Melanie Schmidt

“Your dream is realistic. It’s your I can’t that’s not realistic.”

Hello world! My name is Melanie. Nice to meet you!

I am theater producer, director and actor. Recently in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Shrek the Musical and Grease the Musical Review.  Recently at the 2021 MACT*Fest Competition produced and directed the award winning production,  “How to Host a Murder Mystery Dinner Party (In Fifteen Simple Steps), as well as produced and directed Hairspray, the Broadway Musical and Disney’s High School Musical on Stage.  I earned my degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth in Theater and Film in 2014.  Two years later I founded Stage and Spotlights Community Theatre in order to save a production after it was canceled and have been producing and directing ever since. 

I am also a filmmaker, editor and love photography! I love traveling and creating content. I’ve been acting, editing and capturing videography/ photography for the last 15 years. Recently, working on Papi is a Queen (Drag Queen Web Series), Earth Beings (Short Film) and live events in the Twin Cities. 

Celebrating diversity and inclusion are a priority to me.  ✊🏾🏳️‍🌈

Hairspray 2017

You can’t stop the BEAT

Pictures of recent projects

Photographer

Meow Wolf, Las Vegas, 2022

Coggins, Inventor, Morris Person

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 2022
River Valley Theatre Company

Evil Queen,  Camera Operator, Makeup Artist

“Guardian of Aegora” Feature Film, 2021

Theater Work

  • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
    Coggins, Morris Person, Inventor
    River Valley Theatre Company, 2022
  • How to Host a Murder Mystery Dinner Show (in progress, for MACT*Fest)
    Director, Producer, Scenic 
    Stage and Spotlights, 2021
  • Shrek the Musical (Gooden)
    Producer, Tweedle Dee
    River Valley Theater Company, 2019
  • Acting and Monologue Training
    Actor, (Workshop)
    Self-Reliant Actor, 2019
  • Grease the Musical Review (Kearcher)
    Co-Director,  Lady
    Dylan Kearcher Entertainment, 2017

Theater Work

  • Beauty and the Beast the Musical Review
    Townsperson           
    Dylan Kearcher Entertainment, 2017
  • Hairspray, The Broadway Musical
    Director, Producer, Scenic
    Stage and Spotlights, 2017
  • Disney’s High School Musical
    Director, Producer, Scenic, Thespian
    Stage and Spotlights, 2016
  • Black Coffee (David Coral)
    Light Board Operator
    Theatre in the Round, 2015
  • A Thousand Clowns (Dona Freeman)
    Lights, Scenic
    Theatre in the Round, 2015
  • Charlotte’s Web (Dunning and Gillis)
    Narrator
    Prior Lake Players, 2015

Theater Work

  • The Farnsworth Invention (Lynn Musgrave)
    Stage Manager, Lights, Scenic
    Theatre in the Round, 2015
  • Don’t Drink the Water (Ben Kutschied)
    Stage Manager, Lights, Scenic
    Theatre in the Round, 2015
  • Black Tie (Liz Neerland)
    Lights, Scenic
    Theatre in the Round, 2015
  • Importance of Being Earnest
    Director
    The Dudley Experimental Theater, 2014
  • Damn Yankees (Ann Bergeron)
    ASM, Hair & Makeup
    Marshall Performing Arts Center, 2014

Film Work

  • How to Host a Murder Mystery Dinner Party Promotional Video
    Videographer, Editor
    Stage and Spotlights, 2022
  • Gaurdian of Aegora | Feature Film
    Evil Queen
    Creativity Lies Within LLC, 2020-21
  • Papi is a Queen | YouTube Drag Web Series
    Videographer, Editor
    Papi is a Queen LLC, 2019

Film Work

  • Social Media Live Videos
    Videographer, Host
    Walt Life, 2019
  • Shrek the Musical Promotional Video
    Videographer, Editor
    River Valley Theatre Company, 2019
  • Earth Beings | Short Film
    Videographer, Editor, Sky 1 & 2
    Film North, 2019
  • Hairspray Promotional Videos
    Director, Editor, Writer
    Stage and Spotlights, 2017

Film Work

  • Disney’s High School Musical Promo Video
    Director, Editor
    Stage and Spotlights, 2016
  • Theatre People Web Series | Season 3
    Student
    Theater People, 2015
  • Professional Wireless Communications AD
    Videographer, Editor
    Professional Wireless Communications, 2015

Vocal Work

  • Twin Cities Vocal Arts
    Vocal Lessons (Training)
    (Seasonal) 2016 – Present

Vocal Work

  • Twin Cities Vocal Arts
    Vocal Lessons (Training)
    (Seasonal) 2016 – Present

Vocal Work

  • Twin Cities Vocal Arts
    Vocal Lessons (Training)
    (Seasonal) 2016 – Present

Circus & Dance Work

  • Unicycle Lessons  
    Unicycle Instructor
    Twin Cities Trapeze Center, 2022

Dance Work

  • Latin Fashion Competition Team
    Dancer
    Demure Dance, 2022

Dance Work

  • Salsa and Bachata Lessons
    Dancer
    Demure Dance, 2019-22

Awards

Arrowhead Award

Nominated for excellent service, leadership, event planning, videography and founding the first ever gender inclusive Sports Club, called the Quidditch Club.

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Kirby Leadership Certificate

Achieved cultural and leadership competency by fulfilling specialized coursework, attended several emerging leadership workshops and completed 500+ hours of volunteering.

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