'cash for gold' now viewable here

The short film I wrote, produced and star in alongside Navid Negahban has enjoyed a solid year and a half of traveling around the country to festivals, and not often but sometimes my schedule has allowed me to travel with it. I have met some of the most wonderful people on this little journey, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It's a ton of work, but most things worth it are.

MORE INFO AT WWW.CASHFORGOLDTHEFILM.COM

I can't say enough about my dear friend, fellow producer and our director, Robert Enriquez. He's just one of the most talented, heart-centered people I've ever known, and without him this film would absolutely not exist. Thank you, buddy, for challenging me and making me see the possibilities bringing this little story to the world would create. I love you.

And now, I'm so thrilled to say that you can watch the film online for free. I hope you enjoy what you see and that it makes you smile a little, cry a little or maybe a little of both.

xxd

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.

 

headed to connecticut for some movie making

I'm really over the moon to be heading to Connecticut (my first time to the state!) to work on this feature adaptation of Wally Lamb's novel "Wishin' and Hopin'". I've been a fan of Lamb's writing since I read "I Know This Much is True" and I loved the script for this picture. It's set in the 1960's, and I can't wait to get into that hair/makeup/wardrobe :)

The cast includes Molly Ringwald, Annabella Sciora, Cheri Oteri, Conchatta Ferrell and Meat Loaf among others, including some very talented kids and is being directed by Colin Theys. I think we're gonna have a blast.

 

Details about the feature HERE

'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.

'cash for gold' heads to florida film festival

Cash for Gold will be spending some time in sunny Orlando as an official selection of the Florida Film Festival. Recently named one of the "Coolest Film Festivals in the World" by MovieMaker Magazine, the FFF takes place this year from April 3 - 14. I'll post screening dates here when I have them.

You can see the trailer for the film and more about the cast and creative team HERE.

clips from my role on NBC's very dark "Revolution" with elizabeth mitchell, billy burke, matt ross and stephen collins

This past summer I had the pleasure of living in Austin for a bit while I shot a recurring role on NBC's "Revolution." It was like being on the set of a Western--horses and the real cowboys who wrangled them, wagons, dusty roads in an old town. I loved it.

Now that the episodes have aired, I pulled some of the footage into a clip. And trust me, there's not an ounce of holiday cheer in it. :) If you're on a mobile device and can't see the video above, CLICK 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!!

opening david lindsay-abaire's pulitzer prize winner, 'rabbit hole'

I have a list of roles I'm dying to play on stage. I think most theater actresses probably do. Mine's yearssssss old, written in various shades of pen and pencil on a dog-eared piece of notebook paper, tucked away in a drawer.  Once in a while I'll get it out to look it over, and occasionally I'll edit the list. Cross something off that no longer appeals to me or I'm too old for (see ya, Juliet!), add something in that's just come along or that I feel I've grown into. I'll think about the doozies that I'll wait a while for ('Mary' in Long Days' Journey into Night, anyone?) and wonder how many of the titles will eventually cross my path. Only a couple of times have I been lucky enough to cross a part off the list because I got cast in it. A few years ago, I played 'Alma' in The Eccentricities of a Nightingale. When I got that part, pffffft! Off the list. And she was as much fun as I'd imagined.

Don't get me wrong: I have been given the chance to play many terrific roles, but lots of them have been in world premieres, and you can't put those on the "to-play" list unless you figure out how to time travel. (A couple of those roles would be on the list now if I hadn't already played them. 'Lisa' in The Glory of Living. 'Darlene' in Caught.) I don't know how I got lucky enough to snag those parts, but I'm glad I did.

Then just the other day, pffffft! Another one crossed off the list, and I'm so excited for it. I'll be playing 'Becca' in Rabbit Hole at the beautiful La Mirada Theatre starting October 25.  I've been dreaming about this role for a very long time.The production is being directed by Michael Matthews, and I can't wait to get to work with him and the rest of the cast next week. You can click here for more info and tickets.

