SOMA Living May 2024

MEET THE MELINI-GONZALEZ FAMILY

Photography by Jamie Meier

What happens when an aspiring young actress meets a handsome, Doc Marten’s wearing artist at a party at Cal Arts? While this may sound like a teaser for a new RomCom it’s the real-life story of the romance between Broadway, film, and television actress Mandy Gonzalez and her now husband, Douglas Melini. Mandy laughs, “I was at a random party and I saw him standing there looking so cool and I was like ‘You want to dance?’. At the time I was in a garage band playing at a club in Hollywood called Jack’s Sugar Shack, which was a real dive bar. I asked him to come to the gig and he did. He was just so cool while I’m standing on stage in unflattering flannel pajamas. I wasn’t exactly looking like Gwen Stefani – but somehow he thought it was cute.” From there the two started dating and in October will celebrate 20 years of marriage. The couple arrived in NYC in 2000, setting the stage for a journey filled with ambition and success. Mandy, driven by her dreams, dove straight into the challenges of New York’s performing arts scene. “I just kind of hit the pavement. I didn’t have an agent. I had nothing except a dream. My first job came from an open call to become a backup singer for Bette Midler,” Mandy recalls. “She treated us very well. We were on tour and when we got back to New York, she put us all up at the Plaza Hotel...Her generosity stuck with me...It motivated me to save money and move to New York permanently.” After settling with Doug in Brooklyn, she put her mind to acting. By 2001, she was cast “Eli’s Comin’ at the Vineyard Theater.” Mandy won an Obie Award for her performance and her career took off from there. She continues to thrive with award-winning roles on Broadway as well as singing with Pops

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