Posted: March 23, 2012 | Author: amandamelby | Filed under: Theatre | Tags: Actors Theatre of Phoenix, Amanda Melby, Annie Baker, Arizona Actress, Arizona Arts, entertainment, Herberger Theater Center, Matthew Wiener |
BODY AWARENESS
by Annie Baker
Mar 30 – Apr 15, 2012
Herberger Theater Center
(Stage West)

Amanda Melby plays “Phyllis” in “Body Awareness” at Actors Theatre of Phoenix; opens March 30
The one-act play is set (as last season’s CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION) in the fictional small town of Shirley, Vermont, where Phyllis (AMANDA MELBY), a college campus organizer for Body Awareness Week (whose topics range from a dance troupe of refugee Palestinian children to an eating disorder seminar) lives with her partner Joyce (Maria Amorocho), a high school social studies teacher, and Joyce’s 21-year-old son Jared (Will Hightower), from a prior marriage. Jared shows several symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome, but he refuses to see a therapist for treatment. Their houseguest is a middle-aged photographer named Frank Bonitatibus (Ian Christianson), whose artistic photos of nude women offend Phyllis. Frank’s presence exacerbates the already existing tension between the three of them, and when Joyce agrees to pose for one of Frank’s pictures, this threatens her relationship with Phyllis. Meanwhile, Jared, a self-described autodidact who works at McDonald’s until he successfully tries to get fired because he hates his co-workers, asks Frank for advice on how to attract women.
“5 STARS!…a smart, modest work about ordinary, flawed people, grasping for connection, but none of it feels small, thanks to Baker’s sharp ear for the deeply painful-and funny-longings squirming under her characters’ dialogue. What a beautiful start to a young playwright’s theatrical body of work.” – Time Out New York
Directed by Matthew Wiener.
Info: http://www.atphx.org/index.taf?mnid=performance&ecid=1298037644
www.AmandaMelby.com
Posted: January 8, 2012 | Author: amandamelby | Filed under: Theatre | Tags: Amanda Melby, Arizona Actress, Arizona Arts, Theatre Artists Studio |
Amanda Melby plays “Maggie” in “The Shadow Box” at Theatre Artists Studio; opens January 13
In this compelling dramatic triptych, three terminal patients dwell in separate cottages on a hospital grounds. The three are attended and visited by family and close friends: Agnes and her mother Felicity, estranged further by the latter’s dementia; Brian and Beverly, whose marital complications are exacerbated by Brian’s new lover, Mark; and Joe and Maggie, unready for the strain of Joe’s impending death and its effect on their teenage son. A poignant and compelling look at the emotional journeys of the patients and those who love them, The Shadow Box is the winner of a Tony Award® for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize.
Directed by Wanda McHatton, The Shadow Box features Mary Clare Coleman* (Agnes), Dolores D’Amore Goldsmith (Felicity), Tony Hodges* (Brian), Julie Lee (Beverly), Christopher Bradley* (Mark), Steve Fajardo (Joe), Amanda Melby* (Maggie), Dennis Cowan (Steve) and Mary Robinson as the Interviewer.
The Studio will hold a special benefit performance of The Shadow Box on Thursday, January 19, beginning at 7:30 p.m. with a portion of the proceeds going to Hospice of the Valley. In addition, we will be collecting donations for Hospice throughout the run of the show. For more information on the benefit performance, click here.
Jan 13-29, 2012: Fridays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sundays at 2 pm
Theatre Artists Studio 4848 E Cactus Rd #406 Scottsdale AZ 85254 (faces Paradise Village Pkwy, N of Olive Garden)
www.thestudiophx.org | 602.765.0120
Get tickets online: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/215005 or call the Box Office at 602-765-0120.
*Member of Actors Equity Association. This program is an Equity Member Project Code Production.
