Hey! I'm Danielle!
My friends call me D. Or sometimes just Gallo.
It's hard to answer when people ask what I do, because I wear so many hats! I'm an actor. I'm a teacher I'm a human rights advocate, specifically for disability and gender rights. I'm the #5 ranked blue belt rooster weight in the world. I'm a coach, a poet, a playwright, a graphic designer, a dramaturg, a director, a regional chess champion, a future winner of the television show Survivor, and so much more. I guess I ~contain multitudes~ or whatever.
I'm based in Washington, DC, and I have been for several years now-- ever since I graduated from American University's Honors Program back in 2019, where I was the first ever double major in Theatre and International Relations.
But I learned the importance of community, and how to stand up for what I believe in from my very fiery Italian family. I grew up in South Jersey, right outside of Philly, where there are no shortages of opinions.
(It's gravy, not "pasta sauce.")
As a theatre artist, I'm most interested in work that challenges norms and inspires discussion, especially if that work explores the implicit and explicit politics of identity and existence.
I'm also a huge fan of Shakespeare reimagined in modern contexts, magical hyperrealism, and innovative audience participation (!!!).
Here's what you should to know about my "approach" as an actor. I ask lots of questions. I make bold, imaginative choices. I believe in telling the truth, above all. I am a collaborator. I am very physical. I get notes on using my hands too much. My team on a show (cast, director, designers, whoever) becomes my family-- and it is that trust and unconditional love that makes this job so fun, and so beautiful.
I do theatre because it is the only art form whose lifeblood is human connection, spontaneity, and empathy. It leads with the heart. And there's something pretty extraordinary about the messiness and absurdity of being a human, too.
In addition to being an actor, I also have tons of work experience in the non-profit sphere for human rights advocacy. Most recently, I worked at an international development consulting firm called EnCompass. There, I coordinated dozens of projects in tandem with USAID to build peace and foster gender inclusivity around the world.
I've also worked at the National Democratic Institute, helping to empower democracies and advocate for human rights in the Balkans. I believe that the arts, and theatre, can be used as a tool to solve global problems, and promote healing and reconciliation in post-war communities.
In college, I studied all across Europe (based in Brussels, Belgium) and interned at an organization called the European Disability Forum that fought for rights of over 200 million persons with disabilities. I wrote laws, gave presentations in front of the European Parliament, and helped manage the organization's communications and political strategy.
I'm also a teacher! I work a ton with multilingual students with disabilities, ranging in age from 3 years old to 17 years old. I teach theatre classes, develop movement based curriculums for preschoolers, and run the kids program at my martial arts gym. I love my students more than anything, and nothing makes me happier than their success and empowerment.
I'm passionate, ambitious, fearless, and my heart takes up 80% of my 4'11" frame.
I have very strong opinions on dairy-free ice cream, I thrive in warm weather, I use way too many exclamation points, and I could geek out about jiu jitsu to you for days on end if you'd let me.
The quote that I live my entire life by is something my high school Humanities teacher said as a joke:
"Take the leap into the absurdity."
It has guided every decision I've made since he wrote it on the chalkboard.
What else... I like sunflowers! I know a really good spot for pho! I have weirdly specific names for my meticulously curated Spotify playlists!
If I sound like your kind of person, let's connect to figure out how we can work together!
Danielle Gallo
ACTOR.
EDUCATOR.
HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCATE.
WORLD RANKED JIU JITSU COMPETITOR.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER.
Phone:
856-203-0515
Email:
Location:
Washington, D.C. area
BA in Theatre Performance and BA International Relations through the American University Honors Program.