Monica Payne has been a Meisner-based acting teacher for almost a decade. She has taught privately, as well as at various studios in Chicago, including the School at Steppenwolf, the Audition Studio, and the Artistic Home. She has worked with Steppenwolf Theatre Company as a teacher, actress, and assistant director. Her directing credits include Adam Galassi's February Morning, Sam Shepard's Savage Love and Justin O'Connor's Kissing on the Mouth, all for the Artistic Home. She also directed a week of Suzan-Lori Parks' 365 Plays and a new work called Erasing the Distance for the Chicago Festival of Disability Arts and Culture. As an actress, she appeared at Steppenwolf in Uncle Vanya, No Place Like Home, Cross Town Traffic (2001), and understudied for The Weir and The House of Lily. Other Chicago acting credits include work with the critically acclaimed Hypocrites, SmashTheatre, Famous Door, Collaboraction, Stage Left, the Journeymen, and the Artistic Home. Monica's students have gone on to work in television and film, as well as Off-Broadway and major regional theatres.
“Monica Payne is an amazing teacher of Meisner and scene study. Under her guidance, the depth her students achieve in their work is HUGE! Without a doubt, Monica is beloved by the Chicago acting community. I have sent many, many students her way and hope all of LA realizes the true treasure they have on the west coast.”
Erica Daniels, Casting Director for Steppenwolf Theatre Company