M. K. O'Roark aka Melodrama Mike
Melodrama Mike
is a Wichita, Kansas native with a theatrical resume spanning a quarter of a
century. Mike is a veteran of nearly 200 productions, including
dozens of melodramas,
that he has either written, directed, and/or performed in. Our
playwright first discovered the
joy of "old fashioned melodrama" at the tender age of sixteen, when he
portrayed the dashing hero in his first ever stage production. Later, as a student at
Wichita State University, (where he earned his BA in the theatrical arts), melodrama became, not only a
passion, but a means of earning some extra income during those lean college years.
During the eighties and early nineties, Mike worked steadily at the Empire
House Melodrama Theatre, gaining valuable experience in the style of commercial melodrama
and writing.
Melodrama returned to Wichita in 1998 with the emergence of Mosley Street Melodrama and Mike was ready to put
his early experience to practical use. He quickly became a fixture at the new
theatre by becoming a resident writer and director, as well as a frequent performer.
Currently, Mike has written well over a dozen one hour melodramas, all of which have
been professionally produced extensively all across North America.
Now, through the magic of the internet, all these plays are available to your theatre,
school, club, church or organization at a fraction of what it would cost from one of the major
publishing companies. Now, Melodrama Mike is proud to offer the cheapest scripts on the net.
Other services available through ORoark Dramatic Services:
With over 25 years of theatre experience, Melodrama Mike may just be the answer to any of your theatrical needs. Whether you are looking for an Actor, Writer, or Director, Mike has done it all. Moreover, chances are, (for the right price), he would be happy to travel to your theatre and perform virtually any task, (short of cleaning the toilets), and heck if the moneys right, we can even talk about that.
Not just a Melodrama Man
Its true! While versed extensively in the fine, but crude art of Old Fashioned Melodrama, Michael K. Roark has directed and performed in everything from musical comedy, to Shakespearian drama, to classic and modern drama, to just plain old good-fashioned comedies. More than that, he is ready to travel to your theatre and put his experience to use for the greater good of society. Plus he could really use the dough.
So, if you are in need of an all around theatre guy, contact Michael K. Roark at:
melodramamike@hotmail.com
For a complete listing of plays by Michael K. Roark aka Melodrama Mike:
Return To Melodrama Mike's Home Page
Production Pictures
As Henry the II in "The Lion In Winter" at Wichita Center for the Arts
Directing "Grease" For Music Theatre for Young People
Pondering a problem with the hero in "Highball Noon" at Mosley Street Melodrama
"Not Now Darling" at The Crown Uptown
And from many, many, many years ago...
A scene from "A Day in Hollywood... A Night in the Ukraine"
As Fitzpatrick the Fighting Irishman in "Tom Jones"
The James Gang from "Diamond Studs"
Scroll down the entire page in order to to review
the complete professional Acting and Directing Resume of:
Michael K. Roark
aka
Melodrama Mike
999 N. Silver Springs Blvd # 1404
Wichita, KS 67212
AWARDS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Inducted into the Mary Jane Teall - Wichita Theatre Hall of Fame - 2007
BA Theatre, Wichita State University
Miller Theatre Scholar, Wichita State University
Recipient of the Mary Jane Teall Outstanding Actor Award 2002
Recipient of the Mary Jane Teall Outstanding Supporting Actor Award 1995, 1996,1998
Recipient of the Mary Jane Teall Outstanding Director Award 2002
ACTING EXPERIENCE
Dinky House on the Prairie ........................ Pa / Dusty.......................... Empire House Melodrama
Mortgage Madness ................................... Mort Gage........................... Empire House Melodrama
A Rose is a Rose is a Lilac ......................... Stainless Steel..................... Empire House Melodrama
North to Alaska ........................................ Stainless Steel..................... Empire House Melodrama
The Miracle Mistletoe Medicine Show .......... Sheriff Honest John Twist..... Empire House Melodrama
Buffalo Bill, Wont You Come Out Tonight ...The Villain........................... Empire House Melodrama
The Holiday Surprise .................................Rasputin ............................ Empire House Melodrama
Flora the Fur Traders Daughter ................. Man of Few Words................ Empire House Melodrama
Rowdy Joe and the Lost Prospectors Mine Red Beard ........................... Mosley Street Melodrama
The Legend of Molly Malone..................... Seamus McRancid ............... Mosley Street Melodrama
Money In the Bank................................... Smedley Chetum ............. Mosley Street Melodrama
Gunsmoke Bonanza ................................. Fester .................................. Mosley Street Melodrama
Dr Jekell and Mr. Hyde ............................ Utterson ............................... Mosley Street Melodrama
The Drunkard ......................................... Cribbs ............................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Buffalo Bill, Wont You Come Out Tonight ...The Villain ........................... Mosley House Melodrama
Skeleton Manor........................................ Utterson ............................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Dinky House On The Prairie ...................... Boris .................................. Mosley Street Melodrama
Hang em High ........................................ J.D. Pickard ......................... Mosley Street Melodrama
The Wild Flowering of Chastity ................. Sheriff Tinfoil / Henry ............ Mosley Street Melodrama
The Moonshiners Daughter ..................... Ol Zeke ............................... Mosley Street Melodrama
A Feud Too Many .................................. Eleazar Slye........................... Mosley Street Melodrama
The Plague of Madison Avenue ................ Nurse Retched ....................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Highball Noon ........................................ Dave Dirt ............................. Mosley Street Melodrama
Custers Last Hand ................................... Underhand ............................ Mosley Street Melodrama
