LEIGH PAYLOR
Leigh Paylor (née Fryling) is a native of Kalamazoo Michigan. A precocious young performer from age three onward, Leigh’s pursuit of theatre and love of literature and art have lead her to London Ontario and the formation of Noisy Mime Theatre Company. An avid learner, Leigh has fifteen years of dance experience, and eleven years acting and directing both professionally and in amateur productions. A celebrated actor and singer all through middle and high school, Leigh graduated Vicksburg High School in 2005 with highest honors, and decided to follow her passions into her adult life. She also enjoyed a notable career as a spoken word performer, culminating in a trip to perform at the National Poetry Slam at the age of 18.
Leigh then auditioned and was accepted into the prestigious Theatre Performance program at Western Michigan University, and also finished a minor in Creative Writing. While in college, she expanded her areas of theatrical knowledge into speech technique, lighting and sound design, set and stage design, and practical workshop experience helping to build sets for shows that would go on to win national acclaim at the Kennedy Center. She graduated Cum Laude from Western Michigan University and the Lee Honors College in 2009.
It was also at college that she met Michael Paylor through a mutual friend, and found a boon companion with an equal ambition for and love of theatre, particularly focused on children and young adults. In 2007 they staged Noisy Mime Theatre Company’s first production, “Months On End”. Later that year, Michael suggested that Leigh try her hand at playwriting, resulting in the hit “The True Adventures of Robin Hood”. Because she was not yet a resident of London, Leigh was not eligible at the Brickenden Awards for “Best Original Play”, but was thrilled to take home Noisy Mime’s first Brickenden Award; “ Best Comedy” for “Robin Hood”. She soon thereafter went on to very successfully direct “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” for the London Fringe Festival. Leigh has since directed The Curious Savage and Little Shop of Horrors for Noisy Mime.
After a four year long-distance courtship, Leigh and Michael finally married in 2009. She is now a resident of London Ontario, and can’t wait to continue her work with Noisy Mime. She continues to write plays and musicals for the company, and her work was seen at Storybook Gardens in summer 2009. Leigh's next project will be to direct An Adult Evening With Shel Silverstein for Noisy Mime's Fringe Festival entry.
