Melissa E. Driscol, born and raised in Lorain, Ohio by Choreographer and Director, Jeddie P. Driscol and Driscol Music Store Owner, Theodore DuBoise Driscol, there was no way Melissa would NOT end up on stage. During Melissa’s formative years, she was no stranger to the local stages. Jeddie, would frequently bring her along to rehearsals and well, Melissa caught the bug instantly! Her first solo performance, she was 10 years old exactly in George M! at Elyria High School, the rest, shall we say is history. Over the next decade, Melissa would perform in over 25 productions in the Lorain County area. Her utmost favorite, after attending just one year of college was GYPSY, starring as Louise. Her mother directed her and she gained the confidence that year that brought the next twenty years to fruition. In 1992, Melissa was accepted in the prestigious studio at The University of Kentucky under the world renowned, Dr. Everett McCorvey. She went on to play in many operas, which was very fun; however, she also discovered her love of singing pop music. Luckily, her professor also loved pop so there was the breakthrough Melissa needed. She was not like her peers, she had her own path in mind, so next steps were taken to create a versatile career. Her first stop after graduating cum-laude in 1996, was Elspe Germany, performing in pop-rock review. Immediately following, Peter Grey Terhune, received and loved her VHS (can you believe it) audition and she was quickly hired and did two back to back contracts on The Oceanic aka The Big Red Boat. Upon completion of her contract, Melissa went on to The University of Nevada Las Vegas and was part of the very small MFA program. During her stay in Nevada, she became very active on the modeling circuit doing ads for several casinos, commercials and even had her debut with Legends in Concert performing as both a back-up singer dancer, but had opportunities to cover: Patsy Cline, Shania Twain and Dolly Parton. She then had several calls to go back to cruise ships. Over the next couple of years, she performed on two World Voyages on the Nieuw Amsterdam and the Regal Princess, both serving as Company Manager. In 2001, Melissa decided to pull the reigns on traveling as a singer-dancer and studied acting. She took classes at the prestigious Playhouse West, under the direction of Jeff Goldblum and Robert Carnegie. During these two years before moving to NYC, Melissa received the best training and also had success in the Equity Theaters around Los Angeles. She was lucky as well to work with the loved, Kay Cole, original Cast Member of A Chorus Line. With Kay, she performed in several productions:  A Chorus Line (Trisha) at The McCoy Rigby Theater, The Music Man (chorus), The Hollywood Bowl, My Fair Lady(chorus), The Hollywood Bowl, All That Jazz (Velma) The William Inge Theater Festival and Follies (Young Vanessa) at Reprise!. Additional performances: The Last Five Years (Cathy), The Palace Theater, Steel Magnolias (Shelby) at The Grove Theater, Merrily We Roll Along(Meg) at Reprise!, Honk! (Queenie) at MTSC, Into The Woods (Witch) at The Norris Center. In 2003, Melissa moved to NYC in hopes of getting her Broadway BREAK! During this time, she had the support of her manager Nyle Brenner and had some great opportunities open up, ones she never even dreamed were possible. Upon arriving to NY, she performed in a one night concert of PIPPIN at The Manhattan Center, music directed by the one and only Mark Hartman. In tandem with meeting so many new people in New York, she quickly had a few month stint in Atlantic City at The Tropicana Hotel in Giddy Up! The experience led her right back to NYC where she settled into a nice apartment and started making her mark. In 2003, two opportunities arrived at the exact same time. The USO, The United Service Organizations, opened a spot for a soprano II and also The Duplex Piano bar was hiring and opened a spot for a singing bartender. Although neither were in her game plan…the two did just fine…for the next 5 years! Melissa has traveled to Guam, Japan and all over the USA performing for both active duty and veterans. When she was back in NYC she was singing and slinging and made more than just a few friends…friends for a lifetime! Melissa continued to audition and found a brand-new passion… CABARET! In 2005, Melissa partnered with her USO Soprano I, Hannah Ingram, and the rest is her-story! From 2005 – 2020, Melissa has written and performed in over two dozen cabaret shows. For A Good Time Call (music direction, Robby Stamper), Uncut Series I – IV (music direction, Robby Stamper), Songs My Mother Taught Me (music direction, Robby Stamper), LOVE! (arranged by John Bronston, performed on Seabourn), How I Met My Wife…While I Still Had A Husband (music directed by John Bronston), Confessions of a Homecoming Queen (music directed by John Bronston) and All in a Decade (coming soon due to Covid, music directed by John Bronston). In conjunction with the ever-changing lifestyle of a performer, in 2007-2009, Melissa went back and performed for Peter Grey Terhune on The Regent Navigator & The Regent Mariner.During this time, she received an offer she could not refuse. She went on to work for Seabourn Cruise Lines as Assistant Cruise Director, that also had double duty as The Cabaret Performer. 2010 – 2014, Melissa found herself having the best time back to traveling the world and singing for the folks on the high seas. Now, going back to 2007, something very special happened that will tie Melissa’s career to date all together. Her colleague and very best friend, Kurt Kelly, bought the legendary Stonewall Inn, Where Pride Began. During this time between 2007 – 2021, Melissa serves as one of the Event Producers. Over the past 14 years, Melissa has both performed and produced over 100 events and shows. In 2014, when Melissa decided to “retire” from cruise ship entertainment (15 years!), she made The Stonewall Inn and even larger part of her performing credits both on stage and off. Melissa currently holds the position and can’t wait to get back to the stage at Stonewall. “The Stonewall Inn is my family and the stage is my home away from home”, Melissa said reminiscing of the past two decades. While cabaret is her passion, during quarantine, Melissa developed an online series called Original Artist Series, where she interviews talented people from all artistic arenas. 

Melissa resides in Forest Hills Queens, NYC, just outside of Manhattan with her lovable entrepreneur wife, Leo Driscol and their 4 cats and 2 fish.
Mission: to uplift others is to take care of yourself, what is going out, comes back in droves. Be kind, be real and just be YOU.