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About Us

STRIVING TO PRESENT ENTERTAINING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING THEATRE SINCE 2004.

Founded in 2004, The Melodramatics Theatre Company is a theatre arts organization based in Ithaca, NY, which strives to present entertaining musical theatre productions of artistic excellence. Since its founding, the company has entertained thousands of audience members.

Today, the company continues to grow and evolve, boasting an eclectic mix of members from Cornell University, Ithaca College, and the Ithaca community. To look at the history of The Melodramatics Theatre Company, check out our previous, now archived, website: www.melodramatics.com

Our Most Recent Productions
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The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee 
Spring 2023
 

Conceived by Rebecca Feldman
Music and Lyrics by William Finn
Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Additional Material by Jay Reiss
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine

After putting on Avenue Q, we wanted to keep the momentum of a big show while also introducing many more people into the Melos family. Originally meant for Spring 2020, we decided to put on The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Revolving around 6 bright young spellers and the various adults adjacent to the Bee, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee asks us, in a world focused on winning, what really matters? To our cast, crew, audience, and especially audience participants, thank you for supporting the show!

Read more: The Cornell Daily Sun

Producers: Kenny Aune, Ethan Ordower, Daniela Rodriguez-Chavez
Directors: Olivia Scaperotti
Assistant Directors: Darby Krugel, Cameron Howland

Music Director: Thomas Myers
Band Director: Daniela Rodriguez-Chavez
Assistant Band Director: Masha Kobin
Conductor: Charlie Hill

Stage Manager: Ethan Ordower
Technical Director: Ethan Ordower

This musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

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Avenue Q 
Fall 2022

Based on Original Concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
Arrangements and Orchestrations by Stephen Oremus
Book by Jeff Whitty

When looking at musicals, for this semester we wanted to go bigger in terms of length but keep a small cast like we have done in the past. Avenue Q borders that liminal space between black box intimacy and grand-stage spectacle that the post COVID-Melodramatics audience loves. Avenue Q is a show that invites audience members to be as loud as they want: whether it's from the laughs or from the gasps. In this changing political climate, and especially as a college campus, we are in an environment that uniquely fosters difficult conversations and enables confrontation. 2022 is a very different world from 2003, and between the classic songs like “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist,” or “Internet is for Porn,” some of the content might not have aged… gracefully. It’s offensive, it’s raunchy, it's “edgy,” but underneath all that grime, Avenue Q puts into the forefront challenges we find easier to ignore, and a challenge we wanted to take on. But remember… it’s a comedy about puppet sex; don’t take it too seriously and have fun! 

Read more: The Cornell Daily Sun

Producers: Kenny Aune, Ethan Ordower, Daniela Rodriguez-Chavez
Directors: Emily Rubenstein and Thomas Myers
Music Director: Daniela Rodriguez-Chavez
Stage Manager: Ethan Ordower
Technical Director: Ethan Ordower

This musical is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

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Now. Here. This 
Spring 2022

Music and Lyrics by Jeff Bowen

Book by Hunter Bell and Susan Blackwell

Based on a collaboration by Hunter Bell, Michael Berresse, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jeff Bowen and Larry Pressgrove

Now. Here. This is a one-act vignette-style of musical with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and a book by Hunter Bell and Susan Blackwell. It is a collaborative work by Hunter Bell, Michael Berresse, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jeff Bowen, and Larry Pressgrove. The four-person show, set in a natural-history museum, explores many questions of life ranging from reptiles and outer space to friendship and dying.
Taken from Wikipedia

Producer: Arin Sheehan
Director: Kenny Aune
Music Director: Daniela Rodriguez-Chavez
Stage Manager: Ethan Ordower
Technical Director: Jillian Parrino

Now. Here. This. is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com

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First Date
Fall 2021

Music and Lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner

Orchestrations by August Eriksmoen 

Vocal and Incidental Music Arrangements by Dominick Amendum
Book by Austin Winsberg

First Date is a one-act musical with a book by Austin Winsberg and music and lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner. Based around the concept of a blind date, the musical centers on Aaron and Casey, two 30-ish New York City singles set up by friends and family. With the influences of their friends and family (played out in their imaginations) as well as the effects of social media (Google, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube personified), this first date seems to be doomed. But with the help of a meddling but well-meaning waiter, Casey and Aaron might make a connection after all. With a contemporary rock score, First Date gleefully pokes fun at the mishaps and mistakes of blind dates and gives hope that there could be that one perfect moment.
Taken from Wikipedia and Stage Agent

Producers: Abbey Crowley and Arin Sheehan 
Director: Yura Lemin 
Music Director: Daniela Rodriguez-Chavez
Stage Manager: Ethan Ordower 

First Date is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com

Other Past Shows

The Last Five Years
(2019)

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