is tickled silly to be returning to the Music Theatre Works stage after appearing in Cabaret (Her first professional role in Chicago!), Annie Get Your Gun, and South Pacific. Melissa is an actor, director, and theatrical illustrator who lives for making audiences - and all those around her - laugh. She’s worked most recently as “Fräulein Kost” (Cabaret, Metropolis PAC), “Mother” (A Christmas Story, Jedlicka PAC), “Tanya” (Mamma Mia, Dominican University, guest artist), and possibly most famously as “Mrs Claus”for nine years at Navy Pier’s Winter Wonderfest. Other favorite Chicago credits: “Mabel” (Pirates of Penzance, Tall Ship Windy), “Nellie” (South Pacific, Music On Stage), “Domina” (A Funny Thing…Forum, Metropolis PAC), and “Lina Lemont” (Singin’ in the Rain). Outside of performing, Melissa also directs for many local theater companies, notably: The Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts (The SpongeBob Musical) and EDGE of Orion (1776, Peter & the Starcatcher) and owns the theatrical stationery company An Actor Plans. 

Insta: @melissa.m.crabtree  Website: www.melissacrabtreeactor.com