Curious Georgie ...................................... Spank Me Morty ..................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Peril in the Padock ................................. Nasty Ned Natura ..................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Me and My Girl ....................................... Lord Battersby ......................... Music Theatre of Wichita
West Side Story ...................................... Officer Krupke ......................... Music Theatre of Wichita
Little Shop of Horrors............................... Mr. Musnick ........................................ Cabaret Oldtown
Lucky Stiff .............................................. Luigi / Tony ........................................ Cabaret Oldtown
The Rocky Horror Show........................... Narrator / Dr. Scott ............................. Cabaret Oldtown
The Lion In Winter ................................. Henry II .................................. Wichita Center for the Arts
Battle of the Bands ................................ Steve Burns .............................. Wichita Center for the Arts
The Diary of Anne Frank.......................... Mr. Van Dann .......................... Wichita Center for the Arts
Bus Stop ................................................Will Masters ............................ Wichita Center for the Arts
Harvey .................................................. Cab Driver.............................. Wichita Center for the Arts
Sly Fox ................................................. Judge Bastardson...................... Wichita Center for the Arts
MacBeth ................................................ Duncan / Old Siward................. Wichita Center for the Arts
The Merry Wives of Windsor .................... Master Page ............................. Wichita Center for the Arts
Promises, Promises.................................. Ed Dobitch ................................. Stage One Productions
Baby, Baby, Baby..................................... Professor Weiss ........................... Stage One Productions
Guys and Dolls ...................................... Harry the Horse .................... Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Clue, The Musical .................................. Colonel Mustard .................... Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Oklahoma ............................................. Andrew Carnes ..................... Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Footloose .............................................. Uncle Wes ............................ Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Don't Dress for Dinner ............................ George ................................ Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Not Now, Darling ................................... Harry Carmichael .................. Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Social Security ....................................... Martin Heyman ..................... Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Don't Dress For Dinner ........................... George ................................. Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Guys and Dolls ..................................... Lt. Brannigan ........................ Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Murder on the Nile ................................. Dr. Bessner .......................... Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
South Pacific ......................................... Stewpot ................................ Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Annie Get Your Gun ............................... Mac ..................................... Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
The Sound of Music ................................ Herr Zeller ........................... Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
Heaven Can Wait .................................... Inspector Williams ................ Crown Uptown Dinner Theatre
A Kosher Cabin Christmas .............. Gary .................................... Prairie Pines Dinner Theatre
Guys On Ice .................................. Marvin ................................. Prairie Pines Dinner Theatre
Much Ado About Nothing ..................... Don Pedro ................ Wichita Summer Theatre
The Apple Tree .............. .. George / Ensemble ............. Wichita Summer Theatre
Butler County ................ . Davis ................. .. Wichita Summer Theatre
Wait Until Dark ............... .. Carlino ................. Wichita Summer Theatre
Come Back Little Sheba ............ . Turk ..................... Wichita Summer Theatre
Murder Mayhem ............... . Captain McCarthy ................ Wichita Summer Theatre
Hollywood Ukraine .............. Carlo / Ensemble .............. Wichita Summer Theatre
1940s Radio Hour ............... . Lou ................... . Wichita Summer Theatre
John Loves Mary ................ OReily ................... .. Wichita Summer Theatre
Gods Favorite ................. Sydney Lipton ................ Wichita Summer Theatre
Dial M For Murder ................... . Lesgate ................. Wichita Summer Theatre
Noises Off ................. ... Lloyd ................. .. Wichita Summer Theatre
Arsenic and Old Lace ............. .. Teddy .................. . Wichita Summer Theatre
The Importance Of Being Earnest ........... Lane .................. ... Wichita Summer Theatre
You Cant Take It With You ............ Tony ................... .. Wichita Summer Theatre
Grease ................... ... Sonny ...................... Wichita Summer Theatre
Expectations ................ . Sid .................... . Wichita Summer Theatr
Corpse ................ ... Major Powell .................. Wichita Summer Theatre
Bus Stop ................. . Virgil ...................... Wichita Summer Theatre
Diamond Studs . ............... . Frank James ................... . Wichita Summer Theatre
CLASSICAL
MacBeth .......................................... Duncan / Old Siward ................ Wichita Center for the Arts
The Merry Wives of Windsor .............. Master Page .............................. Wichita Center for the Arts
Much Ado About Nothing .................. Don Pedro ................................ Wichita Summer Theatre
MacBeth ...........................................Banquo ...................................... Wichita State University
The Greeks ...................................... Achilles / Orestes ........................ Wichita State University
CHILDRENS THEATRE
Androcles and the Lion ..................... The Captain ............................ Wichita Childrens Theatre
