Felix Varela’s Artistic Director and Drama Teacher is Melissa Almaguer. She obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Acting from Florida International University.

Ms. Almaguer has performed professionally for various local theater groups including New Theater, Main Street Players, Mad Cat Theater Company, One Minute Play Festival, Artistic Vibes and MTC (formerly known as Playground Theater).  From 2011-2013 she Co-founded her own theater company, White Rose Miami, which performed in non-conventional  theater spaces in Miami.  She was most recently seen in Broadway Factor’s ‘The Amparo Experience’. Melissa served as Assistant Production Manager and Event Manager at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center, and has experience stage managing, directing, writing, and technical fields of theater.

Additionally, Ms. Almaguer has been teaching theater professionally for over 15 years in the private sector. She was very excited to be a part of the Viper family and sharing her knowledge and experience with the Varela students.