Melissa van der Schyff (sometimes stylized Melissa Van Der Schyff[1]) is a Canadian American award-winning actress, singer, comedian and songwriter who is best known for her work on Broadway. She was nominated for a 2012 Drama Desk Award[2] and Outer Critics Circle Award[3] for "Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical" for originating the role of Blanche Barrow in the Broadway MusicalBonnie & Clyde, which opened at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York City on 1 December 2011.[4][5][6]
Early life
Born in South Africa and raised in Canada, during her younger years, van der Schyff aspired to become a jazz singer, noting Miles Davis and John Coltrane as inspirations to her.[7] She performed at various shows around her hometown when she was just 15[7] earning a General Motors Award for Excellence for Jazz Vocals as well as performing live on CBC Radio. Melissa graduated summa cum laude from the College of Santa Fe (Now named Santa Fe University of Art and Design) with her B.F.A in Acting and a Minor in Music.[8] She also studied at The British American Drama Academy in London, England as well as with Lily Parker of the Actors Studio.[7][8]
She went on to star in another Deaf West Theatre and Center Theatre Group production, as Catherine in Pippin at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, which was described by the Hollywood Reporter as "...an exceptionally eloquent and moving performance."[8] Melissa had to learn sign language for her role, as the show was performed simultaneously in ASL and English.[11]
Big River and Pippin director, Jeff Calhoun, cast van der Schyff as Blanche Barrow in the very first reading of the world premiere Frank Wildhorn musical "Bonnie and Clyde" when it was just half a script and a few songs.[7][10] She went on to develop her role at The La Jolla Playhouse for which she earned a 2009 Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical,[12] the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida and finally on Broadway at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre where she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award.[2][3] The New York Times praised her voice and said she had performed the show's best song, which is "a slender, shimmering hymn to small and ordinary pleasures",[13] and The Faster Times named her as one of the best singers of the show.[14] Playbill Editor Blake Ross named van der Schyff singing "That's What You Call A Dream" in Bonnie and Clyde as one of his 2011 Unforgettable Experiences.[15]
Time Out New York said "Melissa van der Schyff, as goody two shoes Blanche Barrow...is a wow throughout with a voice like a country stream..."[16] while Variety raved "...giving a standout performance is Melissa van der Schyff, singing and acting commandingly as Clyde's sister-in law Blanche."[17]
The New York Observer's Rex Reed wrote: "...holding her own corner of the stage in every scene is Melissa van der Schyff, a knockout belter...she plays the sympathetic and pivotal role of Blanche Barrow, the wife of Clyde's brother Buck and a woman who sacrifices her ideals and self-respect for love...she stops the show as a kind of operatic Dolly Parton, while the audience begs for more."[18]
van der Schyff is also an award-winning songwriter and singer, and was voted Artist of the Year by Femmusic.com and nominated for an Independent Music Award for her single, "Divine".[7] She co-wrote songs for the feature film The Legend of Tillamook's Gold and the Showtime original film, The Great Commission.[7]
Video game
She voiced Samantha Muldoon in the 2013 video game Grand Theft Auto V and also performed "I Like Things Just The Way They Are" ingame radio. She also appeared in Lego Dimensions as the voice of Jillian Holtzmann from Ghostbusters.