Grimm Actors

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Air date:

Tue, 11/12/2013 - 11:00am to 11:30am

Hit TV show Grimm brings work to Portland actors and helps local economy

What's it like to be a Wesen or a Hexenbiest? For the last two years, many area actors have found work on NBC's hit show Grimm. A cop drama inspired by a twisted version of Grimm's Fairy Tales, the television show has brought work to actors, designers and crew throughout the Portland area. Dmae talks with two Portland actors Danny Bruno and Mary McDonald-Lewis who have had recurring roles on the show that has brought them national attention. We'll find out how a national show like this impacts local talent and get behind-the-scenes insight on Grimm acting. (Airs 11am Tues 11/12 on KBOO 90.7FM)

The last few years has brought a rise in popularity of Oregon, especially Portland, as a film and TV location. Much of that is due to the Oregon Film Incentive Tax Credit, recently raised from $6 to $10 million that gives rebates for television and film production in the state.

Vince Porter, executive director of the Oregon Office of Film and Television, talking with KGW news has said that GRIMM has spent well over $100 million in our state just in the first couple of years which is a unique in the country. That includes the state's acting talent who have had recurring roles on this hit network drama. Grimm airs Friday nights at NBC (9-10 p.m.)

Danny Bruno has been acting for more than 30 years on stage and in front of the camera. A native of New York, his acting career began in Eugene on stage and eventually in front of the camera doing numerous commercials.

He was a founding member of the improv group On The Edge in Eugene and moved to Portland in 1990 to acquire his SAG/AFTRA card of which he's been a member since 1994. Danny's stage work runs the gamut from Mamet to Shakespeare in many Portland theatres. He has appeared in TV's Nowhere Man, Leverage and presently enjoying a recurring role on NBC's Grimm as Bud Wurstner, the beaver/refrigeration repairman.

Mary McDonald-Lewis specializes as a voice actor, affiliate voice, dialect coach and theatre director. She has appeared as a recurring character named Frau Pech on Grimm. She is dialect coach for Portland Center Stage and Artists Repertory Theatre, this season coaching Fiddler on the Roof at PCS (her 19^th show there), Foxfinder and Playboy of the Western World at Artists Rep and at other theatres, including Light in the Piazza for Portland Playhouse and Pirates of Penzance for Portland Opera Company.

She's also a coach for film and television, including for Hallmark Hall of Fame and Grimm, which shoots right here in Portland. On stage and screen as actor she has been found in everything from comedy to the classics. Mary was last seen as Frau Pech on 5 episodes of Grimm, and onstage in A Christmas Story for Public Playhouse and Macbeth for Anonymous Theatre.Mary also co-founded Readers Theatre Repertory currently in its 13th season.

More info on current Readers Theatre Repertory show:

Readers Theatre Repertory presents DAUGHTERS & OTHER MENTORS on Friday & Saturday November 15-16, 8PM at the Blackfish Gallery, 420 NW 9th Av., Portland 97209 Tickets: $8.00. More info: 971.266.3787, readerstheatrerep@gmail.com

Wendy Wilcox directs Rosie by David Berkson and Help by Neena Beber, two stories of late awakening, care of some surprising teachers. The cast includes Hadley Boyd and Grace Ettinger. In Rosie, A long summer day heats up as a mother and her thirteen-year old daughter argue over whether or not to visit a dying relative. Heartbreaking, compassionate, and brutally honest, Rosie gives audiences a ride down the torn up road of family life, aging, mortality, and growing up. In Help, Gina is fraught with upper class guilt, and volunteers at a soup kitchen to alleviate it. But Beverly, who runs the place, seems to be cooking up more than just chicken for eleven.

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