Theatre Artist, Director & Arts Educator; Founder & Artistic Director of DMR Adventures; Recurring Actor on AMC's "Turn: Washington's Spies"

Charlottesville, VA, USA
Live Event: $5,000 - $10,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Melissa Charles Biography

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.

BOOK Melissa Charles

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/01/2026.

Melissa Charles Speaking Topics

  • Creating Community Through the Arts, Business and Nonprofit Partnerships, Economic Development Through the Arts, Building Downtowns

  • How do I book Melissa Charles to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Melissa Charles for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Melissa Charles, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Melissa Charles or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Melissa Charles

    Speaking fees for Melissa Charles, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Melissa Charles are under $10,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Melissa Charles, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Melissa Charles speak about?

    Melissa Charles is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Art & Design, Business, Economy, Female Leadership, Finance, Non-Profit, Performing Arts, Social Activism, Television & Film
  • Where does Melissa Charles travel from?

    Melissa Charles generally travels from Charlottesville, VA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Melissa Charles’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Melissa Charles for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Melissa Charles for your next private or corporate function.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Melissa Charles or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
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    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Melissa Charles is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Creating Community Through the Arts, Business and Nonprofit Partnerships, Economic Development Through the Arts, Building Downtowns. The estimated speaking fee range to book Melissa Charles for your event is available upon request. Melissa Charles generally travels from Charlottesville, VA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Gerard Senehi, Robert Cialdini, Arthur C. Brooks, Gabe Zichermann and John Legend. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Melissa Charles for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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