Check Out Dan Hoy’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Hoy. 

Hi Dan, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Performing has been a part of my life since before I can remember. In fact, my parents like to tell a story from my early childhood. I was two years old, and we were eating at a restaurant. Deciding this was my moment, I stood up on my chair, declared, “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?” and proceeded to sing at the top of my lungs. 

It’s been a part of my life ever since. I participated in church shows when I was very little, performed in local productions through youth organizations such as Fairmount Performing Arts Conservatory (now Hathaway Brown Theater Institute) and Heights Youth Theater, then started training on a regular basis when I got to high school. I attended various training programs, including the Academy for the Performing Arts in Chagrin Falls and Stagedoor Manor in New York. Following high school, I attended Baldwin Wallace University, where I got my degree in Music Theatre. 

I would not be where I am today without all the educational institutions that taught, nurtured, and challenged me. For that, I am immensely grateful. I have performed and taught in cities across the United States, and I can confirm that the Cleveland area has some of the best arts education in the country. In fact, it’s a running joke that half of the actors in New York City actually come from Ohio. 

It is critical that we continue to fund and support these programs. The arts are a foundational cornerstone of any society – teaching and promoting critical thinking, empathy, creativity, responsibility, accountability, and collaboration amongst many other essential professional, social, and interpersonal skills. 

In addition to the amazing organizations, my parents and family have been my biggest advocates and supporters. All three of my sisters are also actors (which is hilarious because my mother is a lawyer and my father is an accountant — though they both have quite the artistic side as well). Despite the trials that are inherent in the arts profession, my parents have championed our artistic ambitions through both the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. I cannot express how grateful I am to them. I’ve known many people who have not had familial support, and I recognize how lucky and blessed I am to have such wonderful family on my side. 

After finishing my degree in 2018, I join the 1st national tour of the CATS revival, where I traveled the US and Canada as Munkustrap – the narrator of the show. I was blessed to perform in iconic venues such as the Kennedy Center in DC, the Hollywood Pantages in LA, the Nederlander in Chicago, and the Princess of Wales Theater in Toronto. During my time on the road, I met some incredible people and had the opportunity to run masterclasses and training sessions for up-and-coming artists. 

I left CATS in the beginning of 2020 (as I was meant to begin another project) when COVID hit. The industry fully shut down, and the show I was meant to be working on was put on hold. To survive, I took on a variety of jobs—including positions as a summary writer, a specialty pharmacy technician, and a tax administrator with different organizations. 

COVID was a frightening time. We had no idea when the pandemic would reach a resolution, and while we, as artists, started finding ways to maintain our creative outlets (I was a part of quite a few Zoom concerts and readings), we couldn’t predict when our industry would be back in full swing. During this time, I was very grateful to have access to therapy and other mental health resources. It showed me how essential it is to keep tabs on our mental/emotional well-being. If we go in for regular physical check-ups, why shouldn’t we do the same for our mental health? 

Fortunately, vaccines were formulated, and life as we knew it has returned. I returned to the stage in early 2022 with Rock of Ages at the John W. Engeman Theater and a solo show at 54 Below in New York. Soon after, I was part of the original off-Broadway cast of Between the Lines at 2nd Stage in New York (which was the production I was initially supposed to do back in 2020). It was such a blessing to be a part of the production after having to wait through the pandemic to jump back in, and audiences/critics seemed to be thrilled with the return, as this production was nominated for multiple Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards. 

Since Between the Lines, I’ve been focused on the development of several new works by participating in readings, presentations, and workshops—with a few of these shows on a Broadway trajectory. In addition, I’ve performed in a number of galas, concerts, and productions—including both a turn as Billy Bigelow in Carousel and my Carnegie Hall debut with Lera Auerbach’s “Vessels of Light.” 

Next up for me: I’m coming back to Cleveland for a bit! I’m honored to be playing Anatole Kuragin in Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, which will initially open at Idaho Shakespeare Festival before transferring to Great Lakes Theater. Great Comet is a brilliant piece of theater; it’s entertaining, moving, and unlike anything you’ve seen before. It’s essentially a contemporary opera pulled from Tolstoy’s War and Peace that uses folk, musical theater, and electronic stylings to create an immensely compelling evening of theater. 

I cannot wait to be back on stage in Cleveland. It’s such a blessing to get to perform again in my hometown! 

Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 runs at the Hanna Theater from September 22nd – October 8th, and tickets are available on Great Lakes Theater’s website (www.greatlakestheater.org). Come join us! 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No — life in the arts is challenging. There’s a reason that the stereotype of the “struggling artist” exists. 

I have been blessed to have had the opportunities that I have had; however, even with those opportunities, there have been a multitude of financial, personal, and professional struggles on the path to where I am today — many of which were greatly exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

That said, I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. I am blessed and honored to be an artist — despite the challenges that come with the field. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I touched on many of my acting accomplishments and background in the “My Story” section, but in addition to being an actor/singer, I also teach. I run a private vocal studio out of New York, and I am very proud of the work all of my students do. I feel grateful that I get to be a resource for them on their artistic journeys. 

In addition, I’ve taught masterclasses and intensives across the country in voice, acting, dance, and audition technique. I love getting to share my knowledge and frequently find immense inspiration from the talent I get to work with. 

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
First and foremost, I am happy when I get to spend quality time with my partner, Jules Geiss, and our pets (Pheza and Nyx). New York is a crazy city, and having a foundation at home is so incredibly important. They keep me grounded and level-headed, and I do the same for them. 

Whether it’s on stage, in a studio, in a rehearsal room, in a writer’s room, etc., if I’m getting to create, I’m happy. 

That said, I am definitely drawn to work that sparks debate or poses a challenging question. While I believe that art can serve as an escape from the present state of the world, I believe it can also work as a platform to introduce different viewpoints and incite discussion. 

We live in a divided world, but I believe the arts are a beacon of humanity that reminds us all that we are more alike than the division would imply. When the arts challenge our perspectives, we find empathy in situations we’ve never experienced, connection with people we’ve never known and love towards communities we’ve never been a part of. 

That is the power of the arts. 

And that is where I am the happiest. 

Pricing:

• In-Person Vocal Coaching – $100/hr
• Online Vocal Coaching – $75/hr

Contact Info:

• Website: www.danhoy.org
• Instagram: @dan_jhoy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanHoy95
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYXBB-5kJJZBiBFq9EcrDSg
• Other: Great Lakes Theater – https://www.greatlakestheater.org/

Image Credits
Amy Keum Photography