Lee Melillo

Lee Melillo (they/she) is a neurodivergent writer, director, literary assistant, and occasional fourth thing whose work explores mental illness and neurodiversity, gender and sexuality, and classism and elitism - but, like, with jokes?

Her writing has been developed and presented by The Tank (Readings, 2023/2024), TheaterLab (Reading, 2023), The Chain (One-Act Festival, 2022), Breaking & Entering Theatre Collective (PEA Fest, 2022), and Fordham University (COLLABoratory Fest, 2022). Her directing work has been seen at Theaterlab, Mai House Studio, Fordham University, and the Maker’s Space. She has previously assistant/associate directed for Ryan Dobrin, Alicia Dhyana House, and Kaylie Groff.

She is a co-founder and the Executive Artistic Director of Personal Pizza Party, an NYC-based theatre company dedicated to facilitating community, creativity, and fun amongst emerging artists.

Lee graduated summa cum laude from Fordham University with a BA in English and Theatre Directing. She is originally from New Haven, CT, where she attended Hopkins School thanks to the support of her parents and a local billionaire who decided she was one of the Good Poors™ and deserved a scholarship.

Lee is also an assistant at Dunham Literary, where she is pursuing her life-long dream of fangirl-ing over fantastic books for work. Previously, Lee has worked as a paralegal, a Times Square restaurant hostess, a garden store employee, a museum docent, and more. She is passionate about dismantling class privilege in creative fields, and is a vocal advocate for increased awareness of Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and other mental disorders.