Operation I AM A SEAGULL: Update 5

My fifth video update is my reaction to getting an email which read, "Dear Dani, the image of your Nina from The Sea Gull will be forever seared into my mind." Feeling incredibly moved by those encouraging words, I felt inspired and compelled to come and share what's been going on with The Sea Gull... Watch here!

To watch my fifth video update on YouTube, click on this picture :)

Brighton Beach Escapades

I wanted to go swimming (in an ocean!) one more time before summer ends (insert really sad face here.) An old friend of mine, Anna, suggested we go to Brighton Beach... After all, it's only a Subway ride away :)

Anna and I at Brighton Beach, NYC

The beach was beautiful... And even though I am wearing a sweatshirt in the photo above, don't let that fool you. It was warm enough to go swimming. YAY!

What we didn't know was that Brighton Beach would be full of such interesting characters... 

Brighton Beach Local Swimming in her BraLike this Bright Beach Local Lady pictured above, who was walking about the beach in her bra... Hey! I'm not judging! In fact, I think it's pretty awesome...

And the picture below... These two guys were having a full out fight on the street... I couldn't tell what they were fighting about, but I'm on the side of the guy with the parrot!

Brighton Beach Locals having a heated argument, Parrot & all!After spending the whole day on the beach, we got hungry! We decided to walk over to the Russian supermarket. Now, my grandmother (or should I say Babushka?) is from Russia, so I am no stranger to the food or the culture, but I've never seen... Pickled Watermelon! 

Pickles & Pickled Watermelon at the Russian Supermarket in Brighton Beach, NYCI like to keep an open mind and I have a pickle obsession (preferably sour pickles)... But pickled watermelon is not something that I am interested in trying... No offense to all the pickled watermelon fans out there!

But I was sure glad when I found these... They reminded me of the candies my grandmother would bring me during my childhood :)

Matryoshka Doll Chocolates... Yum!Tomorrow is supposed to be 80 degrees and sunny! So hey, why not take the B train down to Brighton... If you see the Parrot, tell him I say Hello!

Surfing, Larry Moss & Broadway on Broadway... My September Newsletter!

As summer winds down, and fall winds up... A lot has been going on! This is what I've been up to...

The cast of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark & I at Broadway on Broadway!

Gif me a visky, ginger ale on the side, and don' be stingy, baby.

This past month, I had the amazing opportunity to take Larry Moss' master scene study class. I can't put into words what a profound experience it was............ Well, maybe I could, but we would probably be here all day :)

My scene partner and I worked on Anna Christie by Eugene O'Neill... And what a beautiful challenge that was. 

Dani as Anna Christie in Anna Christie by Eugene O'Neill

In the name of sharing & generosity, here are a few tidbits a la LARRY MOSS that were said during the course of the workshop... I thought they were super helpful and inspiring, which is why I have a total of 24 pages of notes!

"You have to remember to forget... Good acting comes from I DON'T KNOW!"

"Listen like an animal in the forest... As though your life depends on it."

"The CHOICE you make is your talent."

"You have to be INTENSELY COMMITTED to the world of the play. You must honor the play."

"Hear the writing and the sensation of what it means."

"People can do anything that they want to do."

"You have to find the body and the voice of the character!"

"Don't go to the drama... The drama will take us."

"Every. Word. Matters."

Wise Words A La David Mamet

It is more frightening but not less productive to go your own way, to form your own theatre company, to write and stage your own plays, to make your own films. You have an enormously greater chance of eventually presenting yourself to, and eventually appealing to, an audience by striking out on your own, by making your own plays and films, than by submitting to the industrial model of the school and studio.

- DAVID MAMET

I love this David Mamet quote, I find it very inspiring. It is from his book True and False... By the way, I am taking Mr. Mamet's advice and producing a play with my production company Actresses As Allies. Our goal is to have our show up and running in late September/early October. Yes, I will keep you posted! Hope to see you there. xx