Melody Butiu

Melody returns to New York to join the Broadway company of THE BALUSTERS, with Manhattan Theatre Club. She is the understudy for the role of Luz Baccay. 

 

The Vernon Point Neighborhood Association is a passionate bunch, whether squabbling over historically inaccurate porch railings or debating trash can protocol. Still, no one is prepared for the neighbor-versus-neighbor battle royale that ensues when a newcomer to the board suggests the unthinkable: installing a stop sign on the corner of the enclave’s prettiest block. Written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony winner, Manhattan Theatre Club veteran, and master of antics David Lindsay-Abaire (Kimberly Akimbo, Rabbit Hole, Good People, Ripcord) and directed by Tony winner Kenny Leon (Othello, Our Town, Topdog Underdog, King James), The Balusters is a raucous, wild ride through a small community with big feelings.

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Limited Engagement. Previews begin March 31st. For more information on THE BALUSTERS, click here.

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Melody was honored to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Lights of Broadway Showcards. Internationally acclaimed theatre illustrator, Justin "Squigs" Robertson teamed up with 6-time Tony Award winning producer Dori Berinstein to create these collectable cards that pay tribute to the new and notable on Broadway, as well as the legendary and revered. Actors and actresses, writers, directors, designers, personalities, organizations, theaters and related locales, theatre lore, traditions, and tall tales. So many possibilities! And each card comes with fun facts to learn and share, highlighting the stuff that makes this vital, collaborative, and exciting art form thrive. New editions are published annually. Melody was featured in the 2025 Encore Edition, along with fellow Queen of Versailles castmate, F. Murray Abraham. You can learn more about Lights of Broadway Showcards here.

 

THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES Original Broadway Cast Recording is available NOW on all digital platforms with a CD release on May 22, 2026. Starring Kristin Chenoweth and F. Murray Abraham, Melody was featured in the role of Sofia Flores. 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.

 

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. The show also starred Nina White, Greg Hildreth, Stephen DeRosa, Isabel Keating, and more.

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

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Photo credit: Jenny Anderson​

 

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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