Melissa S. Craib Dombrowski

Theatre

Melissa holds her B.A. (honors) in Drama and Theatre Studies from Middlesex University in London. She has been involved in well over 150 productions in almost every position imaginable, and has dedicated a large part of her life to the promotion of this art form (not only in production, but also through outreach programs and teaching). In addition to managing her own small theatre company while studying in London, she has worked both in the Department Outreach and Education and as Assistant to the Producing Director (Leland Ball) at the California Musical Theatre, and has helped produce several theatre festivals in Northern California. She recently served as both resident Stage Manager and House Manager to the University of Iowa’s Department of Performing Arts, working on highly technical productions in multiple venues. While she brings a strong aptitude in theatre production and administration, she also haa over a decade of administrative and support experience in other fields (including fundraising). Her education and work experience not only gives her hands-on working knowledge of all parts of the production process, she also has a strong history in management, teamwork, creative problem solving and balancing the big picture with attention to detail.

Melissa has been involved with the performing arts for nearly two decades. She began with a strong focus in voice and performance. She spent the majority of her teenage years taking lessons, going to rehearsal, as well as volunteering in her community. In 1995 she was one of 65 students selected nationally to attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Summer Seminar, and the experience helped her decide to change her focus from performance to directing, theatre management, and theatre education.

Melissa was accepted to California University Sacramento, and was the first recipient of the Charles Hume Scholarship, a full four-year scholarship for a Drama Major, in addition to receiving several other smaller scholarships. She attended CSUS for two years before becoming the first exchange student in a new program between CSUS and Middlesex University in London. After completing her year overseas, she was invited by the Drama Department to stay on and graduate from the University. Melissa jumped at the opportunity to transfer and completed her degree there while building up a small theatre company and converting a disused basement into a 24-seat theatre.

Melissa returned to California where she directed an award winning production of Romeo and Juliet in her hometown (the production received 11 nominations and 9 awards including Best Director and Best Choreographer). She then took on a professional assistantship with the California Musical Theatre in the department of Outreach and Education. While in that position, Melissa was able to participate in a number of programs with duties varying from the management of ArtsAlive! (a program dedicated to helping under-served segments of the community attend live professional theatre) to assistant directing a children's performance piece. After her assistantship was completed, CMT asked her to stay on as Producer Leland Ball's personal assistant until his move to New York in mid-October. She then went on to work for the University of Iowa as both a Stage Manager and House Manager to the Department of Performing Arts

Melissa has developed and taught theatre seminars to young people for approximately 12 years (specifically those focusing on Shakespeare and developing acting skills) and has received the Bank of America Achievement Award in Drama. She was awarded an Elly Award for best Adapted Script for her children's theatre work writing "Rumplestiltskin."

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