Gail Payne is ...

Most of my life, I’ve always wondered: What if? What if I’d followed my dreams to become a full-time actor, singer … artist?

I grew up singing and performing all the time in a small town in central Illinois. I loved musical theatre, sang in church choir, and was cast in the musicals in school and community shows often as a lead or supporting role. My family wasn’t convinced a career in performing would make me happy (i.e. financially sound), so I graduated with a B.S. in Speech Communications/Public Relations. I moved to Indianapolis, developed a successful career, eventually starting my own consulting practice, and sang in church choir and Indianapolis Opera Chorus on the side.

I worked hard for many years and I’m proud of the things I accomplished as a business professional… but that little voice in inside me was relentless: “FIND YOUR VOICE.”

I started producing my own cabaret shows in 2012. I met Faith Prince and other amazing mentors at the Yale Cabaret workshop that year. Faith coached me through several other self-produced shows, including my last show, “This Is U.S.: We Hold These Tunes to Be Self-Evident” which she directed with M.D. Alex Rybeck. After taking that show to St. Louis, Indianapolis, Chicago and 54 Below in NYC in October 2017, I was hooked. No looking back. In 2018, I gave up all other work, and with my friends’ and family’s whole-hearted support, I moved to NYC full-time. During the 2020 shutdown, I produced myself in a one-woman play for six outdoor performances in Indianapolis, shot two films in NYC in October, and recorded audio for the lead role, “Madame Ravensky” in a new musical “The Cherry Orchard: The Musical” for Audible.

Here’s what I hope you get from that story: I am passionate, hard-working, driven, competitive, and willing to take big risks. I seek out expertise to help me be the best at whatever I’m doing. I’ve been a team player in a chorus or ensemble and I’ve been the lead in solo shows holding an audience’s attention for 60-75 minutes. (Did I mention that my Indy Fringe show “La Vie, L’Amour” was one of the top five best selling shows that year?)

I’m also proud to be Brian’s wife, Jack’s extra-mom, Charlie’s puppy mom, daughter to Beverly, sister to Mary Beth, auntie, and friend to many I’m fortunate and grateful to have in my life.

I’m an artist. This is who I am and what I need to be doing.

Click here to download Gail's resume. 

Photography by Drew Endicott.