabtree owns the characters of Lucy the Slut, a chanteuse whose primary skill is unrelated to singing, and Mrs. Thistletwat, Kate Monster’s mean boss. Both Crabtree and DeLeon are wonderful, but Crabtree especially shines with Lucy. She is immensely watchable and expressive.”- Wendy Kromash Evanston Roundtable

“She too is a phenomenal singer and shows off some nice creativity in the voices she chooses to differentiate her characters.” - Rikki Lee Travolta The Life and Times of Rikki Lee Travolta