Hometown: Hartsdale, NY
Education: Cornell University, Class of 2014
Favorite Credits: Far From Canterbury (Winner - Outstanding Overall Musical, FringeNYC 2015)
Why theater?: I grew up on musicals. They honestly just make me really, really happy, and despite originally selecting a school for its psych and neuroscience programs, found I couldn’t really escape what I was passionate about. Also, psych and neuroscience is really hard.
Tell us about The Bishops: The Bishops is an original musical about two fathers and their two kids who are thrown into the national spotlight when a video on their younger son detailing their unconventional family history goes viral.
What inspired you to write The Bishops?: A few things. In the age of Next to Normal and Fun Home, I really wanted to see a different-looking family musical, and one where the stakes weren’t confined to the house they lived in. The idea of a family conflict having national implications seemed like an interesting idea to explore. Thus, The Bishops was born.
What kind of theater speaks to you? What or who inspires you as an artist?: Oh, gosh, I don’t know; it’s constantly changing. My favorite musicals are Into The Woods, Company and Urinetown. I love smart, witty comedy, I love music that really digs into how characters are feeling, or what they’re trying to do, I love lyrics that are honest, and truthful. I guess I probably look up to Sondheim, Schwartz, Flaherty and Ahrens, Jason Robert Brown, and William Finn.
If you could work with anyone you’ve yet to work with, who would it be?: Katya Zamolodchikova. Or Ben Platt.
What show have you recommended to your friends?: Dear Evan Hansen, Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812
Who would play you in a movie about yourself and what would it be called?: "Danny, Did You Write it Yet?" starring Sutton Foster as Danny K Bernstein.
If you could go back in time and see any play or musical you missed, what would it be?: Original Broadway production of Ragtime.
What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?: Sporcle quizzes. I”m not really guilty about doing them, but the amount of time I spend on that website is alarming and embarrassing.
If you weren’t working in theater, you would be _____?: Psychiatric research, or some form of engineering, and I’d probably be terrible at it.
What’s up next?: I’m having another show at Feinstein’s/54 Below this February! Stay tuned for more details!
For more Danny, visit dannykbernstein.com
