A big win!
My fellow castmates and I from God of Carnage won the Ernie McClintock award for best ensemble at the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle Awards last night!
Keep an eye out for my Bob Evans commercial, which will run again for one cycle, and my Harris Bank spot, which has been running for almost a year now.
Had a callback for the role of Eddie in the Kennedy Center production of Shear Madness. Keep fingers crossed.
big stuff at the end of August
Shot an industrial this week for Southern States, that will be shown at the opening of their annual managers' meeting. Got to hang around with some nice folks on a farm in Dabneys, VA and admire their polled Herefords.
Got news that our production of "God of Carnage" at Virginia Rep (formerly Barksdale Theatre), was nominated for an award for best ensemble by the RTCC.
Had a great weekend of fight combat, led by fellow ACA grad, Matt Wilson. I passed all four SPRs I attempted (renewal of my skills proficiency, as judged by a fight master of the SAFD). Basic pass: unarmed and broadsword. Recommended pass: rapier & dagger and single sword.
Not least to mention my third anniversary and my wife's birthday. Great times!
August is here
August is here and the weather is drying out and cooling off (a little) in the Great Valley of Virginia.
We had big, energetic audiences to close Merry Wives at Richmond Shakespeare. Very successful run of that play.
Last week I shot an industrial for the Army War College, prudced by Will Interactive. Excellent folks there. Easy to eork with and thoroughly professional.
Still working on Macduff and can't wait to get started.
Richmond Shakespeare Reviews
Summer 2012
Had a blast working with the folks at Barksdale on God of Carnage. Great ensemble, great director, great crew, great staff. Can't wait to work with them agian.
Now preparing to play Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor at Richmond Shakespeare in July.
UPDATE 6/9:
Rehearsals are under way and we are having a great time. Come to Richmond in July!
The reviews are in!
Four more weeks to see God of Carnage at the Barksdale in Richmond, VA.
"…this spryly acted quartet of seething adults evenly balances the physical, vitriolic leaps and lunges with Reza’s spitfire critiques on social etiquette."
"Dan Stearns slides easily into the lizard skin of a cold and cynical capitalist."
"As deft as they are with the language…these four are fearless in their commitment to physical comedy."
"...I am in love with this cast. I think all four actors do a remarkable job."
Now available in Virginia!
Susan and I relocated to Staunton, VA so she could take a position as assistant professor of history at Mary Baldwin College.
Since arriving I have auditioned and been called back at Chesapeake Shakespeare, Cadence Theatre (Richmond, VA), and Barksdale Theatre (Richmond, VA). At Barksdale I will play Alan in their production of God of Carnage, directed by Bo Wilson, Feb. 3-Mar. 11 at the Willow Lawn Theatre. Check it out here.
I am available for on stage, on camera, and voiceover work in the VA-DC-MD area.
National commercial spot
Just shot a spot for BMO Harris Bank today, that I believe will be a national spot and may even get play in Canada. I was Taft-Hartleyed for SAG on this, so I am now eligible for both SAG and AFTRA (I was a Taft-Hartley for AFTRA on "The Playboy Club").
They recast my role in "The Playboy Club." I gues they wanted someone who REALLY looks like Hugh Hefner, and not just sort of, as I do. And they want someone who can do the voice. Let's hope they will have something else for me.
The Playboy Club!
"The Playboy Club" has been picked up by NBC. Keep your fingers crossed that they keep using me as Hef.
You can see me for a couple of seconds at 2:37 in the trailer for the show:
http://www.nbc.com/the-playboy-club/video/an-american-icon-is-born/1327501/
Playboy and Sketchbook
I shot my scene for the "Playboy" pilot on Tuesday 3/22. My contract reads "Guest Star at the discretion of the producer," so keep your fingers crossed about that discretion. Let's hope it's a guest star and not a feature. And really hope that the show gets picked up.
Sketchbook Reverb closed at Collaboraction on Sunday, 3/27, but we will be back in two weeks with an extension. Every Saturday night from 4/9-5/28, except 5/7 we will offer some of the shows we just played, as well as some new favorites from Sketchbooks past. Had a blast with the show and I expect the fun to continue, so if you missed it, you'd better get this on your calendar.
I booked a pilot
Just booked a pilot on NBC. In the final scene of NBC's pilot for "Playboy," about the Playboy Club in Chicago circa 1963, I will appear as the young Hugh Hefner.
You still have two weeks to see Sketchbook Reverb at Collaboraction. Get there. Thursday through Sunday. And one extra on Monday 3/21.
Sketchbook Reverb is cooking!
We had a great opening weekend and now it's time for you all to get to the Flat Iron Arts Building and see Sketchbook Reverb at Collaboraction, a celebration of the favorite eight plays from the first ten years of the Sketchbook Festival. There are great short plays by Keith Huff, author of "A Steady Rain" and a writer on "Mad Men;" Ellen Fairey, author of "Graceland" and a writer on "Nurse Jackie," and other known and up-and-coming playwrights. Thursdays through Sundays, plus a couple of Monday nights, through March 27. Check the website, www.collaboraction.org for all the details. See me die on the sea bottom in one play and return to kill Hitler in another.
Sketchbook Reverb!
Rehearsls for Sketchbook Reverb are going really well and I can't wait to open.
Check the Collaboraction website for details on tickets. Previews begin Feb. 10.
Upcoming Theater
Commercial auditions slowed to a crawl in October and have not really recovered. Nonetheless, I've still got two running. There has been background work for TV. And another industrial.
But theater work looks good. I will be appearing this winter at Collaboraction, playing three roles in their Sketchbook Reverb, a reprise of favorite shorts from the first ten years of the Sketchbook festival. Here's the facts:
Collaboraction Sketchbook Reverb
The Flat Iron Arts Building
Suite # 336
1579 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL
February 12th-March 27th, 2011
Every Thursday-Sunday at 8pm
Commercials are on!
My commercials are both running now, so keep your eyes open. Century Tile will run on and off for two years, Bob Evans for thirteen weeks starting Septenber 1.
Commercials!
Shot a commercial yesterday for Bob Evans. Thanks to all the folks at Story, 222 Films, and Brunner for their hard work in making me look good.
And I'm on avail for a SAG commercial. Cross your fingers, folks.
Great times and a busy summer
I had a fantastic experience at the RTSF and got to work with a bunch of friendly and talented people. I hope I will have the chance to return. Iowa City was a great place to spend part of my summer.
I have been back in the great city of Chicago for three weeks, however, and as you may know, this is an awesome town in summer. I have been on bunches of auditions for commercials and industrials. Last week I shot a MOS industrial for NAVTEQ and next week I will be shooting a commercial for Bob Evans.
Let's hope the work keeps up. Next stop: get cast in a theater show for the fall.
We open Friday!
Opening night for Love's Labor's Lost at the Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival is this Friday, June 11. Romeo and Juliet opens next week. If you can come to Iowa City, please do, they will be great shows.
Riverside Theatre Shakespeare Festival
After a smooth drive, I am visiting with my hosts in their lovely home near Iowa City, where I have a room that looks out on woods. Tomorow rehearsals will begin for the RTSF. I will be playing Sir Nathaniel in Love's Labor's Lost and Montague in Romeo and Juliet. I will also understudy Capulet and serve as the fight captain.
More information on the shows is available here:
If you're in the area, I hope you'll come see!
Chicago, see you in nine weeks.
Dan's Blog
Occasional updates on my acting career, life and family... maybe more.