Melanie YC Pepe is the Executive Artistic Director of Weathervane Playhouse, where she has proudly served for over 20 years. A graduate of Kent State University with a BFA in Theatre, Melanie continued to support her alma mater as a member of the School of Theatre and Dance Advisory Board. She is also a proud member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC).

Throughout her career, Melanie has been recognized for her leadership and contributions to the arts. She received Weathervane's Board of Trustees Award in 2011, graduated from the 36th class of Leadership Akron in 2020, and was honored with The Morgan Impact Award by Peg's Foundation in 2022.

Under her artistic vision, Melanie has produced more than 90 plays and musicals at Weathervane, as well as four feature films created during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a director, her work spans both the stage and screen, with recent feature films including Judgement Call and My Cellphone Says You’re My Soulmate.

Onstage, Melanie’s directorial credits at Weathervane include acclaimed productions such as Jersey Boys, Something Rotten!, Matilda The Musical, Kinky Boots, Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Into the Woods, Doubt, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Santaland Diaries, Red, Peter and the Starcatcher, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Ordinary Days, among others.

Melanie's dedication to storytelling and the arts continues to inspire audiences and enrich the vibrant legacy of Weathervane Playhouse.