Melody Butiu

Melody was thrilled to reprise her role as Sofia Flores in THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES on Broadway, starring Kristin Chenoweth. Based on Lauren Greenfield’s wildly astonishing documentary, this “smart and sparkling” (The New York Times, Critic’s Pick) production reunited Chenoweth with Academy Award®–winning songwriter Stephen Schwartz for the first time since Wicked.

 

From computer engineer to Mrs. Florida to billionairess, Jackie Siegel sees herself as the embodiment of the American Dream. Now, as the wife of David “The Timeshare King” Siegel and mother of their eight children, she invites us to behold their most grandiose venture yet: building the largest private home in America — a $100 million house in Orlando, Florida, big enough for her dreams and inspired by the Palace of Versailles. But with the Great Recession of 2008 looming, Jackie and David’s dreams begin to crumble, along with their lavish lifestyle.

 

Also starring Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham (Amadeus), The Queen of Versailles featured a book by Olivier Award nominee Lindsey Ferrentino (Fear of 13) and direction by Tony Award winner Michael Arden (Maybe Happy Ending). It’s “a quintessential fable of contemporary America” (The Washington Post) that explored the true cost of fame, fortune, and family.

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The Queen of Versailles concluded its run on December 21, 2025.

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Photo credits: Valerie Terranova (Image 1), Jenny Anderson (Image 2), and Julieta Cervantes (Image 3)​

 

Melody returned to the role of Estrella Cumpas for the Broadway production of HERE LIES LOVE. Here Lies Love is a groundbreaking musical about former Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos’s astonishing rise to power and subsequent fall at the hands of the Philippine People Power Revolution. From the minds of David Byrne (Academy Award®, Grammy® Award, and Tony Award® winner) and Fatboy Slim (Grammy Award winner), Here Lies Love has been called “ingenious” by The New York Times and “an ecstatic and dynamic party” by Time Out New York. Choreographed by Annie-B Parson (Olivier Award nominee) and developed and directed by Alex Timbers (Tony Award winner), the theater was transformed into a dance club where the audience was immersed in the story.​

 

As part of the the 2023/2024 Broadway season, HERE LIES LOVE was honored with FOUR Tony Award nominations, including Best Original Score, Best Choreography, Best Scenic Design, and Best Sound Design. We received FOUR Outer Critics Circle Award nominations, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and THREE Drama League Award Nominations, including Outstanding Revival of a Musical and Outstanding Direction of a Musical.

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The cast included: Arielle Jacobs, Jose Llana, Conrad Ricamora, Lea Salonga, Melody Butiu, Moses Villarama, Jasmine Forsberg, Reanne Acasio, Jaygee Macapugay, Julia Abueva, Renee Albulario, Aaron Alcaraz, Carol Angeli, Nathan Angelo, Kristina Doucette, Roy Flores, Timothy Matthew Flores, Sarah Kay, Jeigh Madjus, Aaron "AJ" Mercado, Geena Quintos, Shea Renne, and Angelo Soriano.

 

 

Melody plays Tita Yvonne in Amblin/Universal Pictures and Rideback's feature, Easter Sunday. The movie is based on the life and experiences of comedian, Jo Koy. 

"...Easter Sunday is the culmination of a lifetime of dreaming and decades of hard work," said Koy. "It's especially meaningful that we've been able to assemble such an incredible group of diverse and talented filmmakers and comedians to bring this slice of Filipino culture to the world." The cast also includes Eva Noblezada, Brandon Wardell, Tia Cerrere, Eugene Cordero, Asif Ali, Lou Diamond Phillips, Lydia Gaston, Rodney To, Joey Guila, and Elena Juatco. Easter Sunday is available on DVD/Bluray, and on Prime and AppleTV Plus. 

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Melody is honored to be the main narrator for the audiobook of Mai Nardone's "Welcome Me to the Kingdom." From Penguin Random House: "NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS' CHOICE: An immersive debut set across the temples, slums, and gated estates of late-twentieth century Bangkok, telling the story of three families striving to control their destinies in a merciless, sometimes brutally violent, metropolis." Click here for the Audible link or find it wherever you get your audiobooks. The multi-narrator audiobook experience also includes Brian Sounalath, Rachanee Lumayno, Su Ling Chan, Sura Siu, Patrick Lawlor, and James Tang.