Hello, my name is Mélissa Smith, I’m a multidisciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, New York. I am a cis gender female of Black American and Afro Cuban heritage and my pronouns are she/her.
My work spans across theater, children's books, filmmaking, choreography, clowning, and arts education —each medium serving as a tool to create immersive and impactful experiences for people of all ages.
I aim to craft engaging, thoughtful multimedia and multi sensory experiences. I am always open to new inspirations and some of my past works have explored themes such as insects, dreams, space travel, immigration, ocean conservation, sustainability, emotional regulation, and community.
Whether through song, poetry, dance, costumes, film, education or theater, I approach my art with curiosity, beauty, and humor, striving to preserve a sense of whimsy and wonder in both children and adults.
I am a proud recipient of New York Foundation for the Arts Women's Fund Grant which aided in the creation BLAST OFF! (to space) The Show. The show had its premier March 2023 as part of the Rockland Strand Theater's Education Series in Maine and went on to play at the Brooklyn Children's Museum June of 2023!
This led to the creation of the STEMmersive Theater Company creating Interactive Theatrical Adventures in Science.
My work as a creator/ producer as well as a host & Teaching Artist can be seen on "Mondays with Mé" presented by Arts for All. Each Mondays with Mé episode is about twenty minutes and designed especially for your early elementary student (Grades K-3). What started as an at home weekly Livestream grew into a production with a small team with a new release each month of the school year with weekly episode Highlights and Episode Guides. Episodes feature a physical warm-up, reading of Inclusive and Diverse books, a 60 second dance break featuring women and POC Kindie musicians, mindfulness breaks and prompts for further activities. All episodes are available on YouTube
"Miss Mé, is Levar Burton, Jane Fonda, and Fred Rogers all rolled into one joyful human... so this show is as much for kids as it is for kids at heart."
I brought several of my strengths and skills together as the Production Designer and Director of the Make It Myself music video with Ants on a Log.
After performing live with Ants on a Log on tour it was a joy to collaborate on this project.
I created and perform the one person clown show “The Magician’s Assistant,” which had its NY debut as part of Frigid Fest in 2017 (Winner - Best Family Show). It then went on to play all 5 boroughs as part of Art's For All's Audience Project before playing in residence at the Kraine Theater, NYC. The run came to an unexpected halt due to the Covid pandemic. It then did a small tour within the Brooklyn Public Library system in 2021/22. This was a special resurgence, as the show had its start doing workshop performances in libraries around the Northeast before it's NYC debut. The trunk has been put away for a while but who knows… The Magician’s Assistant could make a surprise comeback.
I am also a member of the band Bee Parks & the Hornets. FUN FACT: I learned to play the bass guitar in 2018 in order to join the band for a summer residency at the Criterion Theater in Bar Harbor, Maine.
We've gone on to do multiple North East tours performing for audiences at WolfTrap Theater in the woods, Strathmore Arts, zoos, museums, libraries, schools and more!
Bee Parks and the Hornets perform high-energy concert parties that combine rockin’ music, puppetry and audience participation to inspire young people to get up and move — both with their feet and in their communities. With all-original songs that promote kindness, equality, self-confidence, social justice, environmental awareness and dancing your heart out, Bee Parks and the Hornets take audience members of all ages on a musical adventure that will open up spirits and imaginations.
You can hear some songs I've collaborated on HERE!
As a Teaching Artist I leads workshops in Physical Acting, Clown, Improvisation, Dance Composition and Theater Making for groups of varying ages and experience levels. Each workshop is as unique as the group.
I am very enthusiastic about awakening the spirit of play, the body as the artist’s instrument, positive body image and supporting communities with engaging and culturally responsive teaching through arts education.
My workshops are influenced by my professional-real world experience as well as my wide breadth of training from Upright Citizens Brigade, Dell’Arte International School for Physical Theater, Double Edge Theatre and New York Goofs Clown School. I've also studied with clowns from Cirque De Soliel and Ringling Bros. and I have a BA in Theater, Dance and Creative Writing.
I've also had the chance to support Elementary classroom teachers bring arts integration to Literacy, History, Science and Humanities subjects. I am also available to consult on lesson plans as well as designing unique programs to accommodate the needs of different groups.
