Melanie Keller News

Signal Ensemble Theatre, a Chicago company, announces the addition of three new ensemble members, starting in the 2009-2010 season, including scenic designer Melania Lancy, playwright/actor Jon Steinhagen and actor/director Bries Vannon.

First Folio Theatre's Season of Invention will continue this coming January and February with P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves in Bloom, adapted for the stage by Margaret Raether. This sequel to First Folio's hit production of Jeeves Intervenes features the return of the lovably loopy Bertie Wooster and his unflappable butler Jeeves.

First Folio Theatre's Season of Invention will continue this coming January and February with P.G. Wodehouse's Jeeves in Bloom, adapted for the stage by Margaret Raether. This sequel to First Folio's hit production of Jeeves Intervenes features the return of the lovably loopy Bertie Wooster and his unflappable butler Jeeves.

First Folio Theatre's Season of Passion will continue this February with Design for Living, No?l Coward's comedic masterpiece of two men with a passion for the same woman, whose machinations lead to fireworks, love, and laughter. The NY Times hails Noel Coward as 'the master of impudence and tart whimsy, of plain words that leap out of the dialogue like shafts of laughter. 'Directed by Alison C. Vesely, the production marks the return to First Folio's stage of two of its most popular Artistic Associates, Kevin McKillip (as Leo) and Melanie Keller (as Gilda). Kevin McKillip has appeared in more than a dozen First Folio productions, including the Jeff nominated roles of Richard III, Puck (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Eustace Bassington-Bassington (in last season's Jeeves Intervenes). He has appeared with numerous Chicago area theaters including the Goodman (The Story), Court (Arcadia), and Famous Door (Early and Often and Ghetto), and spent a year with the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. Melanie Keller was last seen on the First Folio stage as Bella in Angel Street. Previously she appeared in Private Lives and The Importance of Being Earnest. Melanie is also a company member of Signal Ensemble where she performed as part of their Jeff nominated cast in The Weir. Design marks her return to the Chicago area theater after she, too, spent a year with the Stratford Festival, where she appeared in Romeo and Juliet and Love's Labors Lost.Other major roles are played by David Kovac (Otto), Ren? Ruelas (Ernest), and Jeannie Affelder (Miss Hodge/Grace Torrence).

First Folio Theatre's Season of Passion will continue this February with Design for Living, No?l Coward's comedic masterpiece of two men with a passion for the same woman, whose machinations lead to fireworks, love, and laughter. The NY Times hails Noel Coward as 'the master of impudence and tart whimsy, of plain words that leap out of the dialogue like shafts of laughter. 'Directed by Alison C. Vesely, the production marks the return to First Folio's stage of two of its most popular Artistic Associates, Kevin McKillip (as Leo) and Melanie Keller (as Gilda). Kevin McKillip has appeared in more than a dozen First Folio productions, including the Jeff nominated roles of Richard III, Puck (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Eustace Bassington-Bassington (in last season's Jeeves Intervenes). He has appeared with numerous Chicago area theaters including the Goodman (The Story), Court (Arcadia), and Famous Door (Early and Often and Ghetto), and spent a year with the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada.

First Folio Theatre's Season of Passion will continue this February with Design for Living, No?l Coward's comedic masterpiece of two men with a passion for the same woman, whose machinations lead to fireworks, love, and laughter. The NY Times hails Noel Coward as 'the master of impudence and tart whimsy, of plain words that leap out of the dialogue like shafts of laughter. 'Directed by Alison C. Vesely, the production marks the return to First Folio's stage of two of its most popular Artistic Associates, Kevin McKillip (as Leo) and Melanie Keller (as Gilda). Kevin McKillip has appeared in more than a dozen First Folio productions, including the Jeff nominated roles of Richard III, Puck (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and Eustace Bassington-Bassington (in last season's Jeeves Intervenes). He has appeared with numerous Chicago area theaters including the Goodman (The Story), Court (Arcadia), and Famous Door (Early and Often and Ghetto), and spent a year with the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. Melanie Keller was last seen on the First Folio stage as Bella in Angel Street. Previously she appeared in Private Lives and The Importance of Being Earnest. Melanie is also a company member of Signal Ensemble where she performed as part of their Jeff nominated cast in The Weir. Design marks her return to the Chicago area theater after she, too, spent a year with the Stratford Festival, where she appeared in Romeo and Juliet and Love's Labors Lost.Other major roles are played by David Kovac (Otto), Ren? Ruelas (Ernest), and Jeannie Affelder (Miss Hodge/Grace Torrence).

The 34th Annual Jefferson Awards presented seven trophies to House Theatre of Chicago's production of 'The Sparrow.' 'Side Show,' 'Fiorello!' and 'Blues for an Alabama Sky' also took top honors.