A staged performance of Manuel de Falla’s Siete Canciones designed by director and puppeteer Mikalina Rabinsky. Performed with actress Antora DeLong with music direction by Nyela Basney.

Miss Pussy’s Opera is a meditation on aristocracy and an unhappy marriage told thru the adventures of a love triangle of pussy-cats. “Payne’s solo performance of a cat-filled opera parody is laugh out loud funny.” The Chicago Reader

Susan performed the role of Demeter in pageants produced by The Persephone Project. The Persephone Project uses the tools of theater to create spectacular events that support community, environmental justice and climate change activism.

Susan was a part of a three performer devising ensemble under the direction of Mikalina Rabinsky and Sarah Bendix. The Chicago Reader said “Mikalina Rabinsky has created a high-spirited hybrid of commedia, puppetry, satire, profane parody, and Story Theater. The three person ensemble-Susan Payne, Michael Quinn, and Jay Reed -leap from white faced clowning to mask work to outrageous burlesque with prodigious grace, power and aplomb in this Black Cat Theatre production.

Susan performed her original story, “A Soprano and a ‘Soprano’” for 2nd Story Chicago. The mission of 2nd Story Chicago is to use ‘true, well crafted stories as tools for changing hearts and minds.’. Audiences were delighted by the tale of a young opera singer in NYC and her wild evening with a group of mobsters.

Susan performed in and helped devise shows with the all-female improvisational opera company Forte Chicago. Her persona, Suzanne Payne-O’Ballsy, is a hilarious amalgamation of the many divas and divos she has come across in her time in Opera. A bawdy, over the top tribute to what it takes to be a lady behaving ‘O’ballsy’ in a world dominated by men.