Joseph V. Melillo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and theater at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT and a Masters of Fine Arts in speech and drama at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
Melillo was responsible for the artistic direction of theater, dance, music, visual art and film at the multi-venue arts center, which includes the Harvey Theater, Howard Gilman Opera House, Fishman Space, Rose Cinemas,[2] and BAMcafé.
[3] Over 35 years at BAM, Melillo programmed the work of artists such as Pina Bausch, Philip Glass, Trisha Brown, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane, Merce Cunningham, Robert Wilson, Urban Bush Women, Ivo van Hove, Ralph Lemon, Anne Bogart, Cheek by Jowl, Reggie Wilson, Mark Morris, Carl Hancock Rux and Michelle Dorrance.
He set up artistic partnerships such as the Bridge Project, a three-year series of international theater engagements with a trans-Atlantic company of actors directed by Sam Mendes and produced by BAM, The Old Vic, and Neal Street, and for seven seasons, DanceMotion USAsm,[4] an international cultural diplomacy program in partnership with the US Department of State.
[5] In 1999, the BAM Rose Cinemas opened with four screens, including one dedicated to repertory and special series.