Melanie Gladstone

Melanie Gladstone is a Jewish performer, director, choreographer, stage manager, lighting designer...you name it, if it's happening in a theatrical way, she wants to be a part of it. Melanie grew up on Long Island in a theatrical family. Our culture at home was a beautiful mix of going to our Jewish temple and going to our other temple, the theatre! The worlds always seemed symbiotic for her family, with just as much respect and dedication practiced in both. 

When not doing theatre, Melanie has worked as a Music Educator, Dance Educator, and Teacher of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (and sometimes, all of those simultaneously!) She began her teaching career as the music/dance/theatre educator on campus at the South Carolina school for the Deaf and the Blind. This experience was truly life changing and a beautiful time in her life. After a few years she met her now husband and moved to Washington state, where he is originally from. 

Theatrically she has been in theatres ever since she can remember. Sometimes watching mom rehearse, sometimes sitting by dad's side as he mastered the role of stage manager, sometimes in the orchestra pit, inspired by the local musicians surrounding her, and growing up with the most incredible chosen theatre family across long island that anyone could hope for. Lifelong connections that have continued to allow her to feel strong in her whole self are a blessing that she is grateful for every day. She has found, too, a loving home in the Puget Sound area theatrical community. She had the honor of directing a very well received and reviewed production of 'The Diary of Anne Frank' a few year ago, and in the Fall/Winter of 2024 she will be directing and co-choreographing a production of "Fiddler on the Roof", for which she has engrossed herself in the joys of the history of the show itself, the cultural impact, and the lives of the people on whom the stories are based. 

Melanie loves learning and advocating for anyone who needs her support. Her greatest lesson in speaking up for justice always came from her Omi, a survivor and herself the daughter of a survivor of Buchenwald, who always shared her story whenever Melanie asked her to; at school, at hebrew school, at the school for the Deaf and the Blind [which, being in South Carolina, was extremely poignant as those students in particular don't necessarily receive Holocaust education and can certainly relate to a world that doesn't understand them and often discriminates against them.] 

Doing theatre IS a way of advocating. Stories must be shared. We must gather together to let art touch the deepest parts of our hearts and souls. Melanie truly looks forward to learning more from AJT and continuing to make art that speaks up for her ancestors and her community around the world so that generations to come never forget what can happen when we decide to blame others instead of spreading love. Tikkun Olam absolutely drives her to continue making art collaboratively in order to do just that.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Melanie-Gladstone/

https://theatrepugetsound.org/profile/melanie-gladstone/