Page 19 - Classical Singer Magazine November/December 2019

Beginning at a young age, Dorothy Danner became a performer on Broadway for numerous shows. She also appeared on TV in The Perry Como Show and The Ed Sullivan Show and on lm in The Producers directed by Mel Brooks. As a stage director for opera, she
has directed some 200 productions throughout the U.S., Canada, and Belgium.
As an exponent of new opera,
she has also staged premieres of works composed by Seymour Barab, Margaret Garwood, Sheldon Harnick, Marvin Hamlisch, Kirke Mechem, Thea Musgrave, and Richard Wargo. As an educator, Danner has served
on the faculties of the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA), New York University, Boston University, the Chautauqua Institution, and Carnegie Mellon University—and
she cofounded the Glimmerglass Young Artist Program. To top it all o , Danner comes from a theatrical family including actors Blythe, Harry, and Hillary Danner, Gwyneth Paltrow, Katherine Moennig, and writer/ lmmaker Jake Paltrow.
As director of Virginia Commonwealth University Opera, I have brought Danner to work with our students three times in the past 10 years, most recently in December of 2018. She o ers countless lessons for growth—from stagecraft to human values. At 78, Danner remains vigorously active. She is enthusiastic and engaging. She exudes empathy and kindness.
Her artistic integrity and profound understanding of humanity infuse the many decades of her contributions as a performer, choreographer, director, and master teacher for the world of theatre and opera. In the following
interview, discover more of Danner’s story and learn what stage directors are hoping you will bring to the staging process.
Will you tell us about your start as a dancer, actress, and choreographer?
I started dance lessons (ballet and a bit of tap) at 8. I started dancing
as an equity union summer stock professional at 15 in St. Louis. I was not even able to attend my own high school graduation ceremony because at 18 I was hired for Broadway’s touring show of Li’l Abner and had to move to New York during the week of my graduation. I had already done 30 shows in St. Louis working 63 hours
a week. Of course, in those days, there were no dance departments in colleges, so this was my only option.
I had my very rst vocal solo in this Broadway show. I’d never sung
AMHERST EARLY MUSIC 2020
~ Programs for Young Artists ~
Winter Weekend Workshop
January 17-20 Philadelphia & Rutgers-Camden ~ Voices & Lutes Project: Rossi's Music for the Donne Cantatrice
SEAGLE MUSIC COLONY
Le Nozze di Figaro 2019
Emerging Artists Program
2020 Season
Die Fledermaus Cendrillon Harmony (world premiere) Hello, Dolly!
The Three Bears (children’s opera)
Fully Staged Productions ♪ Career Planning ♪ Master Classes ♪ Private Lessons & Coachings ♪ Major Program Auditions ♪ Housing
& Meals ♪ An Unforgettable Experience
APPLICATION & AUDITION INFO:
seaglecolony.org
Deadline: Jan 17, 2020
AEM Festival at Connecticut College
July 5-12, 12-19 in New London CT
Dafne by Reutter 1734
directed by Julianne Baird and Richard Stone fully staged Baroque opera
Ensemble Singing Intensive
Italienische Art directed by Michael Barrett Medieval Project with Benjamin Bagby
The music of Oswald von Wolkenstein
audition info at amherstearlymusic.org
Come sing with us!
www.csmusic.net 19