Meet Danielle Bunch

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

Danielle, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I keep creativity alive by staying physically, mentally, and emotionally stimulated. As a theatre artist, one of my favorite ways to recharge is by seeing other artists on stage. Being a patron offers both rest and research while keeping me actively engaged with what’s relevant in the field. Cliche, right? But real! Just as important as directly creating something myself, I need to take in the works of others for inspiration and aspiration. San Diego is rich with fantastic performances happening year-round, but I’ll travel for theatre as well!
Beyond theatre, I find inspiration in reading—not just traditional texts, but of course play scripts and even cookbooks, which are their own kind of storytelling. I’m also frequently trying new activities. I’m currently back into yoga, practicing in-studio 3-4 times a week, I’ve started painting again, mostly watercolors and acrylics, I’m an amateur gardener, and avid cook in addition to being a theatre professional. Maybe it’s my Gemini tendencies, but I’ve started dozens (and dozens) of hobbies, which means I’ve gathered just enough knowledge to dabble in a little bit of everything from sewing to screen printing to pottery. It’s not that I’m “good” at any of these tasks, but that I truly believe creatives need to create -imperfectly at that. It’s very easy to succumb to the idea that the end product needs to be “perfect” or worthy of having a price tag for public consumption, but that can be limiting. I’m privileged enough to have the time, money, and resources to fail at something new and often.
Traveling with intention is another essential practice. No matter where I go, I make a point of seeking out locally owned and operated activities and tours, which helps me remain both artistically and culturally engaged.
I’m not immune to creativity blocks of course, but curiosity, constant exploration, and conscious engagement ensure that my creative energy never goes dormant for long.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m both an arts administrator and an actor, and what excites me most is the balance I get to strike between creating work myself and supporting the larger creative ecosystem I’m part of. On stage, I’ve had the joy of performing with numerous companies throughout Houston, Texas where I’m from, and San Diego. Off stage, I put just as much energy into making sure that the arts not only thrive but remain accessible, inclusive, and relevant.
What feels most special about my work is the variety! I love that I get to collaborate with so many different organizations and communities. I co-manage Fine Arts Forward, a grassroots collective in Houston that helps students pursuing creative careers. In San Diego, I serve on the board of San Diego Art Matters, support the San Diego Black Artist Collective, and manage social marketing for Coronado Playhouse. As a former classroom theatre teacher, I also put effort into arts education advocacy; I’ve experienced first-hand as a student and educator the impact arts in schools has on youth. Most near to my heart is OnWord Theatre, which I co-founded with fellow San Diego-based professionals Marti Gobel and Jamaelya Hines, to build immersive, thought-provoking theatrical experiences that center challenging yet necessary conversations.
Since staging our inaugural season earlier this year, OnWord Theatre has seen an incredible amount of buzz, support, and momentum. We’re now strategically working to build a sustainable company that not only lives out our motto – to explore, challenge, and entertain – but also pays actors fairly and comfortably. Following our 2nd annual “Against Type!” fundraiser, we’re thrilled to have extended our season with a fully staged production of “Beauty’s Daughter” by Dael Orlandersmith, a gripping one-woman show about the people who shape us before we decide to create ourselves. It’s exactly the kind of deeply human story that reflects what we want OnWord to stand for in the San Diego theatre landscape. This production will run November 2025, just in time for audiences to reflect on the impact of one’s respective given and chosen families on themselves, for better or worse, in the thick of holiday season.
For me, all art is about connection—whether that’s through storytelling on stage, amplifying the voices of other artists, or creating spaces for audiences to feel seen and heard. Right now, OnWord Theatre is entering an exciting chapter with new programming and community events that expand how people experience theatre, not just as an audience member but as an active participant.
I believe in making the arts a space where everyone has a place and earnest voice. That mission fuels everything I do, whether I’m performing, teaching, or advocating.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three qualities that have been most impactful for me are curiosity, resilience, and preparedness.
I’ve seen a lot of commentary about how the fear of being “cringe” or embarrassed holds people back, and I agree. Not to be a broken record, but you have to try! That trying is where you start to develop your own genuine style—your unique approach to your art or work. Authenticity pays off time and time again.
Part of letting go of embarrassment is also being willing to ask questions and admit when you don’t know something. Formal training can be great, but it’s not always required. You’d be surprised how willing people are to share their knowledge and experience if you just ask. But it’s a two-way street – you have to be open to learning, and that means accepting critique, both from others and from yourself.
And finally, once you do get an opportunity, you’ve got to be ready to show up and put in the work. I know my performance resume looks the way it does because I meet my deadlines, I meet off-book when expected, and I treat the rehearsal process as a space to keep growing and trying new things. Talent is largely subjective, but dependability is universally understood – at least on stage. That level of preparedness is just as important as talent—it shows respect for the craft and the people you’re collaborating with.
While theatre is my home base, I think these principles translate to any creative industry. For those just starting out, my best advice is to keep experimenting, keep asking, and keep showing up ready. That combination will take you further than you might expect.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

The biggest challenge we’re currently facing is not exclusive to OnWord theatre; it’s the “post”-pandemic recovery period for arts programs. Live visual and performing arts and cultural services and entertainment were arguably affected the most during peak-pandemic times. We’re all still working to rebuild, while at the same time navigating the reality that many people are struggling just to pay rent and buy groceries. In that context, asking someone to take a chance on attending a play—something they may never have done before—can feel risky. And yet, we also know that people will always spend their money in ways that matter to them, regardless of circumstance. Our task is to demonstrate that the arts are worth that investment, not just as entertainment but as something deeply meaningful and nourishing.
At OnWord Theatre, we’re tackling this by staging stories that aren’t often produced in San Diego. We purposefully curated our first season so that every show was a city or regional premiere, and we plan to keep that momentum for next season and beyond. We’ve also embraced a site-specific model for some productions, which allows us to bypass some of the financial and logistical challenges of renting traditional venues while creating truly unique audience experiences. we staged “Hillary and Clinton” by Lucas Hnath in a penthouse hotel suite and “Lottery Day” by Ike Holter in my own backyard as a community cookout – just as both respective script settings called for.
The risks are real, but they’re paying off! It’s been fun and well received! Audiences have been incredibly responsive, offering generous praise for the stories we’re telling and the unique way we’re telling them. That encouragement confirms for us that there is a hunger for this work, and it motivates us to keep growing, even in the face of uncertainty. I can’t live without the arts and creativity in my life, and I know that’s true of others; the scary but exciting challenge is finding those who feel the same.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Fadeout Media

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?

We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some

Highlighter Series
When do you feel most at peace?

In a culture that often celebrates hustle and noise, peace can feel rare. Yet, peace

Highlighter Series
What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?

Over the past decade, we have been profoundly impacted by the wisdom of the community.