She teaches acting seminars internationally in South America, Europe, Toronto, Vancouver, Dubai, New York, Sydney and Australia. She has taught in several cities including: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Istanbul, Paris, and Moscow.
Michelle has directed and acted in over thirty plays and musicals in New York and Los Angeles. Her favorite acting credits include Tennessee William’s The Rose Tattoo, which garnered LA Weekly critic’s pick and five Dramalogue awards including best actress; House of Yes, Bright Ideas, Ibsen’s Ghosts the world premiere of One White Crow.
Her highlights at Edgemar have been pioneering new works that include The Night of the Black Cat, a world premiere and winner of the 2005 Best Musical of the Year at the Los Angeles Music Awards, which had a revival as recently as 2016. She directed the world premiere of Mental the Musical, winner of several 17th Annual TicketHolder awards for acting and musical score. She wrote and directed the world premiere of You’re on the Air, an improv based comedy which is in development to become a movie.
She directed the west coast premiere of Hello Herman by John Buffalo Mailer and co-directed Jane Fonda in The Court of Public Opinion starring Anne Archer. Her last play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang won 5 Scenies, StageSceneLA Awards, including for best actress in a Comedy for her portrayal of Sonia.
In 2006, she made her feature film directing debut How to go Out on a Date in Queens, which was nominated and won four L.A. Film Awards including Best Director. It starred Jason Alexander, Esai Morales, Ron Perlman, Kimberly Williams, Rob Estes and Alison Eastwood.
Michelle also produced and acted in the award-winning short film Dos Corazones, which premiered at the Nashville Film Festival and went on to win Best Cinematography & Audience Favorite at the Malibu Film Festival.
Her second film Hello Herman starring Norman Reedus (AMC’s The Walking Dead), Martha Higareda, and Garrett Backstrom. The film premiered at the Hollywood Film Festival to a sold out audience and had its international premiere at the Monaco Charity Film Festival where it won the award for social relevance. It opened theatrically nationwide and was distributed by Warner Brothers.
Her third film, The Bandit Hound, a family comedy starring Catherine Bell, Lou Ferigno, Judd Nelson, Paul Sorvino, and Verne Troyer, was released in 2016.
Michelle just finished principal photography on a supernatural thriller, Bad Impulse, with a wonderful cast including Paul Sorvino, Sonya Walger, Grant Bowler and Dan Lauria. Her acting film credits include playing the part of Alexandra, the psychic, in the feature film “Ovation” directed by Henry Jaglom as well as Mrs. Mack in “Reach” directed by Leif Rokesh.
ALL IN FILMS production company, founded by Michelle Danner is in development for several projects. The Runner a psychological thriller and a romantic comedy titled The Will To… are in pre-production due to start filming this year.
She is putting the finishing touches on her acting book, The Golden Box, which will be released this year.