Huntington University News

Melissa Duffer

Huntington University is offering a musical theater dance class that is open to the community.

All levels from beginner to advanced are welcome. The warm-up will help participants strengthen and stretch their muscles by incorporating elements of yoga and Pilates. Then each week the class will work on a combination.

Participants must be at least 16 years old. The course will meet from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning July 7 in the dance studio in the Merillat Complex for Physical Education and Recreation. The class will be taught by Melissa Duffer, adjunct faculty member in the Department of Theatre Arts.

Cost for the course is $10 per class.

To register, contact Duffer.

Melissa Duffer is a cum laude graduate of Baylor University with a degree in music education where she was named Outstanding Senior Woman in the School of Music. Following graduation, Duffer moved to New York City and completed training in musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

For the past several years, Duffer has been an actress based in New York City, performing in regional theaters across the country as well as overseas. Regionally, Duffer has performed at the Fireside Theatre, Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre, Cumberland County Playhouse, West Virginia State Musical Theatre, Little Theatre on the Square, Country Dinner Playhouse, Spring Mountain Ranch, and La Comedia. Her favorite roles include Kate Mullins in “Titanic,” Alice is “Seven Brides…,” Patty Simcox in “Grease,” Zaneeta Shinn in “The Music Man,” and Dream Laurey in “Oklahoma!” Duffer also has appeared as the featured dancer in numerous musical reviews and has often served as dance captain.

In New York City, Duffer was a featured singer for the Macy’s Herald Square Flower Show, and she also appeared for Mattel as a Barbie. She has continued her dance training, studying at both Broadway Dance and West Side Dance Project. She is a member of Actors’ Equity Association.