News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

Melissa Heckscher

Melissa Heckscher

Melissa Heckscher is a freelance writer and mother of three living in Los Angeles. A former daily news and features reporter, she is the author of eight nonfiction books and has written for newspapers, magazines, and television stations across the country including The Los Angeles Daily News, the Orange County Register, and NY1 News (New York City). She wishes more than anything that she could sing, dance and act—even karaoke-caliber would do—but is fine watching the professionals do it on stage.  




LEARN MORE ABOUT Melissa Heckscher

First Show:

Cats

Favorite Show:

Wicked



MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

Interview: Hazel Vogel of ANNIE at Segerstrom Center For The Arts
Interview: Hazel Vogel of ANNIE at Segerstrom Center For The Arts
February 20, 2025

What’s it like to be on tour as America’s favorite Tomorrow-loving redhead? Fellow tweens (and aspiring Broadway actresses themselves) sat down with ANNIE's Hazel Vogel to find out. 

Review: TARANTINO | PULP ROCK at CineVita in Hollywood Park
Review: TARANTINO | PULP ROCK at CineVita in Hollywood Park
February 16, 2025

TARANTINO | PULP ROCK just opened at the brand-new CineVita venue at Hollywood Park in Los Angeles. The immersive concert/ musical theater experience will excite both Tarantino fans and Quentin newbies.

Interview: CLAYBOURNE ELDER at Segerstrom Center For The Arts
Interview: CLAYBOURNE ELDER at Segerstrom Center For The Arts
February 12, 2025

BroadwayWorld talks with 'The Gilded Age' and 'Sunday in the Park with George' actor Claybourne Elder about his nonprofit, City of Strangers, which gives away Broadway tickets to people who can’t afford them.

Interview: Michael Fabisch of DEAR EVAN HANSEN at Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts
Interview: Michael Fabisch of DEAR EVAN HANSEN at Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts
February 5, 2025

Michael Fabisch, 23, talks to BroadwayWorld about how he got started in theater, what it's like to take on Evan's emotional turmoil night after night—and how his biggest challenge may actually be tying his tie on stage every show. 

Interview: Sarah Lynn Marion of KIMBERLY AKIMBO at Segerstrom Center For The Arts
Interview: Sarah Lynn Marion of KIMBERLY AKIMBO at Segerstrom Center For The Arts
January 21, 2025

Orange County native Sarah Lynn Marion talks with BroadwayWorld about her Broadway debut—and what it’s like to be an understudy for two roles in the show. 

Preview: THE ALUMINUM SHOW at Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts
Preview: THE ALUMINUM SHOW at Cerritos Center For The Performing Arts
January 9, 2025

The Aluminum Show, which will play on January 24 at the Cerritos Center for the Arts, is a 75-minute spectacle that transforms everyday metal objects into moving, dancing works of art.

Interview: The Crew of BACK TO THE FUTURE on Tour Talks Special Effects, Time Travel
Interview: The Crew of BACK TO THE FUTURE on Tour Talks Special Effects, Time Travel
December 23, 2024

BroadwayWorld talks with the touring crew of BACK TO THE FUTURE to get the scoop on how the high-tech show makes it on the road.

Interview: Kaat Dumarey of KOOZA at the Santa Monica Pier
Interview: Kaat Dumarey of KOOZA at the Santa Monica Pier
December 15, 2024

Cirque du Soleil has two weeks left at its temporary home under the Big Top at the Santa Monica Pier. Before it heads out of town, we got the behind-the-scenes scoop about one of the show's biggest acts.

Interview: Nicholas Hambruch of SHREK THE MUSICAL at Segerstrom Center For The Arts
Interview: Nicholas Hambruch of SHREK THE MUSICAL at Segerstrom Center For The Arts
November 18, 2024

BroadwayWorld talks with Nicholas Hambruch about playing Shrek on tour—including how he got into theater, how he got the part of Shrek (even without knowing the Scottish accent)—and about that time his pants split down the middle live on stage.  

Review: HADESTOWN at Segerstrom Center For The Arts
Review: HADESTOWN at Segerstrom Center For The Arts
October 31, 2024

In the end, the show is all about seduction, and it has all the dark, gritty sex appeal of a dingy French Quarter speakeasy. That is to say: It’s got the sultry rhythm and blues to sweep you into the fun even if you don’t know exactly why you’re there.

