We recently connected with Dana Clouser and have shared our conversation below.

Dana, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

This past December, I wrote and performed my first one-woman cabaret titled “What a Basic B”. I had been wanting to do a cabaret since my senior year of college, when my close friend wrote one of her own. The only issue was that I didn’t have any idea what I wanted it to be about. Fast forward 6 years, I hadn’t been in a production in over a year and was dying to get back on-stage. So, rather than waiting for a show to choose me, I chose to make my own.

The premise of “What a Basic B” is all about the stereotypes we put on ourselves in today’s society in order to fit in – or to stand out. And also how we use them to hide our flaws or traits that we might see as “odd” or “weird”. When in actuality, that’s what makes each and every one of us unique. It also explores how accurate some of these stereotypes are and how, when we put ourselves under that label, we subconsciously take on more of the generalized traits that we didn’t have before.

This show was so meaningful and important to me because I got to share my story and be my truest self in front of other people. Which is not something that happens a lot. I got to relate to the audience, some of whom were fellow performers, about the hustle of the theatre & film industry and the struggles of type-casting, as well as the world of modern dating and the common dream of a meet-cute. But I also got to show my quirks, like my irrational fear of birds, and dive into insecurities that we all share but don’t want to admit. After the show, I talked with a lot of the audience and I was touched at how many people felt seen after just one hour. And that’s half of what makes performing special for me – connecting with others by sharing experiences. I was also proud of what I had created. It gave me proof that I can do anything I want to, if I put my mind to it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a Chicago-based actor, singer, and dancer. I grew up in the arts, starting at the age of 5 when I began playing the piano and joined a choir. As I grew up, things like school theatre productions and playing the oboe in band class joined in the mix. I think I knew I wanted to be a performer as soon as I did my first show, Little Shop of Horrors, in the 4th grade. I was an electrician who got eaten by the plant – it was all so much fun that I didn’t want to stop. And that love of theatre kept growing through high school, which led me to getting a BFA in Musical Theatre at Illinois Wesleyan University.

I was lucky enough to start working professionally right out of college at theatres in the Chicago suburbs. I’ve worked with theatres such as Brightside, Highland Park Players, and Oak Park Festival Theatre. I lived the stereotyped life of a performer with a day job as a Starbucks barista. And I spent my summers doing princess parties, where I got to make kids happy while dressed as princesses and superheros, which was truly a great experience.

After Covid, I moved to Minneapolis for a year. I spent my time there exploring the new and diverse theatre scene, while adding to my portfolio. I started taking film classes, began working with photographers as a model, and ended up being featured in the Minnesota 2023 “Prestige Portrait Magazine”.

In 2022, I moved back to Chicago to keep pursuing what I love in the city I call home. Since then, I’ve worked on multiple films and stage productions, and put on my first one-woman cabaret. I’m most proud of who I’ve become since graduating college and learned that performing doesn’t have to solely be what you got your degree in. There are so many paths you can take to meet other amazing artists, collaborate, create art, and make your soul happy.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One thing that’s drilled into your brain the moment you enter the theatre & film industry is that in order to be successful, you have to keep working. And so much of that is looking up to people who are consistently walking the red carpet or have their names in lights on every Broadway marquee. With that comes comparison – lots of it. Not to mention the claims that those who switched careers “just didn’t try hard enough”.

The real world of theatre hit not all at once, but after the initial wave of productions that came right after I graduated college. It wasn’t until I moved into my own apartment and started having breaks in between shows that I realized how self-deprecating it is to compare yourself with other performers who seem to “have it all”. It took a long time to teach myself that having a 9-5 did not make me any less of a successful artist. I had to learn that having stability is what makes performing possible for the majority of people. And that there are other things in life that I want to do, like traveling the world. And while I still dream of being the lead in a Broadway show or starring in a feature film, I’ve had to accept that it doesn’t happen overnight. It’s still a lesson that I have to remember every day. Because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t keep performing with the same love I have for it now.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

I think the number one way to support artists and creatives is to go and see their work. What we do is vital to society. It’s been said hundreds of times, but without artists, we wouldn’t have movies, music, museums, architecture, and so many more things that are of daily usage. It’s especially important to go and see the local art that’s being made. I love a national tour just as much as the next person and I would never tell someone not to go. But it’s important to remember that those big productions are not the only ones out there There are so many store-front theatres and independent film festivals that create productions that are just as amazing. And, yes, it’s become more costly as the years have gone by. But if you have the means, go and see that new musical about aliens landing during Y2K, get the painting you see that reminds you of a childhood memory, listen to the music of your friend’s kid’s best friend. Not only will you be supporting a local artist, but you’ll gain a new perspective that you may not have had before.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://danaclouser.net
• Instagram: dana.t.clouser
• Facebook: Dana Clouser
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danaclouser

Image Credits

Dani Werner Photography, Mary Shoop Cooper