About Me

Chicago Native Taking The Industry By Storm

Darilyn Burtley was born in Chicago, IL during the early nineties. She is the middle child of five and grew up singing in a gospel girl group alongside her sisters. Darilyn attended one of the nation’s top public schools with a Grammy-Winning music department. That is where she was introduced to classical music and musical theatre. She excelled in every musical and vocal ensemble until she was signed to Grammy-Nominated record label. At the tender age of 18, Darilyn was contracted as the hip-hop label’s pop crossover artists. She spent six months in Beverly Hills writing hits, attending industry events, and even attended the Grammys the year Lady Gaga arrived in the egg pod. After realizing Hollywood was a little too intense for her to navigate alone, she went back to school attending Columbia College Chicago, and majored in Musical Theatre performance.

During her second semester of freshman year, Darilyn breezed through auditions for one of her favorite musicals, enjoying the material and casting process. She became the youngest cast member in this Equity (Union) show and the only principal character hired locally. The rehearsal process was a crash course in the business teaching her more in a few weeks than she’d learned in an entire year of college. On opening night, Darilyn (19) was introduced to who would become her first agent. Over the next seven years, Darilyn focused on film, commercial, and television, occasionally performing live. Some of her credits include NBC’s Chicago PD, Showtime’s The CHI, and various advertising campaigns. In 2017, Darilyn revisited her first love of live theatre as a cast member in the US debut of the Olivier-winning production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She went on to perform in several other Equity productions at popular theaters whilst continuing to perform on camera.

In March of 2020, Darilyn experienced her greatest challenge to date: Her nine month contract as a featured performer on a luxury cruise line was cancelled two months in due to COVID shutdowns. This was a pivotal moment: How can I do what I love but finally gain stability, longevity, and autonomy. After completing her role as Lila Dixon in Irving Berlin’s “Holiday Inn”, she decided to take a month long sabbatical out West. That’s how Utah captured her heart. Darilyn decided to permanently relocate and hasn’t looked back since. After one year of working an amazing 9 to 5 in real estate, she’d acquired the skills and self-confidence to delve headfirst into her own business. Finally, she realized that there’s a way to participate in her passions, educate others, and have the final say in her life. Darilyn is THRILLED to be able to share her industry expertise she’d with newer artists in hopes of offering a structured blue print to success.