Danny Polaski
- Actor
Since bitten by the acting bug at birth, Danny Polaski has performed in upwards of 25 plays and musicals, appeared on the small screen, lent his voice to several choral groups, served as an arts educator/adjudicator, and honed his comedy chops through an improvisation troupe.
Called "poignant," "perfect," and beaming with "an aura of infectious joy," Danny was born on February 7, 1990 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His first onstage role was Huckleberry Jones in a 2003 middle school production of Tim Kelly's "Gone with the Gust"; he followed up on that role later in the year portraying Sheriff Jesse Marlowe in Pat Cook's "Who's Dying to be a Millionaire?" Throughout this period, Danny participated in forensics tournaments, competing in both the prose and humorous solo categories and consistently ranking highly in both regional and state meets. Paying it forward, Danny adjudicated for his elementary/middle school forensics program on a part-time basis from 2007-2012.
Entering high school, Danny played junior varsity volleyball for one season before confirming his future in athletics was bleak. Searching for a "hobby" to keep busy outside of the classroom, he auditioned for the school musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's "State Fair". Honored to begin his high school acting career with the role of Hank Munson/understudy Wayne Frake, Danny would go on to appear in another ten productions over the next four years, including "Wonderful Town" (Wreck Loomis), "Anything Goes" (Billy Crocker), "As You Like It" (Adam), "Crazy for You" (Bobby Child), and "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (Bert Jefferson). During this time, Danny also sang in two choirs, competed in the WSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival, was a member of the Sticky Rhinoceros comedy improv troupe, and served as a summer theatre camp counselor for students ranging from first grade to high school senior. This period culminated in an Outstanding Supporting Actor award (2007), an Outstanding Actor Award (2008), three consecutive WHSFA Best Ensemble awards (2005-2007), a WHSFA Critics Choice award, and a Friends of the Arts Outstanding Senior in Drama award. After high school, Danny briefly studied acting with noted acting instructor and Sanford Meisner disciple Larry Silverberg, which further propelled his acting ambitions and poised him for future educational and performance endeavors.
Danny continued performing at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, earning a bachelor's degree in Communication and a minor in Theatre Arts. At Carroll, Danny appeared in "Sweet Charity" (police officer), "Un Sueño Nuevo" (ensemble), "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (Miles Gloriosus), "The Imaginary Invalid" (Argan), "Fiddler on the Roof" (Lazar Wolfe), and the world premiere of James Zager's "Juliet" (Lord Capulet), among others. After graduating in 2012, Danny was grateful to be welcomed back to Carroll for three additional productions: The premiere staged reading of "Dad, Do You Love Me?" (Dad), Disney's "High School Musical" (Coach Bolton), and "Rent" (Benny Coffin III).
Danny served as Company Manager & Grants Coordinator of Milwaukee Opera Theatre (MOT) from 2012-2014, after first working with the company as a fundraising intern and Acting Company Manager. During this time, Danny also performed professionally with MOT, appearing in two concerts as part of MOT's then-annual Summer Concert Series (2012 & 2013). Danny continues to serve on MOT's board of directors, and has also appeared in productions with Outskirts Theatre Co. (Waukesha, WI), The Box Theatre Co. (Oconomowoc, WI), Lake Country Playhouse (Hartland, WI), & Waukesha Civic Theatre (Waukesha, WI).
On television, Danny has appeared in Age of the Living Dead (2018).
Called "poignant," "perfect," and beaming with "an aura of infectious joy," Danny was born on February 7, 1990 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His first onstage role was Huckleberry Jones in a 2003 middle school production of Tim Kelly's "Gone with the Gust"; he followed up on that role later in the year portraying Sheriff Jesse Marlowe in Pat Cook's "Who's Dying to be a Millionaire?" Throughout this period, Danny participated in forensics tournaments, competing in both the prose and humorous solo categories and consistently ranking highly in both regional and state meets. Paying it forward, Danny adjudicated for his elementary/middle school forensics program on a part-time basis from 2007-2012.
Entering high school, Danny played junior varsity volleyball for one season before confirming his future in athletics was bleak. Searching for a "hobby" to keep busy outside of the classroom, he auditioned for the school musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's "State Fair". Honored to begin his high school acting career with the role of Hank Munson/understudy Wayne Frake, Danny would go on to appear in another ten productions over the next four years, including "Wonderful Town" (Wreck Loomis), "Anything Goes" (Billy Crocker), "As You Like It" (Adam), "Crazy for You" (Bobby Child), and "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (Bert Jefferson). During this time, Danny also sang in two choirs, competed in the WSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival, was a member of the Sticky Rhinoceros comedy improv troupe, and served as a summer theatre camp counselor for students ranging from first grade to high school senior. This period culminated in an Outstanding Supporting Actor award (2007), an Outstanding Actor Award (2008), three consecutive WHSFA Best Ensemble awards (2005-2007), a WHSFA Critics Choice award, and a Friends of the Arts Outstanding Senior in Drama award. After high school, Danny briefly studied acting with noted acting instructor and Sanford Meisner disciple Larry Silverberg, which further propelled his acting ambitions and poised him for future educational and performance endeavors.
Danny continued performing at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin, earning a bachelor's degree in Communication and a minor in Theatre Arts. At Carroll, Danny appeared in "Sweet Charity" (police officer), "Un Sueño Nuevo" (ensemble), "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (Miles Gloriosus), "The Imaginary Invalid" (Argan), "Fiddler on the Roof" (Lazar Wolfe), and the world premiere of James Zager's "Juliet" (Lord Capulet), among others. After graduating in 2012, Danny was grateful to be welcomed back to Carroll for three additional productions: The premiere staged reading of "Dad, Do You Love Me?" (Dad), Disney's "High School Musical" (Coach Bolton), and "Rent" (Benny Coffin III).
Danny served as Company Manager & Grants Coordinator of Milwaukee Opera Theatre (MOT) from 2012-2014, after first working with the company as a fundraising intern and Acting Company Manager. During this time, Danny also performed professionally with MOT, appearing in two concerts as part of MOT's then-annual Summer Concert Series (2012 & 2013). Danny continues to serve on MOT's board of directors, and has also appeared in productions with Outskirts Theatre Co. (Waukesha, WI), The Box Theatre Co. (Oconomowoc, WI), Lake Country Playhouse (Hartland, WI), & Waukesha Civic Theatre (Waukesha, WI).
On television, Danny has appeared in Age of the Living Dead (2018).