Welcome to Heilman & Haver - Episode 58.  We hope you enjoy the show!

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EPISODE 58 SYNOPSIS

We're pleased to be joined by Michelle Danner, legendary LA acting coach (to the likes of Salma Hayek, Seth McFarland, Gerard Butler, Henry Cavell, and many more!), accomplished film and stage director, and author.  Michelle has also directed and acted in over thirty plays and musicals in New York and Los Angeles and joins us to share her wisdom from nearly 30 years as an acting coach and what she's learned from her time on stage and behind (and in front of) the camera.

ARTS AROUND THE SOUND ANNOUNCEMENTS

"The Crucible" at WWCA... starring Greg!

Go see Greg and a cast of talented local favorites perform the Tony Award-winning play, "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller.  The show runs through March 20th and tickets and more info can be had at www.wwca.us.  And check out Greg's five-part blog series, "The Crucible Diaries", for a behind-the-curtain look at the production, available now on our website.

"Richard III" reimagined at the Rep

Playing now through April 3rd at Seattle Rep it’s “Teenage Dick” -  a satirical retelling of Shakespeare’s Richard III set in 2010.  You can find Greg's review of the show on our Film & Stage Reviews page and get tickets and more info at www.seattlerep.org.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Michelle Danner

Michelle Danner is a legendary acting teacher and founder of the Creative Center for the Arts and the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory.  She is also now well-established as a successful feature film director.  Her film “Bad Impulse,” a psychological thriller about family secrets and modern technology won Best Narrative Feature at the 2019 International Independent Film Awards and the Best Director Award at the 2019 Culver City Film Festival.

Michelle's other film “The Runner“, an action thriller and true-life coming of age story, has played at 28 festivals around the country and internationally. Danner won Best Director five times including at the Milan Gold Awards, the Montreal Independent Film Festival, and the Paris Play Film Festival.

Raised in a show business family with a deep appreciation for all of the performing arts, Danner also runs the boutique “Cinema at the Edge” film festival and recently directed a new one-person virtual play, Bonnie Culver’s “Norris,” starring Anne Archer, based on the memoirs of the widow of writer Norman Mailer.

A dedicated mom of two (one an aspiring filmmaker), Danner still has her “day job” – overseeing the faculty of the Los Angeles Acting Conservatory, and conducting her weekly acting class. Her list of students has included Christian Slater, Salma Hayek, Gerard Butler, Seth McFarlane, Penelope Cruz, Chris Rock, Gabrielle Union, and Zooey Deschanel.  

A longtime student of legendary acting teachers like Stella Adler and Uta Hagen, Danner’s eclectic approach (which she calls “The Golden Box”) allows actors the freedom to employ a wide variety of techniques.  She joined us from her home in LA.

Connect with Michelle:

The Michelle Danner Acting Studio

On Instagram

On Twitter

On Facebook