Preview: IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, TYLER PRICE! at Hudson Theatre
Preview: IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, TYLER PRICE! at Hudson Theatre
October 25, 2024

It’s been 17 years since Ben Decter started writing a musical about his daughter, Addie’s, battle with childhood epilepsy and how it has changed his family. Now, after numerous rewrites, readings, workshops, and emotional rehearsals, the show is finally making its stage debut.

Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Bank Of America Performing Arts Center
Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Bank Of America Performing Arts Center
October 14, 2024

While the show’s darker ending may leave younger audiences a bit shell-shocked, there’s no denying the infectious energy of this production. The songs, the performances, and the fun all come together in a show that will have you humming 'Bop sh-bop' long after the final curtain.

Interview: Andy Fickman Directs Kristen Bell, Jason Alexander in PARENTS IN CHAINS Workshop
Interview: Andy Fickman Directs Kristen Bell, Jason Alexander in PARENTS IN CHAINS Workshop
September 23, 2024

Anyone who has kids — or knows anyone with kids — will want to check out the upcoming workshop production of a new comedy, Parents In Chains, written by Emmy and Peabody award-winner Jay Martel and directed by Andy Fickman (Heathers The Musical, Reefer Madness) and starring Jason Alexander, Kristen Bell, Yvette Nicole Brown and others. 

Interview: Catherine Brunell Talks About Joining Final Leg of MRS. DOUBTFIRE National Tour
Interview: Catherine Brunell Talks About Joining Final Leg of MRS. DOUBTFIRE National Tour
September 17, 2024

BroadwayWorld talks to Broadway veteran Catherine Brunell on how joining the already-established cast & crew of Mrs. Doubtfire was like “crashing a family Christmas party,” and how performing in Mrs. Doubtfire brings her to tears every night. 

Interview: Justin & Melissa Meyer Discuss the Setup & Scares in Immersive HOUSE OF SPIRITS Soirée
Interview: Justin & Melissa Meyer Discuss the Setup & Scares in Immersive HOUSE OF SPIRITS Soirée
September 16, 2024

BroadwayWorld talks with House of Spirits creators Justin and Melissa Meyer about what it takes to throw their annual immersive event, a 'haunted' cocktail mixer at the Nocturne Theatre in Glendale.

Interview: Lauren Irving & Alex Stickels of RINGLING BROS AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS at The Honda Center
Interview: Lauren Irving & Alex Stickels of RINGLING BROS AND BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS at The Honda Center
August 14, 2024

Today's new incarnation of Ringling Bros famed Barnum & Bailey Circus has no ringmaster, no animals, and no clowns. Consequently, circus-goers may not know what to expect when they buy their popcorn and sit down to watch the show, which runs in Orange County August 16-18 and in LA August 23-25. 

Interview: PETER PAN's Youngest Cast Members On Tour Life and Broadway Dreams
Interview: PETER PAN's Youngest Cast Members On Tour Life and Broadway Dreams
August 13, 2024

Eight-year-old Camden Kwok and 12-year-old William Foon never want to grow up. At least, not while they're starring in the national touring production of PETER PAN, as Michael and John. So what's it like being a kid on tour? BroadwayWorld took some time out of the young actors' busy schedules to find out.

Interview: Clair Voyance on Bringing BROADWAY DIVAS DRAG BRUNCH Back To Segerstrom
Interview: Clair Voyance on Bringing BROADWAY DIVAS DRAG BRUNCH Back To Segerstrom
August 6, 2024

An interview with LA’s infamous drag queen 'Clair Voyance,' who will be performing with her fellow “Broadway Divas”— along with a full dance ensemble — for the fifth installment of the popular Broadway Divas Drag Brunch at the Segerstrom Center for the Art’s Samueli Theater Aug. 18.  

Review: MY (UNAUTHORIZED) HALLMARK MOVIE MUSICAL at Irvine Theater Company
Review: MY (UNAUTHORIZED) HALLMARK MOVIE MUSICAL at Irvine Theater Company
July 29, 2024

The 90-minute 'My (unauthorized) Hallmark Movie Musical, playing at the Irvine Theater Company through August 10, pokes fun at the rom-com genre’s formulaic “Love always wins” conventions while fully embracing its tropes.

Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC at The Bank Of America Performing Arts Center
Review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC at The Bank Of America Performing Arts Center
July 22, 2024

5-Star-Theatrical’s gorgeous and faithful production of Sound of Music, playing through July 28 at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks, delivers the classic show that we know and love — no more, no less — with stellar performances, stunning sets, and an energetic cast that will keep even the smallest audience members entertained. 



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