From Broadway Dreams to Clowning: Julia Vanderveen's Transformative Journey

In this episode of 'Dan Has Questions,' we chat with actor and comedian Julia Vanderveen. She discusses her transformative career from pursuing Broadway dreams in New York to finding her true passion in comedy and clowning.

Julia VanderVeen is a New York based actor and physical comedian. She has a degree in Music Theatre from Illinois Wesleyan University. She was studying Classical Theatre and High Comedy at BADA (British American Drama Academy) when her grandmother died in 2006, and, as a result, missed attending her memorial service.

Julia has trained extensively in Clown and Bouffon, and apprenticed under head of physical theatre at Yale University, Christopher Bayes. As an actor, Julia has worked all over the United States, and performed in places as remote as Alaska, and as tropical as the Mediterranean; appearing in Hairspray on Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas.

Julia has been creating clown material for the past ten years. Currently, she is developing two all-female Bouffon shows: one entitled Stand Back and Stand By about the January 6th insurrection at Washington’s Capitol Building, and one entitled Supreme Cream about the Supreme Court overturning women's rights to abortions in the US.

At the Edinburgh Festival, Julia shares unique insights into her solo show 'My Grandmother's Eyepatch,' her experiences in different fringe festivals, and how she navigates the evolving world of performance arts. Discover the challenges, triumphs, and the essence of staying present and authentic in her creative journey.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:36 Who is Julia van der Veen?
02:28 Transition from Actor to Creator
07:40 Current Projects and Edinburgh Experience
12:05 Challenges and Learning Experiences
17:46 The Journey into Performance and Comedy
25:54 Reflecting on Grandmother's Influence
26:45 Developing the Show: A Journey from 2019 to 2022
27:19 Directorial Impact and Personal Growth
29:10 Audience Interaction and Show Evolution
31:22 Future Aspirations and Personal Goals
38:30 Random Question: Animal Voices
47:23 Show Details and Final Thoughts

Edinburgh Information

Title: My Grandmother’s Eyepatch
Venue: ZOO Playground (Playground 1)
Ed Fringe link: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/my-grandmother-s-eyepatch
Fringe Venue Number: 186
Dates: Aug 2 – 25 (Not 12, not 19)
Press from: AUG 3
Time: 12:45 Duration: 1 hour Entry: From £10 Age: 14+

For more information, go to https://www.juliavanderveen.com/

For a full video of this interview and many more to come, go to YouTube and you can also follow the podcast channel on Instagram. Finally, for more information on this podcast and Dan's work go to www.iamdanedwards.com

Thank you