Melissa Sullivan
Faces
Melissa Sullivan came to us in January 2024, and from the moment she stepped into the room, she felt like a rare gift. She is one of those people who has lived several lives in the time most of us manage one, yet she carries it all with the softness of someone who genuinely loves teaching. Kind, patient, deeply skilled, she is an absolute doll. But make no mistake: Melissa works.
If you like doing long, classical scenes until 1:00 in the morning, refusing to stop until the work has reached its highest possible level, then Melissa is your person. Her perseverance, passion, and fire are among the strongest we’ve ever seen at The Hub. She demands excellence, not through pressure, but through encouragement and absolute devotion to the craft.
Our actors adored her. She is especially gifted with newcomers, patient, detail-oriented, nurturing, and razor sharp in her analysis. Melissa lifts actors, not by pushing them, but by believing in them, and by giving them tools that stay for life.
We are thrilled to share that Melissa Sullivan will be teaching live classes with Natassia Malthe on Sundays after New Year’s 2026, bridging Los Angeles and Oslo through technique, scene work, and classical training. We are also hoping her schedule frees up so we can welcome her back to Norway for another in-person workshop. She is a strong contender for our upcoming one-year program in developement, and we feel honored to have her in The Hub family.
BIO — MELISSA SULLIVAN
EDUCATOR • PERFORMER • PRODUCER
Melissa Sullivan is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio and a senior faculty member at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) since 2013, teaching across MFA, BFA, and AFA degree programs accredited by NASAD and WASC. She is one of NYFA’s most respected instructors, known for her ability to merge technique, classical theatre training, film acting precision, and a deep understanding of human behavior.
Academic Leadership & Teaching Highlights
- Senior Faculty Member, NYFA Acting for Film (2013–present)
Teaches Acting for Film I–VI, directing advanced productions, end-of-semester short films, on-location shoots with professional DPs, original screenplay workshops, and intensive acting/production labs. - Diversity, Inclusion & Curriculum Leadership
Member of the DEI Council (2023–present), Curriculum Committee, and Vice President of the Faculty Senate (2019–present).
Known for building academic environments rooted in sensitivity, inclusion, and artistic freedom. - CalArts BFA in Theater
Classical training foundation. - University of Las Vegas — Artist in Residence
Led MFA/BFA students through sensory for acting and film production. - Youth & International Programs
Taught NYFA Kids/Teen programs; Chinese & Japanese international tracks; Acting for Directors; Tennessee Williams advanced stage productions.
Methodology & Expertise
Melissa is uniquely qualified in:
Film performance nuance
Motivation, eyeline, vocal technique
Script integrity while shooting out of sequence
Character arc work
Sensory & Method exercises
Acting for directors
Musical direction (sight reading, ear training, harmony)
Shakespeare & classical theatre
On-set film production processes
Her teaching blends the emotional truth of Method work, the structure of Stanislavski, and an extraordinary eye for detail.
Industry Experience & Production Work
Melissa’s career beyond teaching is enormous and multi-layered:
Producer / Production Designer / Executive Producer
Roommate Wanted — Associate Producer, Production Designer, Actor
The Last Take — Producer, Actor
The Millionaires — Executive Producer (Amazon series)
Directed Dorothy Parker’s A Telephone Call
Produced branding for Frank Sinatra Enterprises
Production Coordinator for major music labels (RCA, Blue Note, Verve, Mercury, Columbia, Virgin)
She has brought icons into her classrooms, including:
Martin Landau (Academy Award Winner)
Barbara Bain (3-time Emmy Winner)
John Frank Levey (3-time Emmy Winning Casting Director)
Fotokem’s senior DI team behind Oppenheimer, Dune, The Batman, Aquaman, Tenet, Westworld
Mike Cudlitz (Band of Brothers, The Walking Dead)
She regularly produces screenings, Q&As, and cross-campus academic events.
Singer-Songwriter / Music Director
Released the album Late Last Night
Produced multiple music videos
Musical director for NYFA’s Glee Club (2016–present)
Volunteer & Mentor
Contributor to Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center, supporting underserved youth in Los Angeles.
Melissa Sullivan is not just a teacher, she is an entire artistic universe in one human being.
We feel incredibly fortunate to have her connected to The Actors Hub, and our actors feel the same.
ethodology & Expertise
Melissa is uniquely qualified in:
Film performance nuance
Motivation, eyeline, vocal technique
Script integrity while shooting out of sequence
Character arc work
Sensory & Method exercises
Acting for directors
Musical direction (sight reading, ear training, harmony)
Shakespeare & classical theatre
On-set film production processes
Her teaching blends the emotional truth of Method work, the structure of Stanislavski, and an extraordinary eye for detail.
Industry Experience & Production Work
Melissa’s career beyond teaching is enormous and multi-layered:
Producer / Production Designer / Executive Producer
Roommate Wanted — Associate Producer, Production Designer, Actor
The Last Take — Producer, Actor
The Millionaires — Executive Producer (Amazon series)
Directed Dorothy Parker’s A Telephone Call
Produced branding for Frank Sinatra Enterprises
Production Coordinator for major music labels (RCA, Blue Note, Verve, Mercury, Columbia, Virgin)
Guest Speakers & Industry Panels Curated by Melissa
She has brought icons into her classrooms, including:
Martin Landau (Academy Award Winner)
Barbara Bain (3-time Emmy Winner)
John Frank Levey (3-time Emmy Winning Casting Director)
Fotokem’s senior DI team behind Oppenheimer, Dune, The Batman, Aquaman, Tenet, Westworld
Mike Cudlitz (Band of Brothers, The Walking Dead)
She regularly produces screenings, Q&As, and cross-campus academic events.
Singer-Songwriter / Music Director
Released the album Late Last Night
Produced multiple music videos
Musical director for NYFA’s Glee Club (2016–present)
Volunteer & Mentor
Contributor to Plaza de la Raza Cultural Center, supporting underserved youth in Los Angeles.
Melissa Sullivan is not just a teacher, she is an entire artistic universe in one human being.
We feel incredibly fortunate to have her connected to The Actors Hub, and our actors feel the same.
Photo Gallery
