WHY I COACH — Working one on one is my favorite kind of work. I’m a big believer in walking into the audition and rehearsal room with something great to offer. I adore working to unlock what makes a kid special, and taps into their uniqueness. I love to watch kids thrive and discover in the moment! What a joy it is to work with young artists and support their huge hearts and passion.

Melissa Rain Anderson is a New York City based Director, Actor, Audition Coach and Acting Teacher. Melissa most recently directed Disney’s The Little Mermaid at Syracuse Stage. Selected directing work includes the Regional Premier of The Play that Goes Wrong, The Wolves and The Marvelous Wonderettes at The Repertory Theater of St. Louis; Macbeth, Big River and The Cocoanuts at Utah Shakespeare Festival; All is Calm- The Christmas Truce of 1914 at Alabama Shakespeare Festival; The Book of Will at Phoenix Theatre Company and The Wolves at Syracuse Stage. As an Affiliate Artist at Geva Theatre Center, she directed In the Heights, HAIR, La Cage Aux Folles, A Funny Thing…Forum, Spamalot, Spelling Bee among others. Upcoming: Marie Antoinette at University of Oklahoma. Melissa’s acting credits include Co- Stars on Law and Order SVU and Lipstick Jungle, Head Nurse in the National Tour of South Pacific. Off-Broadway credits include Bessie in Time and Again at Manhattan Theater Company, Baby Rose in Babes in Arms and Jessica in Tenderloin at City Center. Melissa can be heard singing on several cast recordings including Babes in Arms Encores, Tenderloin Encores and Richard Rodgers The Sound of His Music. Melissa adores teaching privately specializing in acting through song, audition technique, Shakespeare and contemporary monologues and scenes. Melissa lives in New York City with her husband, actor Jim Poulos, please visit Melissarainanderson.com