Posted: December 19, 2008 | Author: amandamelby | Filed under: Awards, Commercials, DVD, Films, Films - Festivals, Films- Directing, Theatre, TV, Volunteer - Community | Tags: Amanda Melby, Arizona Arts, Arizona Filmmaker, ARIZONA REPUBLIC, Brian Ronalds, Bruce Dellis, Chris LaMont, COLLECTED STORIES, Commercials, Dean Ronalds, ELAYNE STEIN, entertainment, GAY GILBERT, Herberger Theater Center, IFP Phoenix, IFP/PHX, JAKE'S CORNER, JEFF SANTO, KERRY LENGEL, KISSING, LAYNE AWARD, Leighton Agency, NATIONWIDE INSURANCE, PATTI DAVIS SUAREZ, Phoenix Film Festival, PHOENIX FILM FOUNDATION, RICHARD TYSON, S.I.S., SPIKE TV, Theatre Artists Studio, VERVE STUDIOS |
December 5, 2008
FEATURE FILM ‘JAKE’S CORNER’ PLAYS LOS ANGELES
JAKE’S CORNER, writed and directed by Jeff Santo, will play for one week at a beautiful new independent theatre in downtown Los Angeles from December 10 – 16, 2008. Amanda Melby plays “Kari.” Downtown Independent Theatre, 251 S. Main Street, Los Angeles, California 90012
Ticket prices: EVENING: $10, STUDENTS, SENIORS: $7, MATINEE: 2pm & 4pm: $6, DOWNTOWN LOCALS: $5
November 15, 2008
FEATURE FILM ‘JAKE’S CORNER’ PLAYS CHICAGO, DELAWARE & FLORIDA
JAKE’S CORNER, writed and directed by Jeff Santo, plays three cites in November. Amanda Melby plays “Kari.”
NOVEMBER 16
WILMINGTON, DELAWARE
THEATRE N at NEMOURS, 11th & Tatnall Streets, Wilmington, DE 19801
Info only: (302) 658-6070
Tickets: (302) 571-4699
http://www.theatren.org/
For online tickets: http://www.shopcityfest.ci.wilmington.de.us/
NOVEMBER 22 & 23
LAKE WORTH, FLORIDA
Stonzek Black Box Theatre at the Lake Worth Playhouse, 709 Lake Avenue, Lake Worth, Florida 33460
For Show Times (HotLine) Phone : 561-296-9382
Box Office: 561-586-6410
NOVEMBER 22 & 23
CHICAGO, IL
Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave.
Contact Number: 773-871-6607 (For ticket Info)
September 5, 2008
FEATURE FILM ‘JAKE’S CORNER’ PLAYS ACROSS ARIZONA: OPENS SEPTEMBER 5
JAKE’S CORNER, writed and directed by Jeff Santo, will open at Harkins Theaters across Arizona September 5, 2008. Theatres include: Scottsdale 101 Capri, Nor Terra 14, SanTan 16, Superstitious Springs 25, Chandler Fashion Center 20, North Valley 16, Arizona Mills 24, Arrowhead Fountains 18, Gateway Pavilions 18 and Tucson Spectrum 18.
Amanda plays ‘Kari’ opposite star Richard Tyson. Dianne Ladd, Danny Trejo and BJ Thomas also star. Click hereto see pictures from the shoot.
September, 2008
FEATURE FILM NETHERBEAST, INC. opens at Harkins Valley Art Theatre in Arizona September 12, 2008
Valley Art: 505 S Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ 85281. www.Netherbeast.com AMANDA MELBY featured as Hazel von Borscht. Film stars Darrell Hammond, Steve Burns, Dave Foley, Judd Nelson, Robert Wagner and Amy Davidson.
August 22, 2008
AMANDA MELBY DEBUTS ON NATIONAL CABLE WITH S.I.S. ON SPIKE TV – 10 pm ET/PT AUGUST 24
Tune in to Spike TV this Sunday, August 24, 2008 to see AMANDA MELBY as Dorri (Co-star) – the jewelry store owner – in the 2-hour movie S.I.S. – it’s her national cable debut!.
Sunday, August 24, 2008 – 10 pm ET/PT. Check local listings at: www.spike.com. S.I.S. is an original HD movie about a covert unit of the L.A.P.D., from executive producer/writer/director John Herzfeld (15 Minutes & Two Days in the Valley). http://www.spike.com/blog/spike-tv-original/67219
April 27, 2008
AMANDA MELBY HONORED WITH 2008 ‘LAYNE’ AWARD
On April 27, the Arizona Entertainment Alliance awarded Amanda Melby the 5th Annual Layne award for her dedication and work in the Entertainment Industry in Arizona. The award is named after legendary Phoenix actor and teacher Elayne Stein. The award has previously been given to Max McQueen (Tribune Entertainment Reporter – 2004), Sandy Elias (teacher and actor – 2005), Don Livesay (SAG Representative for 30 years in AZ – 2006), and CJ Smith (CJS Studios in Avondale – 2007). The Layne was presented to Ms. Melby at Suite 301 in Tempe as a part of Elayne Stein’s 85th Surprise Birthday party.
Read the full Press Release (pdf)
Photo 1: “Gay Gilbert, Arizona Entertainment Alliance (far left), Preston Hill (emcee) and Elayne Stein (far right) present Amanda Melby (second from right) with the 2008 Layne Award for her dedication and commitment to the Entertainment Industry.” Photo Credit: David Crisalli.
