By Juan Markos
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 09/26/2026
I had the pleasure of attending the opening night of a new play titled Melt on September 24th, 2026, at the legendary Marilyn Monroe Theater at The Lee Strasberg Theater & Film Institute in West Hollywood, California.
The play centers around two star-crossed lovers, Eli and Ryan, who find love in an unlikely place. It’s reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, showcasing two lovers from different worlds who are drawn to each other despite the odds being stacked against them in a cruel world filled with prejudice, violence, and intolerance. Eli is portrayed by Shak Kanish, who also wrote the play, while Ryan is played by Jaden Harris Shaw. Nicholas Scott plays Finch, the theater teacher.
The story opens with Eli alone in the theater after hours. In truth, Eli has been secretly living in the theater. I think he believes no one knows, but his housing is facilitated by Finch, who sees himself in Eli. Eli is a gay theater major, though I’m not entirely sure about his sexuality since he recently came out, and his journey in the department isn’t the main focus of the story.
Ryan, a jock and captain of the hockey team, finds Eli in the theater while auditioning for a role in a play, Melt is about a play within a play like inception, I’ve heard that when you write fiction, every character reflects a part of yourself, or maybe that’s just my perspective when I write, but Finch is the one who wrote the play that they are auditioning for.
Eli and Ryan experience an instant connection. Ryan signs up to audition but leaves shortly after. It seems like there aren’t many other people auditioning, possibly because the play is about a gay romance. During the audition, as Ryan and Eli read lines that feel oddly familiar almost like a repeat of the day before in the scene Ryan is required to kiss Eli, and he immediately freaks out and leaves the theater. It’s as if their roles are mirroring their lives, with the director-writer creating this unique experience before us.
The play touches on significant themes such as homelessness, vulnerability, trust, and fragile masculinity. As Ryan delves into his role, he discovers new aspects of himself and finds vulnerability with Eli, who comes from a different social background—not only because of their differing sexualities, but also due to their contrasting worlds in terms of class. The characters are exceptionally well written, and the acting feels incredibly authentic.
The play is both funny and sad. At one moment, I felt as though Eli chose acting over love, a sentiment that resonates with many of us in Los Angeles. The theater was packed, and I was excited to be there, having lived across the street many moons ago.
On a side note, I ran into Cedric Hodges from The Challenge, someone I had previously criticized online, at the premiere of this incredible play. It made me realize that I tend to attract the people I speak about or the things I focus on.
Melt is a must-see show. The acting is phenomenal, and like life itself, it is moving, funny, and unpredictable. Directed by Fabiana Medici and Chris Prinzo, Jaden Harris Shaw’s performance is raw and transformative, while Shak Kanish exudes talent as both an actor and a singer. I highly recommend checking it out if you’re in the Los Angeles area. The play runs until October 2nd, and for tickets and more information, please visit https://melttheplay.netlify.app/
