Susan Payne O'Brien is a singer, actor and director interested in the many ways and mediums with which we tell stories on stage. She fell in love with the possibilities of story and the magic of classical theatrical forms at the Piven Theatre Workshop where she performed, directed, adapted, and taught theater for over twenty years.

After completing her MFA in voice performance at the DePaul University School of Music, Susan built upon her extensive acting and operatic training to build new tools specific to the needs of the operatic actor. She has brought her unique and accessible work to developing singers at The Santa Fe Opera, The Chicago Opera Theater, The Chicago College of The Performing Arts, DePaul University, North Park University and The Crested Butte Music Festival. 

Susan is passionate about developing new works and new audiences for opera. She is the founder and artistic director of Forte Chicago, an all-female ensemble of classical vocalists and instrumentalists. Forte Chicago's opera sketch comedy shows have brought opera to new audiences while fostering female contributions to the classical arts. Susan's libretto for Distant Flight of Birds, a devised operatic piece performed by the Forte ensemble, was featured in the  2019 International Puppetry Festival. 

Susan's directing, adapting and performing has been seen on the stages of 2nd Story, The Piven Theater, Chicago Fringe Opera, The Chopin Theater, Links Hall, The International Puppetry Festival, El  Paso Opera and The Santa Fe Opera.  Susan believes that the future of opera lies in the passion and innovation with which we train our emergent talent to be the stewards of the unique magic that is opera.