Check Out Allison Dayne’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Allison Dayne.

Hi Allison, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Boise Idaho where my love for storytelling began early performing in school plays and writing scenes in my notebooks. Coming from a smaller city I had to create my own path into the industry which taught me resilience and how to build opportunities rather than wait for them.

That determination led me to earn my MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design where I studied writing and performing arts. It was during that time that I began to discover my voice learning how to tell character driven stories that blend honesty humor and cinematic emotion.

Since then I have written and starred in several projects including my short film “A Kings Curtain” which won Best Drama at the LA Film Shorts International Film Festival and Best Drama at the Burbank Film Festival. Creating that film and seeing it connect with audiences was a defining moment for me as both an artist and performer.

I’m currently in pre-production for a comedy horror film I’m directing titled “Jumpscare” and preparing to make my Edinburgh Fringe Festival debut in August 2026 with my one woman show “Confessions of a Sugar Baby” directed by Cameron Lopez.

The show is being produced by Katie Nixon and Morgan Kennedy. The show is also being produced by the team behind the sold out hit DUSK The Twilight Parody and Rhoxon Productions.
Confessions of a Sugar Baby is a funny heartfelt and provocative exploration of modern relationships and self discovery told through a sharp comedic lens.
The television pilot adaptation is now being pitched to production companies and I’m keeping my fingers crossed in this wonderfully unpredictable industry..

Alongside these projects I’m training through both the UCB and Groundlings comedy programs which have been invaluable in shaping my comedic voice and instincts. I’m also part of the motion capture program led by Richard Dorton which has opened up a new dimension of performance and physical storytelling.

Not bad for a girl from Boise, ID who was really into classical literature.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth road? Absolutely not. When I lived in Atlanta, Georgia, I was actually hit by a semi-truck and later developed a rare blood disorder. Most people in my life already know this story, so if you’re just getting to know me, I’m sorry to say, but this is old news. Keep up.
What I learned, though, is that it’s never really about what happens to you on the journey… it’s about what you decide to do next. For me, it made me funnier and far more aware of how fleeting time can be. You’ve got a story to tell? Do it now.
That experience eventually led me to be invited to give a TED Talk, where I shared my journey and even developed my own original theory of comedy; something I never would have done if my life had gone according to plan. Every “no” I’ve received as an actor, writer, or comedian, I’ve learned to treat as a “not right now.”
Each one has pushed me to create my own work in the meantime, and those projects have become the stepping stones of my career.
So no, the road hasn’t been smooth. It’s been funny, unpredictable, and meaningful. Which, honestly, makes for much better material anyway.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I wear a few hats; actor, writer, director, comedian. I also teach and mentor young actors. I believe the artist’s journey includes helping others along the way, and that’s something I cherish as much as my own creative work.

What I specialize in is telling stories grounded in truth with an emotional core, while still creating space for humor, risk, and even discomfort. My work often gravitates toward pieces that explore identity, vulnerability, social justice, and what it means to survive and thrive when life doesn’t go according to plan. I’m deeply invested in one-woman shows, short films, original plays, and genre-bending work.

I’m known for founding Leading Ladies, a production company that creates original theater and gives back to nonprofits like rape recovery centers, domestic violence coalitions, and suicide hotlines. I started it early during my BFA days, because I saw that acting roles weren’t always given, so I decided to create work and give others opportunities.

I also did things like direct the world premiere of the musical Bloody Mary at Studio 54 in New York, studied in the Second City Comedy Studies Program (among the youngest accepted), earned my MFA in writing and performing arts from SCAD, and worked in modeling overseas, all of which have given me a broader lens & greater empathy in my craft.

What I’m most proud of is what’s about to happen… my one woman show “Confessions of a Sugar Baby.: The chance to get back on stage, in front of an audience, doing what I do best: telling truth, finding humor, making people feel seen.

That feels like home. That feels like what everything I’ve done up to now has been building toward.
What sets me apart is perhaps twofold: first, a willingness to create not waiting for someone else to give me a “yes,” but making my own work, mentoring others, speaking up. And second, using humor as a pathway to real truth.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk taking in the arts is just… life. Going full 100% into this career and believing in yourself is already a huge gamble, and honestly, there’s no other option if you want to create anything worth doing.

A major risk I took was modernizing and adapting Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull into a modern LGBTQ love story called MADLY. I co-directed it with James Carey and put every ounce of myself into that project. It got into many film festivals, won several awards and came out during the pandemic. Did I think it was going to be my “I made it” moment? You bet your ass I did. Spoiler: it wasn’t.
But here’s the thing… because I went all in on that film, it gave me the credibility and the experience to take on the bigger budget projects I’m leading now.
Risks don’t always give you the award immediately, but they open doors because you’ve shown your skin is in the game.

My dad used to say, “keep your skin in the game,” and now thanks to Hamilton, everyone’s singing it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.allisondayne.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allisondayne/?hl=en
• LinkedIn: https://substack.com/@allisondayne
• Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5938550/

Image Credits
Darria Kossa