- April 23, 2024
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For as long as he can remember, Shaun Melady loved the stage.
Whether he was performing skits in his church's youth group, performing with the Spruce Creek High School concert choir or singing in a musical, Melady knew this was where his passion lay.
“I just always had a blast and always loved doing it," Melady said. "It brought me life.”
So in 2017, after some years working in the public relations world, the Ormond Beach native decided to go for it. He had recently moved to New York and did some background work in a Starz channel production, inspiring him to finally chase his dream. Since then, Melady has starred in three Off-Broadway plays, including Aeschylus' Greek tragedy "The Persians," and two original works titled "The Killers" and "Disconnected." He's also modeled on the runway for designers like Cindy Tran Fashion and Kuéne.
On Thursday, Sept. 5 — which also happens to be his 28th birthday — Melady will model in the SOCIETY Fashion Show during the 2019 Fall New York Fashion Week.
Later this fall, he'll also be starring in a new Amazon Prime indie series titled "Ricard & Trayce," produced by New York City-based production company March Brothers. Melady will be playing the role of Trayce, a struggling writer gaining the trust of an entertainment conglomerate CEO. The show has marked a pivotal moment in his career, he said.
“It’s definitely a major accomplishment and a very proud moment of mine," Melady said.
His journey hasn't been without challenges. Living in New York is considerably more expensive than Ormond, and he had to get accustomed to no longer working a secure 9-to-5 job. Melady also said he struggles with a sense of rejection when he doesn't get a particular role, a nature of the job that oftentimes is out of his control.
Still, he said he's extremely happy about his career change. In Ormond Beach, he never knew how to obtain his goal. Moving to New York allowed him to do so, though his family is still local.
No matter where you are in life, or what stage you find yourself in, Melady said people shouldn't be afraid to go out after their dreams. There are always opportunities — it's not too far-fetched, he said.
“Don’t doubt yourself and don’t be afraid to go after what you want," Melady said.
