Bio:

Currently working very hard on my MFA through Spalding University as a Playwright and Writing for Young Children.
A fun way to remember me is that I enjoyed being a TV Muppet with the Hensons in NYC.
I recently was selected to train with the Kennedy Center EDGE Arts in Education program.
I was awarded a grant to attend the Stony Brook South Hampton Writer's Conference for Writing for Children with Emma Walton Hamilton and Peter H. Reynolds as my mentors in 2011.
In 2010 I attended the Tony Award winning O'Neill Theatre Center in Waterford CT., on a Horizon's Grant, for the 20th Anniversary National Puppetry Conference dedicated to Jim and Jane Henson. There, I reconnected with Jane and met the talented Heather Henson. I was there for a Intensive Writing Session with Temple University Professor and Playwright, Robert Smythe!
I am fortunate to be a Teaching Artist for the KU Lied Center FOTRE Integrated Arts in Education, Salina Arts and Humanities Arts Infusion Program and teaches for the Salina Art Center for the Summer Art Program.
I was just featured in Artist Exchange - an Internationally recognized Salina Art Center, a
Major Gallery (sponsors include the Andy Warhol Foundation and more)show of my newest Book and multi media layered Puppet Show August 26th-Oct 10th 2010. My original children's book I wrote and illustrated featured my unique puppets in nature illustrations that evoked a wonderful range of positive emotions and fabulous artistic and academic feedback. The book invites children to re-engage with the natural magic of the outdoors and outdoor play. I made this book into a short enhanced book film with music and narration and would love to get it out to the parents and children in a multi media package!
I am currently submitting the book to interested Publishers. First query I got my first request! I have a few new rojects in the works too, concept books that would be great across platform as a real lap book and as a multi media piece.

A long time member of National Actors Equity Association on stage, working through Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of in TV and Radio Artists, performing Voice overs in educational Cartoons and with the Muppets with the Henson's. I am a performing artist in all media both in NY and regionally. I was the "star" of a National Mr. Clean Commercial - cleaning a bathroom with artistic aplomb!
I met with my cartoon pals in some cartoons this summer in NYC and am designing a voice over career from here in ....KS! Several studios here. Really, New York people, studios.
I was fortunate to study with Lee Strasberg and perform Mime and Physical Theatre with Marcel Marceau and the Warsaw Mimedance Theatre of Poland in NYC, back when Mimes were cool.( Now they changed their names & work in Vegas in blue body paint or as French Canadian Circus performers- so, hey! There is Life after Mime!) Now it's called Physical Theatre.
I am designing costumes for the shows at KWU Theatre Department where my husband is the Director of Theatre & Professor of the Arts.
I currently am teaching Artist with the KWU 3-D design class leading my Puppetry design script project on positive social skill development and smart choice making for grade school children.
I have had several residencies and educational workshops at the Red Barn Studio and preformed her new Raymer Christmas Toy Story Puppet Play there for a special premiere in Sept. An outreach show at the Public Library will be on Dec. - fully costumed in my Stage Costumes. My Arden's Garden Story Book and multi media show and workshop was sponsored for a 2 week outreach tour last summer.
I sang the Witch in the Opera, Hansel and Gretel at the Stieffel( former Historic Fox Theatre ) Theatre with the Salina Symphony and KWU under a special agreement with Actors Equity. I will sing with them again as a guest soloist this spring for a Disney Themed concert.
I am developing new visual and dramatic works based on the works of Hans Christan Anderson and French Acadian tales form her French Canadian Ancestry and am working with Lied Center on a partnership with the Mermaid Theatre Co of Nova Scotia,CA, hope to visit them soon.
In KS,I created Live Literature! Theatre for Young Audiences in Abilene as founding Artistic Director of the Great Plains Theatre Festival, moving from NYC in 1994 to create this professional theatre company and co-producing 80 shows in 12 years, and developing all educational programing form the group up, as the Education Director. Whew!
Now I am focusing on submissions and refinement from my new home studio over looking a beautiful yard of many trees, deer and very vocal squirrels and birds who like popcorn.
If my art layered life sounds like Art Lasagna- that IS how I describe it. An Artistic Napoleon Patisserie from Viniero's in NYC or a stack of Art Pancakes from Momma's Dinner in KC?
My son Arden, turned 11 this year and he loves reading, anything Computer, Captain Underpants, Nerds, Wimpy Kid or LEGOS, and MY books that he often collaborates on! He is helping me on a play script for children right now! My husband, Richard Esvang is the Director of Theatre at KWU and a dynamic actor and director as well.

Writer/Illustrator
Full Member
Member since 2007
Region: Kansas

Contact Information

Current Location:   Salina
Website:  http://www.michellemeade.net & ardensgardenspuppetbooks.weebly.com

Published In Children's Market: Yes