What People are Saying

Mel is the most humble and generous acting coach/director I have ever worked with. Her knowledge of the craft is vast and enviable, but what I find most valuable is the way she is able to communicate what is needed so simply and openly. She guides the actor in such a way that they feel free to explore without judgement, but pushes them to their utmost potential to extract their absolute best performance. She is a joy to work with, firm but kind, and an incredible asset in any production. The quality of acting in Panamanian musical theatre has improved greatly because of what she has so generously shared with us. I cannot say enough good things about Mel.  Any City is lucky to have her.

Melanie Gilpin Lee, my acting coach... you are the best of the best of the best in what you do. Thank you for coming down and taking over two weeks before opening night and for taking the show to a new level. Forever grateful my #PumpkinFace

Melanie Lee has a huge heart and a keen sense of artistry. She approaches every situation with love and humor, a combination that proves effective in bringing out the best of her students, cast members, creative teams, and peers. She tailors her approach to the specific needs of the person in front of her and gives everyone her full attention, energy, and focus. I always feel better after working with Mel on an audition as she works with me to fully flesh-out my characters, figure out my emotional journey, and pull out the best in my work. She always works with my schedule and makes herself available to help in whatever capacity I need. She is an undeniable asset to any live production, audition, or film project.

I have had the privilege of collaborating with Melanie on multiple shows and her professionalism, creative direction and passion for the craft sets the bar. She uplifts her cast and carries them through the process, pulling unknown abilities from their depths, leaving the actors and audience wanting more. 

brooklynsample.com 

The best part about collaboration is what you learn from the person. This is what I learned from the wonderfully talented director and artist, Melanie Gilpin Lee. The real art of listening, the way to share ideas and communicate those ideas to different individuals and personalties, and most of all, what real passion for project looks like. I would work with Mel anytime and every time, and to me, that’s the greatest recommendation I can give.

Melanie Lee is the reason I fell in love with theater; she pushed me to act, write, direct and produce. She is an incredible actor and even better acting coach. Even though we don’t live in the same country we still collaborate on a daily basis 

Even after having acted for over 10 years, Melanie’s advice and guidance not only helped me gain a fresh perspective on the craft, but also provided me with the necessary insight to challenge myself and face new tests. What’s more, her energy and contagious enthusiasm served as a constant reminder of why I fell in love with acting in the first place. 

Melanie Lee, professional actress, dancer and director, is much more than just a triple threat. Amongst her many talents, she can sense everyone's feelings on and behind the stage and always has the right idea on how to approach each actor/student to get the best out of them and make them shine. As a fellow actress, she is a friend and a mentor. As a teacher and director, her confident demeanor and easy manner can unlock everyone's potential and her skills and charisma bring together the cast. She is a professional through and through, always with the right amount of humor. Her combination of theatre theory and real life experience make me understand and learn the importance of every action I take on stage. She is one of my all time favourite teachers, directors, friends and power houses. I always look forward to working with her!

Mel is the kind of director who makes you want to be a better actor and knows exactly how to help you get there. She creates a room where every actor feels comfortable taking chances, making bold choices, and occasionally falling flat on their face, because sometimes discovering what doesn’t work is how you find what does. She gives you the freedom to explore while always keeping the actor and the character at the center of the work. She’s cool, calm, collected, endlessly professional, and incredibly quick on her feet. She knows when to push, when to pull back, and somehow manages to believe in you even more than you believe in yourself.