"How does one even begin to attempt to introduce the likes of Melody Bates?..."
Read Ivan Talijancic x Melody Bates in The Brooklyn Rail
Read Ivan Talijancic x Melody Bates in The Brooklyn Rail
ALL THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD @ 5TH WALL STUDIO
Get tickets HERE for this high-flying new staging of Melody's original fairy tale, coming to Williamsburg's 5th Wall Studio April 4th-6th, 2024
...Every thousand years, all of the Great Birds of the world gather to perform a secret, sacred ritual that keeps the music of the spheres--and all life with it--humming smoothly. But this year something is wrong...and a tiny unlikely hero is the only hope of saving everything.
ALL THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD
a dazzling and transportative experience for audiences of all ages
Written and performed by Melody Bates
Direction and choreography by Nicki Miller
Costumes by Jennifer Paar
Aerial Design by 5th Wall Studio
Aerial Rigging Coordinator Benjamin E. Oyzon
Stage Management by Rachel Radenberg
Lighting Design by Gwyneth Larsen
Wig Design by Jonathan Amaro
Aerial Coaching by Gwyneth Larsen and Rebecca Magazine of 5th Wall Studios
⋆。°✩ 𓅪𓅰𓅛𓅇𓅓𓅪𓅮𓅣 ✩°。⋆
...Every thousand years, all of the Great Birds of the world gather to perform a secret, sacred ritual that keeps the music of the spheres--and all life with it--humming smoothly. But this year something is wrong...and a tiny unlikely hero is the only hope of saving everything.
ALL THE BIRDS OF THE WORLD
a dazzling and transportative experience for audiences of all ages
Written and performed by Melody Bates
Direction and choreography by Nicki Miller
Costumes by Jennifer Paar
Aerial Design by 5th Wall Studio
Aerial Rigging Coordinator Benjamin E. Oyzon
Stage Management by Rachel Radenberg
Lighting Design by Gwyneth Larsen
Wig Design by Jonathan Amaro
Aerial Coaching by Gwyneth Larsen and Rebecca Magazine of 5th Wall Studios
⋆。°✩ 𓅪𓅰𓅛𓅇𓅓𓅪𓅮𓅣 ✩°。⋆
ENCHANTED ISLANDS BRINGS FAERIE MAGIC TO COASTAL MAINE
ENCHANTED ISLANDS is a living art story project, created by Melody in collaboration with Maine sculptor Peter Beerits and costume artist Jennifer Paar. Think of it as Faerie Queen Story Hour: wandering through the art-filled woods of Nellieville, you happen upon the Faerie Queen, book open on her lap, ready to tell you a story.
The 2023 residency featured three original tales, interwoven with themes of girl heroes, magic, disguise and self-discovery, bravery, and birds, all told by Melody in costumes by Paar. Read more about the stories and costumes here. It was a wonderful success and there's definitely more to come from this innovative artistic partnership, including a planned return to Maine next summer. Stay tuned!
Photo: "Empress" by Nicole Noel Photography
The 2023 residency featured three original tales, interwoven with themes of girl heroes, magic, disguise and self-discovery, bravery, and birds, all told by Melody in costumes by Paar. Read more about the stories and costumes here. It was a wonderful success and there's definitely more to come from this innovative artistic partnership, including a planned return to Maine next summer. Stay tuned!
Photo: "Empress" by Nicole Noel Photography
R & J & Z NOW AVAILABLE FROM ORIGINAL WORKS PUBLISHING
R & J & Z 2020 from Melody Bates on Vimeo. R & J & Z RISES AGAIN!
Called "boisterous and splendid" by the New York Times, Melody's critically-acclaimed, audience-favorite play is now a published and available in a gorgeous print edition from Original Works Publishing. Recent productions include a fabulous run at the University of Memphis in Fall 2021 What if Romeo and Juliet got a second chance? R & J & Z begins with Act V of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and keeps going, as the famous lovers navigate a world in which death isn't necessarily the end. Set against the historical backdrop of Verona's plague, Melody Bates’ new verse play throws old and new characters together over the course of an apocalyptic and action-packed 24 hours. Equally inspired by Shakespeare and modern zombie films, R & J & Z pushes the boundaries of theatrical humor and horror. |
R & J & Z IN THE PRESS
“Honestly, I couldn't keep up a body count. Boisterous and splendid…makes good on that whole immortal love story thing." — The New York Times “From the last line of Shakespeare’s text (which is interrupted by a zombie attack) the humor and humanity shine through. The story of two lovers who were too good for this world changes into a call to bring love into this world.” —NY Theatre Now “R & J & Z exceeds all expectations! Shakespeare is not spinning in his grave, but perhaps he will rise from it just to see this delightful, theatrical gorefest.” —New York Theatre Review |
Before Now, a few wonderful things happened:
AVALON TAKES FLIGHT
Praise for the world premiere of AVALON: "From out the tangle of centuries, Melody Bates has forged not just a coherent and compelling and radically feminist reading of the many Grail legends, but in her lyrical and triumphantly poetic text, she has also rendered Magic normal, obvious, irreproachable and elemental to any quest for truth. Dark, sexy, hair-raising, fast, light, and unflinching in her performance - the direction transcends. I was gobsmacked." --Jay Scheib, director of Broadway's "Bat out of Hell" |
AGRIPPINA TRIUMPHANT
Melody danced a harpsichord-fueled "louche pas de deux" in Sir David McVicar's brilliant staging of Handel's opera. NY Times: "This “Agrippina” — yanked from ancient Rome into a deliciously bleak vision of our time, played with electric vividness...Bold, snicker-out-loud funny, magnetic and unsettling ...begs to be enjoyed with a bag of popcorn." Melody also plays a chic CNN reporter, Versace-clad gold digger, nerdy seamstress, and Agrippina's proper Roman maid. Catch it Live in HD on PBS Great Performances |
Not too long ago...
AVALON WORLD PREMIERE -- Melody's radical new telling of the Arthurian legends had its world premiere in Maine sculptor Peter Beerits'
multi-acre woodland art installation, winning the Maine State Tourism Board's Innovation and Creativity Award. Follow Melody on Patreon for updates on what's next for this extraordinary new work.
SEEKING AVALON--read Melody's blog about the pilgrimage she and her mom made to historic and sacred sites in the UK. Spoiler alert: Wales has ghosts.
ASK FOR JANE now playing in theatres-- after sweeping awards on the festival circuit, this timely film is now playing at select cinemas across the country. Melody plays a featured role alongside Cait Cortelyou, Alison Wright, and Chloe Levine.
multi-acre woodland art installation, winning the Maine State Tourism Board's Innovation and Creativity Award. Follow Melody on Patreon for updates on what's next for this extraordinary new work.
SEEKING AVALON--read Melody's blog about the pilgrimage she and her mom made to historic and sacred sites in the UK. Spoiler alert: Wales has ghosts.
ASK FOR JANE now playing in theatres-- after sweeping awards on the festival circuit, this timely film is now playing at select cinemas across the country. Melody plays a featured role alongside Cait Cortelyou, Alison Wright, and Chloe Levine.
- LAW & ORDER SVU--Chung Chung!! Catch Melody playing a West Virginian waitress in the episode "Intent."
- THE CABARET AT THE END OF THE WORLD wins Outstanding Original Music at the NY Innovative Theater Awards! Read a great interview with the nominees
- This is what a playwright looks like. Melody is one of fifteen playwrights featured in Necessary Exposure: The Female Playwright Project.
Melody Bates Reel from Melody Bates on Vimeo.