Upcoming!
Spring 2024
Melissa will be appearing as Violet in Metropolis Performing Arts Center’s production of 9 to 5! Running May 4th through May 26th.
It’s Pronounced crab-tree, yes, it’s that easy!
Melissa (She/Her) is a Musical Theatre Actress who specializes in Big, Bold, Physical comedy with an honest flair. Melissa has performed up and down Chicagoland, but loves to travel and see new places. She has been described as genuine, vocally athletic, eye catching, and a pleasure to work with (and as a “hooker with a heart of gold” in many a show review). She prides herself in taking risks onstage, and finding the joy in every moment offstage. She is currently Chicago based, but can be a local hire in Seattle & NYC as well.
Here’s some more Fun Facts About Melissa!
A dual citizen of Canada and the US, Melissa holds a BFA in Music Theatre Performance from St. Clair College, Windsor ON Canada. She also obtained a BA in Applied Theatre from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia.
While in Australia, she won the GCAT Award for Best Actress for her performance as Natalie/Ed in All Shook Up.
Melissa’s favorite performance was when she played Mabel in Tall Ship Windy’s production of Pirates of Penzance which was performed under sail on Lake Michigan.
Melissa was Navy Pier’s longest-running Mrs. Claus at Winter Wonderfest - 9 years!
Melissa’s “thrival” job is her online shop An Actor Plans where she creates and sells theatre/broadway themed stickers and stationary.
In her “spare” time, Melissa enjoys baking, knitting, reading fan fiction, and petting her cat Mabel.
Melissa has learned 6 jokes but only remembers 4 of them.
“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
AVENUE Q
Melissa appeared as Lucy the Slut, Mrs. Thisletwat, and a Bad Idea Bear in Music Theatre Works’ production of Avenue Q running from 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
“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
“Ms Crabtree is a powerhouse in her working with DeLeon and brings the sexy Lucy to life. She also does a great Mrs. Thistlewat, Kate Monster’s boss.” - Alan Bresloff Around the Town Chicago
“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
Puppetry Real
Media
Press
Reviews
Fräulein Kost in Cabaret
“Melissa Crabtree’s Fräulein Kost is a quick-witted, kind, spunky hooker who favors sailors, but morphs into someone quite unlikeable with her frightening rendition of “Tomorrow Belongs to Me.” “ - Regina Belt-Daniels, Northwest Herald
Domina in A Funny thing happened on the way to the forum
“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
Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray - Brightside Theatre
“The dynamic duo of Melissa Crabtree and Michelle Bolliger are as funny as they are villainous, playing TV producer (and former “Miss Baltimore Crabs”) Velma Von Tussle and her spoiled, self-entitled Barbie Doll daughter, Amber. Together they chew up the scenery with relish” - www.chicagotheatrereview.com
Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls - Brisbane AUSTRALIA
“(Melissa Crabtree) a voice and stage presence that was as good as any Hollywood star I’ve ever seen, even Jean Simmons, who played the role in the 1955 movie. Crabtree is from Chicago, and I’m not sure how long she’s been in Brisbane, but if some professional company doesn’t snap up her and her almost operatic soprano voice (think Kathryn Grayson), I’d be very surprised.” - Alison Cotes
Recent Highlights
Fall 2023
Melissa was the female swing for Northbrook TYA’s production of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus (and Performed as the Bus Driving Bus Driver!) from November 18th - December 2nd, 2023.
Fall 2023
Melissa was a guest artist in Dominican University’s production of The Pro,. She taught the world about the power of Zazz as Angie, from November 10th - 12th, 2023.
Spring 2023
Melissa appeared as Lucy the Slut, Mrs. Thisletwat, and a Bad Idea Bear in Music Theatre Works’ production of Avenue Q running from March 9th - April 2nd 2023.
Holiday 2022
Melissa appeared as Mother in A Christmas Story from November 25th - December 10th at Jedlicka Performing Arts Center in Cicero, IL
Fall 2022
Melissa appeared as Fräulein Kost in Cabaret (and learned to play the accordion to boot!) from September 15th - October 22nd at Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights, IL
Summer 2022
Melissa was the Director & Choreographer of Schaumburg Summer Theatre’s Production of “The SpongeBob Musical” at the Al Larson Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg, IL
Holidays, 2021
Melissa joined her actor husband, Jon for their 9th season as Mr and Mrs Claus at Navy Pier’s Light Up the Lake running November 26th-December 24th, 2021.
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.
Holidays, 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.
Contact
Let’s Do (virtual) Lunch?
email: melissa.crabtree1@gmail.com