Melis May

Melis May was born and raised in the vibrant coastal city of Izmir, Turkey. She earned her BFA in Performing Arts from Dokuz Eylul University, specializing in dramaturgy and playwriting.

Her graduation thesis explored the play-within-a-play technique in Max Frisch’s Biography. Recognized for its artistic depth and academic excellence, this study was showcased as a model thesis across numerous peer institutions.

In Turkey, she built a multifaceted career, ranging from assistant directing in opera to founding her own private theater and managing an advertising agency. Her professional writing also extended into journalism, where she served as a newspaper copywriter. Since relocating to the United States in 2016, she has continued to deepen her practice in theater and puppetry, and is currently developing her first series of plays for children.