based in New York City, NY, USA
grew up in Sleepy Hollow, NY, USA
Melissa Ferraro
Facilitator
she/her
Improv has taught me that being present in the moment is a key ingredient to mental clarity and happiness. That happiness lies in the freedom of being present, allowing oneself to let go of what just happened or will happen. Improv has taught me how to truly not dwell, just gel
Mel is a versatile artist and educator based in New York City, blending her passions for performance, writing, and teaching over the past 15 years. With a B.A. in English/Theatre from the University of Rochester and training at Circle in the Square Theatre School, Mel has carved out a dynamic career that spans theater education, performance, and improv comedy.
In 2010, Mel founded Camp Mel, a pioneering theater summer camp in Central Park, sparked by parental dissatisfaction with existing options. Her camp turned Central Park into their own personal backyard, with many adventures including filming original works and two screenings at the NYPL as part of the Newbury 90 second film festival.
Since 2012, Mel has been the Drama teacher at NYC's The Parkside School, where she innovatively integrates drama into the education of students with a range of language-based learning difficulties. As part of the bespoke drama program she created, she writes and directs performances that incorporate the students' interests while adapting to their unique needs. She holds certificates in didactic training with live coaching in Teacher-Child Interaction Training with Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC as well as a certificate in training with the Moth Teachers Institute.
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Beyond her educational endeavors, Mel is a founding member of the Dirty Little Secrets Improv Show, which has been running in NYC's East Village since 2015. As a performer, she has appeared in feature films like The Actor and That’s What She Said, although her most cherished acting experience was participating in the Sundance Film Labs where she witnessed first-hand how focus on the process instead of the product yields higher creativity and a more fulfilling experience. Mel can also be seen on comedy stages all over the city where she performs stand-up!
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Mel is a passionate advocate for improv’s transformative potential - it wasn’t until she started doing improv that she finally felt empowered to try stand up, something that she had wanted to do since she first saw Gilda Radner on SNL at the age of 7!
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She has personally experienced how acceptance, saying yes & welcoming mistakes can transform the way we approach challenges and she is dedicated to fostering spontaneity and resilience in both professional settings and individual lives.