I posted this on Facebook today. The response was so overwhelming I thought I'd share it here. If you'd like to see the original post, here's the link: http://on.fb.me/16EKtgu

In praise of actors, my people, my kin:

In 15 years of auditioning for national commercials, I've never booked. Not one. I've taken awesome classes, I do strong work, I'm not a novice. I work in other mediums--TV, films, theater. Not commercials. Not yet. Lots of callbacks, "on avails," etc, but never the booking. So this week, I'm on avail for a big one, right? Which basically means it's down to me and a couple other actors for the role. And my agent texts me last night and says, "So sorry hon, you've been released," which means I didn't get the gig. Again. Also? Didn't get the huge guest star for that long-running network show I went in for on the same day. And? The killer role at that fantastic theater I spent most of last week preparing a taped audition for--no word. Yet. So you know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to do what actors do. I'm going to keep showing up. Keep doing the work. Keep putting myself on the line. When you see an actor's performance on the screen or in the theater, you're seeing the tip of the iceberg. You aren't seeing the hundreds of other auditions it took to get to that job. Don't misunderstand--this is neither bitch-fest nor complaint. This is what I signed up for. It's what I love to do. The thing that so many people who aren't actors--and even some who are--don't understand is that "no" is standard issue for us. We just don't listen to it.

 

'a delicate balance' begins rehearsals in los angeles

Yesterday we had our first read-thru with the company and designers at The Odyssey Theater. I'm so glad to be re-teaming with director Robin Larsen and to be working with this terrific cast for the first time. ADB will mark my fourth play with Robin (the Ovation Award-winner "Four Places" I produced rather than acted in), and it's almost exactly two years to the day since we did "The Fall to Earth" at the same theater.

We open April 26th. Once tickets are on sale, you'll find them HERE.

my 'rabbit hole' adventure featured in LA Stage Times

Les Spindle and the good people at LA Stage Times have put together a lovely feature article on my role in RABBIT HOLE and career in general. I had a really nice time talking to Les--he knows as much about the Los Angeles theater scene as anybody you'll find.

You can read the article here.

'cash for gold' gets terrific screening slot at Hollywood Film Festival

I can FINALLY announce that not only have we been invited to make our festival premiere at the very sparkly Hollywood Film Festival, but they've also given us a terrific screening time! We'll screen among the Shorts Program #3 at the Hollywood ArcLight on Friday, October 13th at 9:15 pm. Sweet.

I'll be there with the rest of the cast and director, and I'd love to see and/or meet you! Tickets are available on sale now, here. It's a great block of shorts and could sell out fast, so get your tickets asap. I can't wait to watch  these shorts with you.

See you at the theater!!

headed for a 'revolution' this fall on NBC

I've been in Austin since the end of July shooting a recurring role in the second season of NBC's Revolution. Guess who's never been to Texas before?? Some people say Austin isn't really Texas, and I'll leave that debate to other people. What I can say is that everyone here, from the locals to the cast and crew on the show, to the people in the surrounding small towns I've visited, have been nothing but lovely and welcoming. On my days off, I've been cruising around Austin's downtown, 100+ degree days be damned. Here are a few of the sights I've seen:

 The world's largest Whole Foods? Yes, PLEASE. I'm not exaggerating when I say that I've already spent 8+ hours in this place wandering around, eating things. It's so big, it's like its own planet. Aside from a wine bar, numerous counter-restaurants and a dizzying array of delicious food and drink, you'll also find one of the most inspired re-uses for a vintage cigarette machine ever--one that dispenses art by local artists at 5 bucks a pop.

 

 On the banks of the Colorado River, under a big ol' tree with a book that's taking me FOREVER to get through. This portion of the river that runs through Austin has been renamed Lady Bird Lake, and you'll find tons of people enjoying its cooling effects morning to night.

The view from my hotel room of the Frost Bank Building, more commonly referred to as the "owl building." If you look at the structure from any of the corners, you'll see an owl lying in wait! Just doing its part to "keep Austin weird."

I really like this city.

So here you go. A video sneak peek into Season Two of Revolution, above. (That's the lovely/very kind/ridonculously talented Elizabeth Mitchell as the show's complex heroine Rachel. If you're on a smart phone and can't see the video, click here for it.) I can't wait for the season premiere on September 25 at 8:00 pm, and you can look for my storyline to begin on October 2. I can't tell you when it ends ;-).

'cash for gold' launches kickstarter campaign

Deb and Navid Negahban co-star in "Cash for Gold"

**UPDATE: After just the first five days of our 17 day campaign, we hit our initial funding goal! I'm overwhelmed by the outpouring of interest and support this story has received. We continue to get new backers every day and will complete the campaign as planned on October 25th. You can see it all right HERE.

The short film I wrote and am currently in pre-production on is entitled Cash for Gold. Here's the story in a nutshell:

When Grace walks into the Queen of Persia Gold Emporium, all she wants is to get in and out with some desperately needed cash and a shred of her dignity intact. Things do not look promising when she comes up against Ehsan, an Iranian-American man with troubles of his own who works the store's counter under his controlling father's gaze. But does she really see what's going on? "Cash for Gold" examines the current economic and ethnic tensions our country grapples with today, and the good that can happen when we look beyond our prejudices and really see each other.

We've assembled a terrific creative team that includes my co-star Navid Negahban (pictured above) who you might recognize from his starring role as Abu Nazir in Showtime's "Homeland." I'm so excited to bring this story to life with him.

You can watch our director, Robert Enriquez, being a VERY GOOD SPORT in the video above or on our Kickstarter page where you can also read a lot more about this exciting project and contribute! Join us in telling a story about the possibility for good in the world. Thank you!

true blood -- make me daddy, make me

Clip property of HBO

 I'll tell you what, these Truebies don't mess around. Shortly after this episode aired, I heard from True Blood fans via Twitter and Facebook all over the world who wanted to know behind-the-scenes details about the shoot, working with Stephen Moyer and playing his daughter, Sarah Compton-Harris. I can't say enough good about the experience, and I think Stephen did a fangtastic job in his directorial debut. I'm thrilled to be even a tiny part in the lore of this show.

The folks at one of the big fan sites interviewed me the other day, and they had smart, insightful questions at the ready. You can read the interview in its entirety at the first link below. And if you haven't already seen it, you can read my account of meeting Alan Ball and getting this job at the link just below that.

Thanks, Truebies. You are rabid fans like no other!

The Vault Interview

A True Tale of an Audition for True Blood

legendary editor of Variety, Peter Bart, wrote a play and play we did

On July 26, I joined a terrific cast for the staged reading of a new comedy at the Elephant Theater in Hollywood. We had a ball. The Elephant seats about 45 people. That was a lot of talent in a very small space.

I played Zelda Fitzgerald (no, not that one), the "cute but quirky" head writer of a hit TV show. (I imagined her a Liz Meriwether/Emily Spivey type.) Arye Gross played my boss/occasional love interest/beleaguered producer of the Golden Globes. With the help of the rest of the stellar cast including Bradley, Cheryl, Brian and Sam as two movie stars in love, a TV host and movie producer, respectively, we attempted to keep a particularly cursed Golden Globes show from going off the rails. Strong support was offered in multiple roles by Anastasia Basil, Bill Salyers and Avery Clyde. Under the leadership of our terrific director, Robin, and aided by producer Hillary Weaver, hilarity ensued.