S2 E5 Melissa Leilani Larson

Melissa Leilani Larson (she/her) is a mixed-race Filipino playwright based in Salt Lake City. Her adaptation of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE sold out its entire run at the Hale Center Theater Orem earlier this year; it will appear at the Texas Shakespeare Festival in July and at a number of theatres across the country next season, and will be published by StagePartners. Mel wrote the book for the new musical RELATIVE SPACE, featuring songs by rising music star Kjersti Long. Other recent productions include THE POST OFFICE and THE ORPHANAGE at Liahona Prep; MESTIZA, OR MIXED at Plan-B Theatre; GIN MUMMY at Mesa Community College; PERSUASION at Utah Valley University; SWEETHEART, COME at Tabor College; LITTLE HAPPY SECRETS at InHouse Theatre; BITTER LEMON at Adobe Theatre. Other plays include PILOT PROGRAM, MOUNTAIN LAW, LADY IN WAITING, and MARTRS’ CROSSING. Mel’s film work includes: JANE AND EMMA and FREETOWN and the shorts “Patience” and “Iscariot.” Accolades include: 2022 AATE Distinguished Play award, the IRAM Best New Play award, two Salt Lake City Weekly Arty awards, four AML drama awards and the Mayhew award. Mel is a Bay Area Playwrights Festival finalist (2023 Honorable Mention), a Portland Center Stage finalist, and an O’Neill semi-finalist. She is a member of the Plan-B Theatre Lab, Honor Roll!, and the Dramatists Guild. MFA, Iowa Playwrights Workshop. melissaleilanilarson.com