Bio

Hey, I’m Daniel, and I’m a Chicago based actor. Growing up to immigrants from Kyiv, Ukraine, I relish stories told by and about immigrants. I developed a knack for self-deprecating humor, a curiosity in multiculturalism, and an underdog mentality that pervades my work as an actor. My strengths also include playing characters with lofty dreams, and finding humanity in morally questionable characters. I’m proudly represented by Actors Talent Group.

I was raised in the north suburbs of Chicago. I took a pit stop in Columbus, OH, where I attended The Ohio State University. There, I worked with Available Light, Gallery Players, Actors' Theatre of Columbus, and Evolution Theatre Company. I also acted, devised, and danced in various main stage and lab series productions at Ohio State.

I settled back in Chicago where I continue to make theater. Theaters I’ve worked with include Steep, Teatro Vista, The Artistic Home, The Sound, and The New Colony. I was also an Associate Company member of The New Coordinates, where I developed the role of Travis in PUNK by Michael Allen Harris that played at The New Coordinates in October, 2017.

I recently finished On-Camera Level Three at Vagabond with Elizabeth Laidlaw. This past summer, I played Maks in The Artistic Home’s Ironbound, written by Martyna Majok. And, as always, I’m auditioning.

In addition to acting,  I worked as the literary intern at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in the summer of 2015, where I supported the artistic office during their challenging yet exciting artistic transition. I read fantastic plays, attended weekly artistic meetings, and sat in on readings with really cool theater people.

I also travel, cook chebureki, speak Spanish at taquerías, Russian at home, run a bit, yoga a bit, drink good beer, dance at concerts, explore Chicago, and live.

ShtivTrivia

Theater artists I admire:
Anne Bogart, Sean Graney, Young Jean Lee, Richard Maxwell,  Zach Weinberg, Kimberly Senior

Playwrights I love:
Annie Baker, Martyna Majok, Lorraine Hansberry, Beth Hyland, Claire Barron, Lucas Hnath, Charles Mee, Chekhov, Shakespeare

Actors I look up to:
Gabe Ruiz, Michael Shannon, Adam Driver, Mark Rylance, Saiorse Ronan, Lakeith Stanfield, Tramell Tillman, Paul Mescal

Productions that have opened my eyes: 
A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson on Broadway, Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee at Victory Gardens, Uncle Vanya at Goodman Theater, We're Gonna Die by Young Jean Lee at the Wexner Center, Isolde by Richard Maxwell at the Wexner Center, All Our Tragic by Sean Graney and the Hypocrites,  Marjorie Prime at Writers' Theatre, Raisin in the Sun at Timeline Theatre

Goodies that maintain my sanity:
Great British Bake Off, Pete Wells, Terry Gross, Ezra Klein, Anthony Bourdain, Top Chef,  Guardian Football Podcast, The Daily, Liverpool FC, Tony’s Burrito Mex, The National, LCD Soundsystem, Aldous Harding, Vampire Weekend, friends

Those I owe a big thanks to:
Rebecca Willingham, Jay Hobson, The New Coordinates, Kathy Scambiatterra, Mandy Fox, Melissa Maxwell, Matt Slaybaugh, Jen Schlueter, Jenni Page-White, Eric, mom and dad