New Staff Spotlight: Melody DeRogatis

With a theater background that includes acting, writing, directing, producing, teaching and even designing props — plus a personal passion for all things vibrant — Melody DeRogatis was the perfect addition to the Northbrook Park District’s performing arts department.

DeRogatis started her new role as performing arts supervisor in January. Her predecessor, Drew Kambach , was promoted to performing arts manager in October.

“It is a very exciting time for the Northbrook Park District’s theater program because we are in a period of immense possibility. We are really looking forward to growing and trying new things,” DeRogatis said. “I am really thrilled at the prospect of making our theater and our performing arts program a destination for everyone — a place you can come to for all your performing arts needs.”

Before joining the Northbrook Park District, DeRogatis was the head of the theater department at Chicago Bulls College Prep , where she designed curriculums for intro, intermediate and advanced theater classes, and taught acting, directing, playwriting and technical theatre.

DeRogatis attended Lincoln Park High School in Chicago, where she was cast in every high school show starting as a sophomore.

She attended Drake University in Iowa, where she performed in school shows and community theatre. She served as president of the student organization Drake Theatre People, and developed a passion for playwriting and directing.

DeRogatis earned a bachelor’s of fine arts with a major in theater and a bachelor’s of arts in writing in 2019.

In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, DeRogatis founded the Chicago-based nonprofit Possibilities Theater Company.

She is directing the new “Fat Theatre Project” theater company, also based in Chicago, which focuses on promoting body positivity.