Stories By Melody Productions "Promoting history and heritage, life's lessons and laughter.......through the power of performance!" MELODIE L.C.THOMPSON: Storyteller/Actor/Writer /Educator With a degree in Education, and studies in Theater, Dance and American Sign Language( ASL), Melodie brings to the stage a wealth of experience in writing, creating and performing, as well as working with and inspiring children and young adults. She is the creator of “Stories by Melody" a collection of her original stories performed for thousands of children and adults in her lively, comical, engaging storytelling style. ***************************************** Best-known for her Dramatic In-Character roles, Melodie has received national acclaim for portraying an 104 year old blind, black college professor, a female pitcher in the Negro Leagues, and - most notably - as America’s Only Known Female Buffalo Soldier. Since 1998, Melodie has traveled locally and nationally, bringing her captivating stories and solo performances to schools, festivals, museums,theaters....wherever a lesson can be learned, a laugh can be lent, and a soul can be stirred! As a solo actor and playwright, Ms. Thompson is endorsed by the Rhode Island's State Council on the Arts as well as the Committe for Humanities. In her first research-to-performance piece, REMEMBERING AND FORGETTING: PORTRAITS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CENTENARIANS, she portrays a two real life black women, both born before the turn of the century, and both representing the diversity within the African American experience. She is nationally recognized for having written and performed the first one-woman play, ONLY A WOMAN, based on the real life story of Cathay Williams, alias William Cathay-- the only black woman known to have fought in the 19th Century Indian Fighting Wars for two years, posing as a man. This play is unique in that it uses an interactive genre-- Cathay interacts with the audience throughout the piece, while a fascinating story, spanning the spectrum of human emotions, unfolds. In addition to public performances, Melodie has taken "Cathay" to elementary, secondary and college audiences far and wide, promoting the history of the famed Buffalo Soldiers, and inspiring all ages, races and genders with Cathay's story of pain, perseverance and personhood. Newer pieces in Ms. Thompson's repertoire include "Change Up," a small cast play about the life of Peanut Johnson, a female pitcher in Negro Baseball League history, and "In the Presence of a King" a powerful storytelling performance drawn from Ms.Thompson's own childhood. "IN THE PRESENCE OF A KING" Melodie was not only a child growing up during the Civil Rights era, she grew up in Atlanta in a household with parents who were personal friends of Dr. Martin Luther King, and Coretta Scott King. The response of one audience member captures the impact of this intimate performance piece: "I continue to receive accolades on the 'best MLK tribute we've ever had!' Your performance was outstanding...For those of us who lived that history, it provided a rare sojourn we might not have dared take had we traveled alone; but you were here to lead us back into time, with humor, in a way that we could dare return without reliving the dread...Your performance captured the essence of a childhood among giants. It captured a spirit that crossed cultures and generations..." Wilese Freeman Comissiong, Ed.D.,Providence College
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As a certified teacher and *RISCA Roster Artist, Melodie offers an exciting array of workshops for students and professionals. |
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FOR BOOKING and ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Contact RISCA (Rhode Island State Council on the Arts) @ 401.222-1146 Or contact Melodie L.C. Thompson @ 401.781-1506 OR E-MAIL  |