Little Red Riding Hood ...................... Woodsman .................. Crown Uptown Childrens Theatre
Sleeping Beauty ............................... The King ...................... Crown Uptown Childrens Theatre
Pocahontas ...................................... Ratcliffe ...................... Crown Uptown Childrens Theatre
The Princess Who Could Not Cry ....... Black King ................... Crown Uptown Childrens Theatre
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Acoustic Guitar / Fencing / Fight Choreography
DIRECTORIAL EXPERIENCE
MacBeth ... .. Wichita Center for the Arts
Wait Until Dark ............................................................................... Wichita Center for the Arts
Oliver! ............................................................. 2001 .................................. Music Theatre for Young People
Children of Eden .............................................. 2002 .................................. Music Theatre for Young People
Bye, Bye Birdie ................................................. 2002 ................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Fiddler On The Roof ......................................... 2003 ................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Brigadoon ........................................................ 2003 ................................... Music Theatre for Young People
S.T.A.R. Program (Musical Review) ..................... 2004 .................................. Music Theatre for Young People
Good News ...................................................... 2004 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Joseph Dreamcoat ......................................... 2004 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Grease ................................................... 2005 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Footloose ............................................... 2005 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
The King and I ........................................ 2005 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
How To Succeed ...Without Really Trying ........ 2006 .............................. Music Theatre for Young People
The Wizard of Oz .................................... 2006 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Aladian Junior ........................................ 2006 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Little Shop of Horrors .............................. 2006 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
The Pirates of Penzance ........................... 2006 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Annie Get Your Gun ................................ 2006 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Annie Jr .................................................. 2006 .................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Guys and Dolls ....................................... 2007..................................... Music Theatre for Young People
The Music Man ....................................... 2007..................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Into the Woods ...................................... 2007..................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Kiss Me Kate ........................................... 2007..................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Annie Jr ................................................. 2007...................................... Music Theatre for Young People
Oliver .................................................... 2007...................................... Music Theatre for Young People
A Kosher Cabin Christmas .......................... 2006 ...................................... Prairie Pines Dinner Theatre
Guys On Ice ............................................. 2005 ...................................... Prairie Pines Dinner Theatre
Guys On Ice ............................................. 2004 ...................................... Prairie Pines Dinner Theatre
Magical Miracle of Mistletoe and Musical Revue ................................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Curse You Otis Crummy and Musical Revue ....................................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Last Stage to Tumbleweed Gulch and Musical Revue ........................... Mosley Street Melodrama
The Holiday Surprise and Musical Revue . .. . Mosley Street Melodrama
The Grouch Who Couldnt Steal Christmas and Musical Revue . Mosley Street Melodrama
Wedded to a Villain and Musical Revue ............................................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Kandy Kanes Kristmas Krisis and Musical Revue .................................. Mosley Street Melodrama
The Sheepherders Yuletide ............................................................... Mosley Street Melodrama
The Santanos ................................................................................... Mosley Street Melodrama
The Town That Hated Santa ............................................................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Crazy Circus ..................................................................................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Van Highstrung ................................................................................. Mosley Street Melodrama
Kiss of the Villain .............................................................................. Mosley Street Melodrama
Dinky House On The Prairie ............................................................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Mind Games ..................................................................................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Christmas In Redrock ........................................................................ Mosley Street Melodrama
Pyros of the Caribbean ...................................................................... Mosley Street Melodrama
Hollywood Canteen ............................................................................ Wichita Summer Theatre
The Errant Crane ........................................................................... Wichita Community Theatre
Til the Fat Lady Sings........................................................................... Wichita State University
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Four semesters as Classroom Director for Dr. Richard Welsbacher at WSU.