Biography

Rainee Denham has built her career in entertainment, with experience in film, television, theater, commercial, print, and voice over work. Rainee's passions extend beyond acting, to directing, and producing.

At a young age, Rainee discovered her love for the performing arts in the church and then in local community theatre in Chicago. She continued her education independently at Northwestern, and DePaul where she studied voice, and studying dance at Stone-Camryn, Lou Conte Studios, Joel Hall Dance, and acting at Hull House.

After a decade of working professionally in the entertainment industry, Rainee shifted her focus to storytelling in a different realm - marketing. She founded Unipro Marketing Services, a purposely disruptive firm that produced integrated events for some of the biggest names in business, including Xerox, IBM, and Abbott Labs. Rainee's innovative approach earned her and her associates numerous marketing awards. She authored many articles, taught seminars, gave keynote addresses as well, all while creating the patented think tank, "The Idea Kitchen," and two interactive brainstorming tools, "The Idea Sandwich" and "Thought Soup" and a book on creativity.

But Rainee's passion for acting never left her, and in 2014, she returned to the craft that first captured her heart. She enrolled in the rigorous conservatory acting program at The Academy at Black Box Acting and has since appeared in a wide range of productions, from prime time TV shows like "Chicago PD" to award-winning independent films like "Mercy's Girl." She's also been actively involved in Chicago's storefront theater scene, including performances at Steep, Gift, Artistic Home, Promethean, City Lit, Broken Nose, among others.

In her free time, Rainee indulges in her love for photography; capturing the beauty of the East Coast's many trails. Currently based in Raleigh, North Carolina, she’s enjoying the relaxed lifestyle, and finding work in the theater.

Story

“When I sang a solo in the church choir at nine years old, I was changed. I felt deeply touched. Whether it was the beauty of the music, the sanctity of the church, or that I got taken out to lunch afterwards, it was an experience that could only be described as an ‘aha’ moment. That little event set the trajectory for the rest of my life.

Soon I was putting on shows in the basement, doing Chicago Park District plays, and acting out Cher songs at camp. I loved it all. What followed was intense dedication to training in dance, voice, and acting, as well as doing anything I could to learn about theatre. I’ve been a script girl, coffee fetcher, and kid in the chorus.

What makes me tick is creating beauty and honoring my roots. I’m from Chicago, and I love it. But the city of my youth was a scary place, and I became street smart fast, and a true survivor. At home, there was music, creativity, sewing, singing, laughter, and endless play. This was the influence of my Mother, whose own tough life didn’t stop her from choosing joy. Choosing joy allowed her to play by her own rules. And when she made our clothes, took us to cultural events, and played Ray Charles, Broadway Musicals, and Frank Sinatra at home, she was unstoppable.

Choosing joy for me means being a lifelong seeker of new experiences, adventure, and creativity. I’ve found these things in raising my son as a working Mom in the city. I’ve found them in Rishikesh, India making a Hindu pilgrimage in the Himalayas. I’ve found them in the flow I feel creating artistic endeavors on stage and film.

All I want to do is create, and be a part of others’ joyous creations.”

xo,