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' trailer now live and featuring the music of priscilla ahn

Finally! You can watch the trailer for my short, Cash for Gold, right here. (If it doesn't show on your screen below, it's also available on the website for the film.)

The music  on the trailer is by Priscilla Ahn, a wonderfully talented singer/songwriter who lives here in L.A. I met Priscilla when I was working with her husband, the equally talented and lovely actor Michael Weston, and I became an instant fan of her music. I'm so excited to say she very generously gave us her enthusiastic permission to use parts of her single "Lost Cause" from the album When You Grow Up in our trailer, and she did so in the midst of touring Southeast Asia where she was playing shows and promoting her upcoming album This Is Where We Are. (Side note: Priscilla's blog has wonderful tales and photos of that trip including her first night market in Taipei which made me green with envy. The sights! The people! The food!) Definitely check out her music either at her site or here on iTunes. She's aces.

I hope you enjoy the trailer. Any and all festival news for the film will be updated regularly on the website, so be sure to check in regularly. You can also join us by clicking "like" on our Facebook page. I'd love to see you there.

"cash for gold" claims internet real estate

 Director Robert Enriquez talks actor Navid Negahban and me through a shot.

The short film I wrote last year and star in is about midway through post-production, and this morning we launched the website! You can see more about "Cash for Gold" including production pictures like the one above and current news by visiting the site SO CLICK HERE NOW. We anticipate a finished film in May 2013. "Cash for Gold" co-stars the terrific Navid Negahban and is directed by Robert Enriquez. There's also more info about the film in prior posts on this blog.

Looking forward to bringing it to a festival near you!

'other desert cities' at the mark taper forum

Jon Robin Baitz's newest play was a huge hit on Broadway last season and was subsequently nominated for multiple Tony Awards including Best New Play. I'm happy to be part of the company as the understudy in the role of Brooke Wyeth. Robin Weigert plays the part, and she's just lovely in it. The entire production is aces and the cast features the talents of JoBeth Williams (who played my mother earlier this season in The Fall to Earth), Robert Foxworth, Jeannie Berlin and Michael Weston, directed by Robert Egan. For more information about the production, you can link to the program PDF here.

If you're in Los Angeles before January 6, I hope you'll make it to downtown L.A. for a performance and to enjoy the gorgeous Christmas tree alight in the plaza of the Music Center.

'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.

in which i briefly consider punching Alan Ball in the knee, or how i came to be on true blood

I love Alan Ball. Love. Alan. Ball. His work. "Six Feet Under"? Watched every episode and was more affected by the series finale than any other single episode of television I can remember. American Beauty?  I mean...c'mon. I've read, watched, listened to every interview with him I could find. I even wrote him a letter once years ago telling him how much I love his work. And then a few months ago, after years of devouring just about every TV show, movie and play written and/or directed by the man (if you haven't seen Towelhead, you should), I found myself three feet from him during a last-minute audition for a guest star on his fangtastic series, "True Blood."

The call from my manager came at around 11:00 am: I had just under four hours to learn the sides, drive to a coaching session with Robin in Woodland Hills, get back to Studio City to shower and change and get myself to The Lot on Formosa Drive in Hollywood. In the busyness of it all, it hadn't occurred to me that Mr. Ball would be in the session. Duh.

Sitting in the waiting area of the tiny cottage where the casting directors for the show work, I could hear the auditions of the women who went in before me, almost all of whom I recognized from some TV show or another. When my turn came, I was ushered into the little office and introduced by the casting director who motioned me to take my seat in a chair opposite her. There was no camera to record the session. There was, however, the man himself, so close I could have reached out and punched him in the knee.

