Vanessa Shealy
Hello! I'm Vanessa, an actor and writer living in New York City who is crazy about playwriting, comedy, and storytelling. I recently finished a graphic novel for middle grade readers and - a yoga teacher training! (what?!) I'm a member of the Actors Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, and you can find a longer bio at the bottom of this page, but be sure to click the What's New tab to find out what's, ya know, new.
Thanks for the visit!
VANESSA SHEALY - BIO
Originally from Oklahoma City, Vanessa Shealy completed her MFA in Acting from the University of Georgia before moving to New York City, where she is a writer, actor, mom, and communications professional. As a playwright, Vanessa’s full length pieces include Tea in the Afternoon, American Drum Circle, and One, Two, Whatever you do... Her short plays include "A Captive Audience," "Cataracts," and a short solo play, "Naked." Her plays have been published, workshopped, or produced by UP Theater Company, Estrogenius Festival, The Abingdon Theater, The Actors Studio, Emerging Artists Theater, Sola Voce Festival, Queens Theater in the Park, South Street Theater, FringeNYC, Project Y, OnTheRoadRep, IndieTheatreNow, and ESPA/Primary Stages.
Her screenwriting credits include a short film, Naked, which won the "Best Comedy" award at the Seoul International Short Film Festival in 2020. Her original comedic short film, "Whistle & Snap" screened at six film festivals, including the Montreal Black Film Festival. A television spec scripts of hers was selected by the Nickelodeon Writing Fellowship for a script review at the American Black Film Festival, given a filmed reading by the Fan Fiction Festival, and selected as a ScriptapoloozaTV finalist. Vanessa was also the co-producer of the feature length documentary, Souled Out Comedy, which won the Audience Choice award at The Friars Club Comedy Film Festival.
As an actor, Vanessa has appeared onstage in over 30 professional productions, in independent films, on television and in national commercials, most recently in a 2020 national commercial for Trelegy. Vanessa has been a contributing writer and performer for several NYC live sketch comedy shows, and is the co-creator and writer of a middle grade graphic novel called Couri Vine. During the day, Vanessa works as the Director of Communications at a national nonprofit organization, and in the evening, she serves as the Executive Director of the New Work Series at Emerging Artists Theatre. In her free time (hahaha) Vanessa is the mom of two raucous kids, an autism advocate, and a yoga teacher in traininng.