Mélia Mills’
The Allure of Thug Life
In Person at the Berkeley TheaterStage
Written & Performed Mélia Mills
Produced by Soaring Solo Artists
Click for Tickets
Online ticket sales close 2 hours before each performance,
and additional tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
October 14 – November 11, 2023
Saturdays at 5pm
Ticket Information
Tickets: $25 – $35 General Seating sliding scale | $50 & $100 Reserved Seating
Online ticket sales close 2 hours before each performance,
and additional tickets may be available for purchase at the door.
60 minutes | No Intermission | Ages 15+
Please do not bring infants to the show
Please read our
Health, Safety and COVID-19 Information
Our commitment to our patrons
Masks and vaccinations suggested but no longer required
About the Show
The Allure of Thug Life is a Hip Hopsical comedy about Mélia, an upper middle-class teen from Oakland who wants to be a gangster rapper.
Picture a 15 year old girl who wants to fit in at her new high school, but is bullied regularly. Struggling to find her own voice, she discovers her talent—rapping and begins straddling the fence between the good life and thug life. Mélia longs to go from Riches to Rags and encounters Bullying, Boyfriends and Bullets! This is the riveting story of one’s journey to discover their authentic self and the lengths they will go to own it. If you’re scared, stay home. If you’re fearless, roll through for this wild ride!
In 2023, Mélia won a scholarship from the Hollywood Fringe Festival and performed her show, The Allure of Thug Life, to sold-out audiences.
About the Performer
If Chris Rock and Weird Al had a baby, she’d be it.
Mélia Mills is an Oakland, CA native. She graduated from UCLA (BA in Theater Arts) and is a Writer, Comedian, Actress, and Rapper.
She created, wrote, produced, directed, and acted in her ensemble piece, JUNETEENTH- An Emancipation Celebration! to a sold-out crowd at UCB. She was a writer and performer on UCB’s House Team, CHARACTERS WELCOME.
Mélia co-hosted the podcast TALK LIKE A GIRL on Feral Audio and was one of few selected by Anna Deavere Smith to take part in her Performing Personal Narratives, Global Identities workshop.
She has opened for Dave Chappelle, Gad Elmaleh “Jerry Seinfeld of France”, and did Script and Character Development for Sacha Baron Cohen.
Most recently, Mélia won a scholarship from the HOLLYWOOD FRINGE FESTIVAL and performed her show, THE ALLURE OF THUG LIFE to sold-out audiences. The LA TIMES named it one of the TOP 10 SHOWS to see at Fringe!
THE ALLURE OF THUG LIFE won BEST MUSICAL, THE ELLA TURENNE AWARD, PICK OF THE FRINGE and THE HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER’S ENCORE AWARD.