Edgemar Center for the Arts

MICHELLE:

Artistic Director Michelle Danner

Michelle Danner has coached many A-List Actors privately and on set including Gerard Butler, Chris Rock, Seth MacFarlane, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Penelope Cruz, Michael Pena, Isla Fisher, Common, Salma Hayek, Brian McKnight, James Franco, Marcia Cross, Christian Slater, Catherine Bell, Zooey Deschanel, Gabrielle Union, Justin Chatwin, Justine Wadell, Rob Estes, Rick Fox, and Sally Kellerman among many others.

She has directed and acted in over thirty plays and musicals in New York and Los Angeles. Her favorite acting credits include Tennessee William's The Rose Tattoo, critic's pick and five Dramalogue awards including best actress.

Her highlights at Edgemar include producing The Night of the Black Cat, winner of the 2005 Best Musical of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards. She directed the world premiere ofMental the Musical, winner of several 17^th Annual TicketHolder awards for acting and musical score. Last year she wrote and directed You're on the Air an improv based comedy which is currently under development to become a movie. She recently directed the Los Angeles premiere of Hello Herman by John Buffalo Mailer.

She produced and acted in the award-winning short Dos Corazones, directed by Larry Moss, which won Best Cinematography & Audience Favorite at the Malibu Film Festival. In 2006 she made her feature film-directing debut How to go Out on a Date in Queens which wasnominated and won four LA Film Awards including Best Director and Best Movie. It starred Jason Alexander, Esai Morales, Ron Perlman, Kimberly Williams, Rob Estes, and Alison Eastwood. After being theatrically released Nationwide and is now available everywhere on video. It aired nationwide on the ABC Sunday Night Movie of the Week Memorial Day weekend 2008.

She was the acting coach expert on comedy on the WB show "The Starlet". She was voted favorite acting coach by Backstage readers. Once a year Michelle directs for the industry the multi media event Scene Bites. She was featured coaching Andy Richter on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in July 2009.

Michelle is the founder and Artistic Director of Edgemar Center for the Arts and The Edgemar Theatre Group. She raised 1.3 million in Capital campaign which went to the construction of the two theatres and the art gallery. Her production company, Capricorn Films, is in development for several film projects: You're on the Air, The Will To... and Hello Hermanwhich is slated to start principal photography in 2011.

BRIAN DRILLINGER:

BRIAN DRILLINGER is a teacher, producer and director. He teaches classes in vocal production, speech, on-camera cold reading and scene study for the Acting Studio at Edgemar. He has also been a private acting coach for many years and has helped young actors such as: Traylor Howard (Monk, Boston Common, Me Myself and Irene), Jennifer Grant (Movie Stars, Savage, The Evening Star) and Stacey Dash (Clueless). Mr. Drillinger taught scene study at U.C.L.A. for the Extension Program and voice for the Micheal Woolson studio. As a visiting artist he has taught classes in voice and scene study in Melbourne AU and for the Tri-County Performing Arts Center in PA. Judy Kerr lists him as a recommended coach in the successful industry guidebook, ACTING IS EVERYTHING.

Brian is a founder and the Creative Director of EDGEMAR CENTER for the ARTS. He produced and directed the show for the first Edgemar benefit event. Hosted by Jason Alexander, and starring; Hilary Swank, Michael Clarke Duncan, Sally Kellerman, Helen Hunt, Paul Reiser, Hank Azaria and many others. The show brought in over a quarter of a million dollars for the center. He produced FOUR-THOUGHT at the Hudson Theatre, as well as the critically acclaimed production of Tennessee Williams THE ROSE TATOO also at the Hudson. He produced the stage version of HOW TO GO OUT ON A DATE IN QUEENS directed by Larry Moss and the award winning short DOS CORAZONES. He co-wrote, produced and stars in the feature HOW TO GO OUT ON A DATE IN QUEENS, which also stars Jason Alexander, Kimberly Williams and Ron Perlman. His performance earned him BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR AWARD at the LA INDIES AWARDS, 2006. Mr. Drillinger is currently producing the up coming feature HELLO HERMAN.

Directing credits include: THE HOUSE OF YES at the Edgemar Center, THE DREAMER EXAMINES HIS PILLOW at the Complex in LA, ALMOST MAINE in Melbourne AU and the Tri-County Performing Arts Center in PA, and CHIP CHOP also at the Edgemar Center.

Brian studied acting at S.U.N.Y. Purchase and graduated with honors. He has also studied with Uta Hagen in NY and Larry Moss and Milton Katselas in LA.

