Filmmaking

Melody has been steadily building her filmmaking portfolio since 2021. Writing, directing, editing, wardrobe designing, art directing… she’s thrilled to do it all.

Most recently (March, 2026), she wrote, directed, produced, and edited Bleak Little Number - a short mystery/drama set in a run-down bar, just a few days before Christmas. This was Melody’s first micro-budget production with a carefully selected/Reno-based cast and crew of 20. Thanks to the skill, energy and dedication of everyone involved, it came to life with a humble $5k and all 15 pages were filmed in just one day. For the next year or so, the film will be making its rounds in festivals. Check out the trailer to your right.

Back in February of 2026, she was awarded Best Editor for a short by Maya Wolery titled The Perfect Couple at the Carson City Love Notes Competition. She edited the film in just 48 hours.

Her short screenplays The Skunk is Dead was a semi-finalist at Cordillera International Film Festival; and back in 2023, her original short Thanks for Something was awarded Best Directing, Best Editing and Best Writing at the Carson City Love Notes Competition. She single-handedly wrote/produced the film in less than 24 hours.

Back in 2021, she wrote and directed her first short film - BRAILLE - with a humble crew of four and no budget. Amazingly, it made its way into the top five Nevada films (out of 300 submissions) at that year’s Cordillera International Film Festival.

Up next, she’s brainstorming a couple of feature-length scripts and hopes to get them off the ground sometime in 2027 or 2028.

Melody has performed leading roles in approximately 40 musicals, over the course of her 20+ year career.

Her extensive musical theater career includes a notable performance as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors. Ricketts booked the leading role in the equity production at Farmers Alley Theatre (Michigan) by submitting a video audition from her car. Over 300 women submitted, including ones that played the role on broadway.

Her work as a princess/character performer from 2014 - 2020 significantly boosted her musical theatre and improv skills by way of social media presence. While working for the two top companies in Southern California (Smile and A Song Parties and Wishing Well Entertainment), she amassed a following of 70k to watch her expertise in makeup transformations and comedic skit work. You can find an Allure Magazine interview she was hand-selected for here which has a staggering 16.5 million views.

In 2021, Melody originated the musical role of iconic playwright Lauren Gunderson in Jen Coogan’s The Women in Theatre Project. She has since performed the piece at the iconic Feinstein’s at The Nikko (San Francisco) and and the world-renown nightclub 54 Below in New York City.

Most recently (June, 2026), she had the immense joy and honor of playing the one and only Sally Bowles in Brüka Theatre’s production of Cabaret for an entirely sold out/four-week run.

Musical Theater & Thespian Acting

Since 2023, Melody has been on a hot streak of landing roles in both the commercial and short/feature film industry.

She just made her SAG/feature film debut in Kristoffer Polaha’s Mimics. The theatrically-released film held its red carpet premiere at the Reno Pioneer Center in February of 2026, and the house was packed with 900 people. The film also stars MORIAH, Stephen Tobolowsky and Arianne Zucker.

In 2025, she received the emotionally demanding and rewarding role of Emilia in award-winning writer/director’s Cecilia Romo’s latest short film - Gloria. She also spent months embodying the firecracker role of Ronnie Bellamy in Troy Ozuna’s ambitious and noir-influenced short film, Dead As Disco - currently running in major festivals.

Back in 2024, she starred in a large-scale Hallmark short film/movie spoof (A Winter’s Charm in Carson City) for Visit Carson City’s winter marketing campaign; and she voiced a leading character in FOR SALE, a short by award-winning filmmaker Stephen George.

In 2022, she was honored with the Award for Exceptional Acting at the Carson City Film Noir Festival for her 1940’s portrayal of a grieving woman in a short titled Dead Hearts.

On-Screen Acting

Singing & Music Production

While Melody has had a passion for writing and music for as long as she can remember, music production snuck up on her. Sometime in 2018, she distinctly remembers listening to Lorde’s album Melodrama for the first time and thinking “I’ve got to purchase a proper recording program and get some s**t off my chest and out of my imagination.” Since then, she’s independently produced countless tracks ranging from synth-pop to hip hop to folk to musical theatre. The majority of her musical inspiration comes from Lorde, Lana Del Rey, The 1975 and Bon Iver.

She’s currently in pre-pro for a music video for her synth-pop track BE FRIENDS, produced by Sassy Biscuit Productions, Reno, NV. Filming will take place in October of 2026.