Melinda Augustina was born in the mid-west. One of nine children, her mother was an opera singer and later a vocal coach. Her father, in the early years of marriage, began to make sales films to promote his father-in-law's construction company and later became a business owner. Melinda first played the role of the wise and sly Store Manager in "Three-Fifty" on stage with theater company Apartment A in Venice, California. Critics called her performance "...especially hilarious..." and "screamingly funny". Now an award-winning film "Three-Fifty" has been charming film audiences in America, Europe and Asia. Three-Fifty played over 45 film festivals . Special screenings include Cannes Film Festival's Short Film corner as well as museum screenings. International distribution included cable in France, Switzerland, Africa, Spain, Poland, NBC/Universal in Italy as well as DVD distribution with Stephen Simon's Spiritual Cinema Circle. "Three-Fifty" is now distributed by Network Ireland-TV. Acting credits include numerous stage roles in mid-west regional theaters. A few awards followed, most significantly Best Actress for playing the intensely dramatic role of the armchair Nazi "Lemon" in Wallace Shawn's "Aunt Dan and Lemon". In Dallas, Melinda was lead writer on television show "Net Talk Interactive", one of the first shows to be broadcast on radio, TV and Internet simultaneously. She penned 13 scripts. The show went on to win WorldFest's Platinum Telly Award in Family/Children Television. She was also co-author and producer of numerous live sketch comedy shows produced as comedy shows + after-parties to sold out crowds. While living in Chicago, Melinda worked with the acclaimed Remains Theater Company, Footsteps Theater Company and Chicago Dramatist's Workshop. Melinda Augustina was born in the mid-west. One of nine children, her mother was an opera singer and later a vocal coach. Her father was a business owner. Melinda lives in Los Angeles and is married to former sports producer Barry Evan Sloan. Her father-in-law, the late Melvin Sloan was a documentary film-maker and one of the famous "Unholy Five" credited with building the USC School of Cinematic Arts. At USC for over 50 years, the elder Sloan guided such film luminaries as George Lucas, Robert Zemeckis, Woody Omens and many more.
Melindas Shakespearean training was with Tony Award winner Barbara Gaines at Chicago Shakespeare Rep.
Screenwriter/Playwright Maurice Chauvet wrote roles specifically for Melinda in the film "Three-Fifty" and the stage play "That Place We Used To Live".
Her grandfather was contractor R.G. "Red" Aldridge known for his work building highways in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas. R.G. was also known for saving Kansas Citys water supply during the Great Flood of 1951.
Television is a demanding mistress. .
