Melanie Payne is a New York-trained musical theatre performer and educator with a deep passion for storytelling, character work, and helping young artists thrive onstage. A graduate of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in New York City, Class of 2016, Melanie brings a decade of professional experience to her teaching, drawing from a rich background in performance, direction, and stage management.

She has performed in a variety of Off-Broadway cabarets. Some of her favorite recent credits are Cha Cha in Grease, Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel, Norma in Hands on a Hardbody, and Cinderella in Cinderella. Known for her warm but focused teaching style, Melanie specializes in audition preparation—working closely with students to select material, build technique, and gain the confidence needed to shine in the audition room.

While most at home on stage, Melanie also enjoys working behind the scenes as a director and stage manager, bringing a well-rounded perspective to her work as an educator. She believes in creating a supportive, professional, and artistically curious environment where students are encouraged to take creative risks, collaborate, and grow as both performers and people.