His other acting credits include: Stan, on Broadway, and in the film version of Neil Simon’s BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, and the National Tour of BROADWAY BOUND. He originated the role of Jason Posner in the Pulitzer Prize winning play WIT at the South Coast Repertory and reprised the role at the Seattle Repertory and the Alley Theatre in Houston. Other regional credits include: THE SUBSTANCE OF FIRE at the Old Globe in San Diego, DEATH OF A SALESMAN, and BOUNDARY WATERS at the South Coast Repertory, DEATH OF A SALESMAN at the Pioneer Theatre Co. in Utah, in LA, SOLACE, GANGSTER APPAREL, and DOVE at the Hudson Theatre, A SHAYNA MADEL at the Tiffany Theatre and BRIGHT IDEAS at the Edgemar Center. Also in New York, THE REAL THING at the T. Schreiber Studio. Television credits include: THE AGENCY, WINGS, LIFE GOES ON, REASONABLE DOUBTS and GENERAL HOSPITAL. Brian starred opposite Sally Kirkland in the feature STARRY NIGHT and Janeane Garafalo in the film I SHOT A MAN IN VEGAS.

ALEXANDRA:

Born in Paris, Alexandra moved to the U.S. at age 11, fluently speaking 4 languages (French, Spanish, Italian, and English). She graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University with a degree in Political Science. Upon graduation, Alexandra spent several years working in television, first at CNN then MSNBC. After spending 3 years as the Managing Director of the New York Theater Company she moved to Los Angeles. Currently, Alexandra is Co-Founder and Managing Director of Edgemar Center for the Arts (ECA).

Alexandra co-produced the movie "How To Go On A Date In Queens" (Best Picture, Director, Actor, and Supporting Actor: L.A. Indie Awards). She has been the driving force behind many productions, including the widely popular French Cabaret show, "Night of the Black Cat" (Best Musical: 2006 L.A. Music Awards) and the ongoing series ‚Scene Bites‚ (Featured in Daily Variety). In 2007, Alexandra produced the critically acclaimed play by Henry Jaglom, "Always But Not Forever". Later that year she was associate producer of the world premier musical, "Mental". In addition Alexandra producing the cutting edge political comedy "You're On The Air,"The world premier, zany comedy, "Desperate Writers" and the musical tribute to Quincy Jones and his humanitarian work. She is currently finishing up a successful year-long run of Henry Jaglom's runaway hit "45 Minutes from Broadway", in addition to reviving the highly popular "Black Cat Cabaret," now renamed "Tick Tock Cabaret," opening October 2010. She is currently producing "Hello Herman" written by John Buffalo Mailer which and is slated for production as a feature film in November 2010. Alexandra is also producing a hip, sexy web series about young actors in Los Angeles, production commencing September 2010.

Alexandra is an active member in the community. She has created and shaped various outreach programs for underprivileged children, teens, and the elderly. With a passion for art, she also curates the ECA art gallery.

DEBORAH:

Deborah LaVine has directed over 300 professional theater productions across the country. Many have been lauded as critics choice and been recognized with prestigious awards. Deborah received 14 Drama-Logue awards for outstanding direction, an Ovation award for Best Director of NAPOLI MILLIONARIA at the Road Theater Company, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle award and a NAACP citation for her direction of DISTANT FIRES at Long Beach International City Theatre - along with many other honors. A small sample of theaters in Los Angeles where Deborah has directed include The Company of Angels, The Odyssey Theatre Co., Deaf West Theater (STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE which won the Ovation award for Best Production, and TRUE WEST, both presented in American Sign Language and voice interpretation), Mark Taper Forum, The Tiffany Theater and Theater Exchange.

A portion of Deborah’s work has included investigation of World War ll, with a focus on the Holocaust and its ruinous effect on individual lives. These works include KINDERTRANSPORT, A SHAYNA MAIDEL (both West Coast Premieres), Wendy Graf’s LEIPZIG at the Stasberg Theater Institute (World Premiere) and Bernard Weinraub’s THE ACCOMPLICES at the Fountain Theater (West Coast Premiere.)

Deborah has also worked extensively with Tennessee Williams plays including a highly regarded production of THE ROSE TATTOO at the Hudson Theater Complex produced by the Edgemar Theater Group, an organization Deborah currently represents as a member on their Artistic Board.

Deborah serves as Co-Program Chair of the Film Directing Program at California Institute of the Arts (CALARTS), a graduate level (MFA) narrative film directing program. She recently directed a short film inspired by Tom Jacobson’s play, THE FRIENDLY HOUR, with the expectation it will become a feature length film in 2012.