Photo 2: “Gay Gilbert, Arizona Entertainment Alliance (middle), and Elayne Stein (left) are all smiles with honoree Amanda Melby (right) and her 2008 Layne Award for her dedication and commitment to the Entertainment Industry.” Photo Credit: David Crisalli.
Photo 3: “Elayne Stein, award namesake (left) and Amanda Melby, award recipient, are all smiles as they celebrate Ms. Stein’s 85th Birthday and Ms. Melby’s 2008 Layne Award for her dedication and commitment to the Entertainment Industry.” Photo Credit: David Crisalli.
April 24, 2008
‘COLLECTED STORIES’ GETS RAVE REVIEW FROM PHOENIX NEW TIMES
“As Lisa, Amanda Melby begins her performance breathlessly and winds it up with grace and dignity; hers is a strikingly accurate portrayal of this woman’s journey from callow youth to sophisticated young adulthood. ” – Robrt L. Pela
Read the entire GLOWING review from Robrt L. Pela of the New Times!
Remaining performances are April 24, 25, 26 at 7:30 pm and April 27 at 2 pm at Theatre Artists Studio in Scottsdale. COLLECTED STORIES stars Amanda Melby and Patti Davis-Suarez is directed by Judy Rollings.Download the flier.
April 14, 2008
AMANDA TO STAR IN ‘COLLECTED STORIES’ APRIL 18-27, 2008
The conflict between the established artist and the adulatory fan who becomes a protégé, disciple, colleague and friend – and ultimately threatening rival – resurfaces in Collected Stories, which confronts a prominent short-story writer with her student in six scenes covering six years. Winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best New Play in 1998. Performances are April 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 at 7:30 pm and April 20 and 27 at 2 pm atTheatre Artists Studio in Scottsdale. COLLECTED STORIES stars Amanda Melby and Patti Davis-Suarez is directed by Judy Rollings. Download the flier.
March 5, 2008
AMANDA BOOKS PRINT JOB FOR NATIONWIDE INSURANCE’
Amanda booked a print campaign for Nationwide Insurance that shoots March 5, 2008.
February 24, 2008
AMANDA BOOKS ROLE OF DORRI in SPIKE TV PILOT ‘S.I.S.’
Amanda Melby booked the role of Dorri, the jewlery store owner in the Spike TV two-hour pilot S.I.S. She shot her scenes on February 24 alongside start Domenick Lombardozzi (Vic) and Dustin James (Bowen). John Herzfeld is the writer/director. imdb page
February 24, 2008
‘KISSING’ PRESS
KISSING preview article in Arizona Republic: jpg | html
KISSING review by Kerry Lengel in Arizona Republic: .jpg | html
KISSING review by Azcentral.com onlline member: .pdf | html
Theatre Artists Studio KISSING stars Amanda Melby, Bob Sorenson, Maureen Dias and Christian Miller, was directed by Jere Hodgin and was written by Robert Caisley.
February 8, 2008
AMANDA TO APPEAR IN WORLD PREMIERE OF ‘KISSING’
When is a kiss just a kiss? Sometimes. But sometimes, a kiss is so passionate, so exciting, and so momentous, that it can turn your whole world upside down. The play centers around two couples (Sam and Helen, Andrew and Tess) whose lives are connected and complicated by a single, earth-shattering, fate-changing act of osculation – a stolen kiss. KISSING is a play about the choices we make when passion and guilt suddenly enter our lives in equal measure. Performances are February 21, 22, 24, 28, 29 and March 1 at 7:30 pm and February 23 and March 1 at 2 pm at Theatre Artists Studio in Scottsdale. KISSING stars Amanda Melby, Bob Sorenson, Maureen Dias and Christian Miller, is directed by Jere Hodgin and was written by Robert Caisley. Download the flier.
February 3, 2008
FEATURE FILM ‘JAKE’S CORNER’ SELECTED FOR SEDONA FILM FESTIVAL
JAKE’S CORNER, writed and directed by Jeff Santo, will premiere at the Sedona Film Festival Friday, February 29, 2008 with a second screening on Saturday, March 1. Amanda plays ‘Kari’ opposite star Richard Tyson. Click here to see pictures from the shoot.
January 31, 2008
WORLD PREMIERE OF ‘RIDING TO BETHLEHEM’ OPENS
If you lose your sense of humor, can you find it at Lost and Found? What do you do when you realize it really isn’t a nice day for a white wedding? And is it possible that even Mary the Mother of God had problems? The journey is everything. Wendy Myers’s play is of Portraits of Women You Know. Performances are January 31, February 1 and 2 at 7:30 pm and February 3 at 2 pm at Theatre Artists Studio in Scottsdale. Download the flier.
www.AmandaMelby.com