Melani Finney, A Star down on Earth By Shannon Farley, ENGL 336

In a few short years do not be surprised to see the name Melani Finney spelled out in lights while you stroll down Broadway.  Finney, an aspiring stage actress from Prince George’s County, will graduate from Frostburg this Spring with a degree in Theatre and a minor in Public Relations, which she hopes to use to pursue her dreams of becoming a well known Broadway actress.

Since she was six years old she has loved the stage. After watching The Lion King on Broadway, Finney realized she wanted to a part of the entertainment industry. Her opportunity to do just that presented itself while Finney was still in elementary school, through a program called Destination Imagination. “It was a problem solving group, but we had to act out our problems in a skit” she explains, “It was really a creative process.” Although Finney describes herself as shy, that all fades away when she steps onto the stage, “I’m not Melani on the stage so I get to escape being me and kinda be someone else for a while.”

Finney has wasted no time building her resume here at Frostburg.  In an upcoming production of Around the World in 80 Days Finney plays Princess Aouda. Her favorite production she has been a part of while at FSU was Junie B Jones the Musical that was put on last November. In addition to being heavily involved with the Theater department Finney is President of the African American Student Society. As president, she hopes to help improve education within the organization. With that in mind it is of no surprise when Finney explains that her dream role would involve playing a character in an inspirational piece.  A character “who could represent what others are going through, if they can’t speak for themselves.”

Junie B Jones behind the scenes.
From Left to Right:(Front) Alex West, Jasmine Proctor, Melani Finney, Stephanie Taulbert
(Back):Alex Serrano,  Habtamu Anderson, Michael Mobely

Melani goofing around in Times Square, NYC. 

Finney is confident that the training she has received at FSU will leave her well prepared for the journey she will start this May. She explains that the plans for after graduation include relocating. “I want to move to New York and either work in a PR firm or like some type of acting agency, but work my way into auditioning for Broadway” she says while giggling.  Sitting next to Finney, one cannot help but notice her contagious smile and her kind, confident words and be assured her dreams will be reached.