We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Daniel. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.

Laura, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I’ve been fortunate to work on so many wonderful projects, and I’m incredibly inspired by the artists I’ve worked with, whether it’s doing a new musical Off Broadway or working on a film or webseries. When coach Bonnie Gillespie encouraged me to create my own work, I created the webseries, “Laura Loves NY” to showcase the art, people and beauty of New York City. Learning how to direct and edit that project helped me expand my abilities as an artist and storyteller, and it opened the door to collaboration with other artists.

Laura, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m an award-winning actor, singer, director and editor. My mission is to tell stories that move and inspire people. I love to “find the funny,” so if something can tickle someone and make them laugh, my day is made!

Originally from a small town in Southern CA, I grew up around actual tumbleweeds. It was like E.T. meets The Wild West.

My parents filled the house with music, and I fell in love with musical theatre. My first paid role was in “Annie,” and when we sang, “NYC,” I knew that’s where I wanted to be! I flew to New York City, pounded the pavement, and went to a lot of auditions.

I met some wonderful producers who gave me opportunities to create larger than life characters for new musicals Off Broadway. Winning an award for playing The Singing Nun was a special highlight.

I’ve worked with new filmmakers for short films and web series, winning a few more awards along the way. When a coach suggested I film my own projects, I created the webseries “Laura Loves NY” on YouTube.

I love to run around with my camera, capturing some of the sights and interviewing local artists who make magic in Manhattan. One of my favorite questions to ask is, “If you had any advice you could give your younger self, what would it be?”

I also created a kids webseries called, “Pat the Park Ranger,” based off of a quirky character I played Off Broadway. Pat’s always looking for Bigfoot and ends up finding something else wondrous in nature.

I host, edit and do VoiceOver for both “Laura Loves NY and “Pat the Park Ranger,” and that’s where I fell in love with film editing. I’ve been hired for several editing projects including the pilot for DINER THERAPY, which I also directed. Being on the other side of the camera helps me with acting, because I can put on my director hat and ask, “What do I want the audience to see?” And then I figure out how to accomplish that!

I’m also a game master for Dungeons and Dragons, which is all about story-telling and problem-solving. I began playing D&D in between theatre gigs and fell in love with the combination of improv, fantasy, and narration. I’ve been running my own game for years, and still get a kick out of organizing a campaign, doing research, and voicing characters. Watching my players explore a story I’ve laid out for them has taught me to expect the unexpected.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

An artist has to be resilient. As Judy Blume says, “Rejection is a fact of life… It’s never easy, it’s painful. But determination is every bit as important as talent.”

When I moved to NY, I would get up at 5 AM to wait in line outside of a studio for a theatre audition. Winters were the worst! But once I got inside, I’d sign up for the audition, hop on the subway to run to my desk job, put on some makeup, practice my audition material, then run back to the studio for the audition later in the day. Luckily, Actors Equity introduced online signups which changed the game.

That was pre-pandemic.

When Covid hit, New York City shut down. So many people lost their jobs, and I knew friends who were losing loved ones to the disease. It was devastating, and I thought, What can I do? How can I contribute?

I had started my webseries, “Laura Loves NY” before the pandemic, juggling episodes between theatre gigs. When the city shut down, I felt momentarily paralyzed. Luckily, I still had a day job, and that kept me going, but I also had to find a way to bolster my spirits.

I started filming again. March 18, 2020, I went up to my roof and sang my theme song, “Laura Loves New York,” by Andy Monroe. I was inspired by the people of Italy who had opened their windows to sing to the city they loved. I also sang “Lean On Me” with other New Yorkers, thanking the nurses and doctors and essential workers who were trying to keep New York City alive.

I ended up filming and editing 24 episodes of Laura Loves NY, documenting the pandemic and interviewing people from all over the country to see how they were surviving that unprecedented time. I saw my colleagues get creative in new and different ways, and that was inspiring.

Keeping myself active as an artist was good for my soul and actually paid off with paid gigs. I was hired for 3 Zoom plays, 1 musical, and I directed and co-edited, “Diner Therapy, a Covid Comedy.” I also booked a national commercial with Martin Short.

It was a wild time, and I’m thankful for friends and family and my own internal small voice who all said, “Keep going.”

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I love how art connects people and how it can bring us all closer.

Onstage, there have been moments where I felt the audience breathing with me, and that was positively transcendent because we all were so invested in a particular moment.

I’ve acted one on one with big stars who graciously shared their light so that we all glowed together, and that lesson was inspiring!

When I was on set for the award-winning webseries, “Human Telegraphs,” I was amazed at the symphony of artists working together. The cast and crew buzzed about like honeybees, and I got to buzz right along with them when I guest-starred as Joey (“Yo!”). There was such a sense of joyful passion on set.

When I was co-editing the pilot for DINER THERAPY, my co-editor, Wayne Henry and I seemed to understand each other without words. It wasn’t the first time we’d worked together. Wayne and I acted in several projects, including JAWS the Musical, which Wayne wrote, so we knew each other’s comic timing, but taking that to a digital film editing level was like opening a new door of possibilities.

In improv, we say, “Yes, and” and that builds stories in a way that can surpass what we initially imagined. When we come together to work on a common goal, magic happens!         

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lauradaniel.net
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauralovesny/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actresslauradaniel/
• Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-daniel-actor
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraMDaniel
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LauraDaniel_actress
• Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lauralovesny

Image Credits
Laura Dowling Shea (photo = Laura_on_LLNY_set) Carl Einbeck (photo = LauraDaniel_reddoor_stairs) Robert Koch (photo = Pat_the_Park_Ranger_BoulderField) Ben Strothmann (photo = LauraDaniel_SingingNun)