We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dane Eissler a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dane, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
It took a long time and a lot of self reflection to find my “purpose.” Even using the word itself feels odd to me, as I believe I contain an immeasurable amount of purposes for every occasion. But no matter what field of purpose, be it art, career, hobbies, family, friends, or whatever, it feels like my essential purpose is to help others find joy in their authentic selves. I’ve always been a goofy little weirdo with my visual art, as well as my sense of humor. It’s taken me a long time to truly stop judging myself (and feeling the judgement, real or projected, from others) and embrace the WEIRD. And what a freeing experience it was! And suddenly the world opened up and I felt free, and found even more bliss in watching people embrace their weirdness and sharing ourselves with each other. In my work and in my teaching, I try to create a brave and supportive space for people to deepen their understanding of themselves and find joy and celebration in it. We’ve got one life and we don’t know when the expiration date is… best to enjoy yourself while you’ve got yourself!
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Dane Eissler (he/they) and I’m a multidisciplinary theater maker and visual artist based in Philadelphia.
I received my BA in Theater, minor in Dance, and the Joseph Robinette Medallion for Excellence in Theater & Dance from Rowan University, where I currently teach courses in non-major acting, Contemporary World Theater, and Queer Theater History. After graduating from Rowan, I moved to Chicago to co-found A Dead Whale Productions, which I artistic directed until 2019. Even before moving back to Philadelphia, I worked “bi-coastally” (Lake Michigan counts, right…?) between there and the windy city. In Chicago, I worked with the Whiskey Rebellion Theater, Women of the Now, Rough House Theatre, SAG and MTV-nominated comedian Megan Stalter’s Freak Fest, and The Annoyance Theater. In Philadelphia, I worked with BRAT Productions, Azuka Theatre, Blind Faith Theatre, and EgoPo Classic Theater, where I served as Artistic Producer for 4 years and have directed, designed, and performed in shows for my entire professional career.
Blending my backgrounds in visual art and clown, physical, and dance theater, my work is dynamic and visually striking, and explores the idiosyncrasies of human nature and the journey of navigating our own complex and imperfect social systems and patterns. My shows are often funny, chilling, provocative, and visceral, highlighting the ridiculousness of a world gone mad in spite of itself.
Follow me on Instagram: @dmeissler
And check out my website: www.daneeissler.com
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Visual Art – My first love. I always thought I was going to be an illustrator or an animator. I had aspirations to get into CalArts and be the next Tim Burton, using animation as a launching point for a full multimedia life in storytelling. My style fuses cartooning with grotesque realism, which probably comes from my mutual love of highly stylized cartoons and classic art. I love seeing cartoonish figures in three dimensions – what would they look like if we upped the realism factor and their eyes stayed that far apart and their smile didn’t fit on their face?
Writing – When I got bit by the theater bug, I knew my CalArts animator dream was on pause. I started my new life in the theater (in eighth grade) as a writer. While a different medium, my writing felt like a natural extension of my visual art. Freaky, naughty, and weird – but with an innocent sense of joy to it. To this day, I still write for my theater projects (adaptations and original works) while also prepping for a visual art-focused excursion into graphic novels.
Clowning – I was recommended to take a workshop in clowning during my college experience and it was absolutely life altering. At Pig Iron Theatre Company, I learned how to use my silliness in performance in a completely new way that allowed me to hold onto that creative spark of joy in everything and anything I do. I truly credit this single workshop as reframing not only my artistic growth but how I navigate myself in the world. One has little control in this life over anything other than oneself. Sometimes, you have to laugh. And that’s beautiful.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
I’m currently in a transition period of my life. I recently left my job as a theater producer to pursue my own aspirations of freelance theater and visual art work, as well as teaching. It’s scary to leave security for life in the artistic wilderness. The logistics of reframing a life feel insurmountable at times, but I have an amazing support system and a passionate curiosity that keeps me going. I’m excited to learn how I can carry with me all I’ve learned and experienced into new opportunities and share my authentic self with the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.daneeissler.com
- Instagram: @dmeissler
Image Credits
Joy Masi, David Cimetta, Kevin Monko, Joseph Lim, and Ashley Donegan
