Audition

Other Plays

Just getting around to writing about some other plays I’ve seen this year.

Let’s start with Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. Ugh. I spent the whole play squirming in my seat. If I wasn’t with a group of friends, I would have stood up, shouted at the actors on the stage to “DO BETTER WORK”, and left half-way though. 

I couldn’t hear the actors; they were straining their voices; their accents went in and out; there was no humor in the play. It was three hours of boring.

The only consolation was that when the cast came out for their bows, they had the decency to look ashamed.

Next, I saw A Flea In Her Ear. It was off-off-off-off-off Broadway. It was also pretty terrible. The play itself is very funny. It’s farcical, and fast paced, but the play was slow, and boring.

Lastly, I saw Annie! And OH. MY. GOD. SOOOOO GOOD! I saw the understudy Annie, and she was AMAZING! All the little girls (10 and younger) were better than the adults. If I were the regular Annie, I’d never let that understudy go on. 

Next couple of weeks - I’m going to see The Dance of Death, and Pippin. More on that later!

Tom Todoroff Conservatory 2012-2014

Today marks the first day of classes for the inaugural class of the Tom Todoroff Conservatory!

They are currently embarking on an amazing journey and paving the way for years to come.

We had an orientation this weekend for our International Students, and then a general orientation for all students.

What an amazing bunch! I’m so happy to be a part of this tribe and experience!

Xx Danielle

UCB Improv 101 - Show

Had my Improv 101 show at UCB today!  What a rush performing on stage and hearing tons of laughter.  Especially thrilling because I had no idea what I was going to say today. There was no script, and that was completely out of my element.

My favorite scene played out when I stepped up with one other girl, and I’m pretty sure neither of us had an idea of what to say. It wound up being a really funny scene where I got to play someone where everything I did made me look like I was making fun of Native Americans. That sounds terrible, but it was really funny, I swear. 

I guess my next step is to join a practice group.  Any ideas?

xx Danielle

Improv 101 at UCB NYC

Well, I’ve done it! I’ve gone and signed myself up for Improv classes, and I’ve chosen the most illustrious of schools, Upright Citizens Brigade.

I don’t know why I chose the one-week intensive - where they cram eight, three hour classes into five days - though. I’ve been through Days 1, 2 & 3, and I’m having a blast.

I’ve learned many technical lessons that I’ve read about in books, but the biggest lesson I’ve learned so far, is that every choice is correct, every choice is terrible, and every choice is hilarious!

It doesn’t matter. No one is going to be stellar on their first day (or week) so we’ve taken the pressure off each other (and ourselves) and just enjoy being.

We are encouraged to use stories from our lives to inspire our scenes and I’ve learned more about the people in my class in three days, and they’ve learned more about me, than most people do in a year.

But, I guess that’s showing my heart and there’s truth in comedy and comedy in truth. It’s also private moments made public.

Ill write more after the week is over!

Xx Danielle

Cash Cab

We were filming exteriors on GG yesterday, and this cab stops right in our shot. We were angry until we realized it was the Cash Cab! The whole GG crew was going “OMG! It’s Cash Cab!” and we could hear their production team going “OMG! It’s Gossip Girl!”

I hardly ever take cabs, but I’d LOVE to be on Cash Cab!!