ALUMNI PROFILE MELODY BUTIU ’ 96 , MFA ’ 99
SEEING OURSELVES
Broadway actress discusses the importance of representation in the arts .
BY CATHERINE CARDNO ’ 95
“ Who am I ? What do I have to say ? What am I here to learn ?”
It ’ s all part of the process for Broadway , TV and film actress Melody Butiu ’ 96 , MFA ’ 99 . It ’ s these three key questions that get to the core of the roles that she seeks out and what she tries to bring to her interpretations .
Being able to explore the Filipino American experience and the Filipino diaspora — of which her parents were part — through her acting roles makes her “ feel at home ,” she says . “ It makes me feel connected to my ancestors , to my family history , to the journey that they took to lead us here .” Her goal is to honor those experiences so that “ people feel seen .” And at the same time , she knows those are the moments where she can give audiences a little piece of herself , her own memories and experiences .
Speaking from her cozy Manhattan Beach home with the afternoon sun streaming through the windows , Butiu ’ s infectious joy in her career is palpable . She recalls her time at UC San Diego where she quickly moved from an undeclared undergraduate to participating in theatrical internships , shows and productions . She was focused in her pursuit of a professional acting career and would go on to earn a Masters of Fine Arts degree at UC San Diego .
42 SPRING 2024