Melissa Charles

Melissa Charles is a theatre artist whose career encompasses acting, directing, choreography, producing, and education. Charles is the founder and producing artistic director of DMR Adventures and co-founder of Belmont Arts Collaborative. She has produced, directed, and choreographed more than 100 productions, contributing to the fields of performing arts and arts education.

A member of Actors' Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, Charles has worked as an actor in theatre, film, and television in New York City, Los Angeles, and regional theaters nationwide. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drama from the University of Virginia and a certificate in nonprofit management from Duke University.

On screen, Charles is recognized for her recurring role as Lydia Ketcham on the AMC television series "Turn: Washington's Spies." In addition to her on-screen work, she founded and served as artistic director of both the Broadway Adventure program and Union Street Theatre. Charles co-founded Belmont Arts Collaborative in Charlottesville, an accessible venue for artists and community organizations, and created the Musical Theatre MegaCamp to provide virtual performing arts education to students.

Charles is known for her advocacy in arts education and community engagement. She served on the board of the Virginia Theatre Association as chair of the Theatre for Youth Division, programming more than 20 events for the organization's first virtual festival and producing a new virtual musical with an international cast. Her teaching experience includes work with the International Thespian Festival, Chautauqua Institution, and Broadway Adventure.

Charles established DMR's Youth Leadership Program, which offers students hands-on experience with professional mentors in creative, technical, and administrative roles within the performing arts. She received the Freddie G Fellowship, recognizing outstanding educators in schools and performing arts centers worldwide, and was honored by the Danville Historical Society for her commitment to historic and cultural preservation and development. Charles is also a keynote speaker, addressing topics such as creating community through the arts, business and nonprofit partnerships, and economic development through the arts.