{A confession: I am a person who regularly flashes on the numerous inappropriate behaviors I might perpetrate at any given moment, and how they would play out. How, if I chose to, I could actually do something as odd as hitting Alan Ball hard on the knee, and would that just blow the whole thing? What would the others in the room do, I wonder. Ask me to stop hitting and please read the scene? Stare at me blankly before calling security? Maybe Alan Ball would hit me back. Would he laugh? Yell? Cheer? The astute reader will note that he has been known to give his characters ruminations just such as these to great dramatic/comedic effect. So I guess my point is that Alan Ball and I are ALMOST THE SAME PERSON. Think about it.}

But instead I replied 'hello' to his same, sat, and proceeded to play the scene with the cd, keenly aware that one of my creative heroes was assessing me and my work but oddly calm in the face of it. The scene ended, it was quiet, and then he said it was good--he made mention of a specific beat in the scene that Robin and I had carved out together. Then he asked me if I could do it again with a slight adjustment. Fight harder for what you want until this line, he said.

{One more digression, if you don't mind: earlier in my career I might have said, "That's a great note!" I don't say that anymore, ever. As true as it might be, there is no way to say that in an audition without sounding like a sycophant, and if I learned anything in kindergarten at all it's that nobody likes a sycophant. And besides, he knows it's a great note. He's ALAN BALL for God's sake.}

I said yes, sure I could, happy to spend another few minutes in this tiny collaboration. Getting the job was the furthest thing from my mind at that point. I'm not being disingenuous here. Getting the job was not in my mind at that moment. This was the work--this was what I'd prepared for. I read the scene again, incorporating the note. And then it was done.

We said our mutual thank yous and goodbyes, and I walked on air across Santa Monica Blvd. to my car. At that point, I had done my job. As ever, the rest was out of my hands. I told my manager on the phone that I had no idea if I'd booked it (You never do! They might want someone shorter. Blonder. More famous. Less famous, although in my case that would be tricky.) But I did know I had shared a little piece of me, of what I do, with this man I'd looked up to for so long, and he'd been lovely. I had, finally, worked with Alan Ball. That was enough for one day.

The episode, entitled "Somebody That I Used to Know" airs July 29 and in it, I play Sarah Compton-Harris, daughter of vampire Bill Compton. The episode happens to be the series directing debut of star Stephen Moyer who plays Bill; simultaneously acting with and being directed by Stephen and playing writer Mark Hudis' terrific writing was very very good fun, but that's for another post.

Thank you, Mr. Ball.

trailer for 'the fall to earth' with jobeth williams

JoBeth Williams, Ann Noble, Deborah Puette. Photo by David Colclasure.

Click HERE to watch the trailer for The Fall to Earth. Through April 1, 2012 in Los Angeles at the Odyssey Theatre.

going to nyc with 'caught'

For ten months in '10 and '11 I had the sheer pleasure of originating and playing the role of Darlene in David L. Ray's smash-hit Caught. Now I'm thrilled to be going with the producers and our director, Nick DeGruccio, to New York City for a three-day workshop followed by two presentations of the staged reading at 3 pm and 7 pm, March 12, at the Foxwoods Theatre. Many thanks to my current employers at the Odyssey Theatre in Los Angeles for giving me the preceding weekend off from The Fall to Earth! We'll return with performances of TFTE on Wednesday, March 14.

If you're in New York and would like to join us for one of the Caught readings, message me here and I'll direct you to where you can get free tickets to either performance.

everything you need to know to see the west coast premiere of acclaimed 'the fall to earth'

NOW EXTENDED! 

Chicago playwright Joel Drake Johnson's darkly funny and occasionally terrifying play, The Fall to Earth, runs through April 22  at the Odyssey Theatre in west Los Angeles.

Cast of characters:

Click here to watch the trailer!

Fay Schorsch, a mother: JoBeth Williams
Rachel Browney, her daughter: Me 
Terry Reed, a police officer: Ann Noble

All information including performance schedule, showtimes, ticketing, creative team bios, technical crew and more can be found at the Odyssey Theatre website, so give the link a click. A blurb from the description there:

Playwright Johnson's funny and harrowing play explores the treacherous terrain of parent/child relationships, where everything changes, yet always remains the same.

For a great interview with director Robin Larsen and JoBeth, visit LA Stage Times here.

If you're a casting director or someone else with the ability to offer the cast further employment, email me here for professional comps, and I'll do my damnedest.

See you at the theater!