Today we’d like to introduce you to Dahlya Glick.
Dahlya, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
It all started at age five in Mesa, Arizona, when my mom dumped me into a summer theater camp with my older brother and sister. I got cast in my first role of “Baby Troll” (very good for my future self-esteem *eye roll*) and caught the performing bug. For as long as I can remember, being on stage is all I’ve ever been remotely good at. Performing is what keeps me present and is the easiest way to have an emotionally intimate, life-enhancing, consensual connection with a mass number of strangers at once.
After my debut as “Baby Troll,” I continued on my comedic side-character journey- begging my mom to drive me to any and all community theater auditions throughout the years, and booking many of them as whatever funny or evil or ugly role was available. My first lead role as Pippi Longstocking in “Pippi Longstocking: A Family Musical” was where it really hit home. A lead role! I couldn’t believe it! For someone who was highly insecure off stage and often bullied for the size of my nose (which books me the gigs now, thank you very much), this role allowed me to be the most authentic version of myself, for three long hours a show, in front of local audiences ranging anywhere from five people to 50 people at a time (the big leagues, I KNOW).
Fast forward through high school drama and speech and debate years to college, where I majored in theater and lied my way through a business minor and dance scholarship at Muhlenberg college. This is where I started the first all-female comedy troupe to hit the campus, Damsels in Excess (which is still thriving to this very day!) Along with my co-founder, Leah Alfieri, we created a group of budding comedic female talent. It wasn’t only about being funny- it was about learning confidence and self-love. Around the same time, I started working summers in NY and LA- discovering UCB, The PIT, Magnet Theater, Groundlings, etc. I dove right in and was the most in love I’d ever been with the craft. Improv re-taught me how to communicate, how to have some dang self-confidence.
After graduating college, I moved to LA immediately, worked a full-time job as an executive assistant in reality TV (which truly drained my soul), got fired (hooray!), started working 80 part-time jobs to survive (which I still do now), got signed by a manager and booked my first two TV roles at the same time (“Scream Queens” and “I Love Dick”). I got real lucky, real fast. And I had no clue how lucky I was. The first day on set of “Scream Queens,” they said, “here’s your trailer,” and I said, “Oh that’s ok! I don’t need a trailer, I can change in the bathroom,” and they said, “No… you… you have to have a trailer,” Case and point- I’ve learned a lot! And I carry that mentality with me still. I could still care less about the trailer part of the gig.
Around the same time, I connected with two of my soul sisters, Gabi Van Horn, and Stacey Hardke, and we formed Femmedy Trio (femmedytrio.com)- a female comedic music trio. We’ve been playing original comedic music for about four years, released an album (“Our First Album” out on all platforms) and a comedic writing podcast season (“Barely Composed” on all platforms). This has been my most stable creative relationship to date and will continue to be. Femmedy Trio has been the light of my life in so many ways.
I am primarily a team player. I don’t get much joy out of solo projects, and perhaps that’s a bit of my subconscious insecurity coming into play. However, in Spring 2019, I started releasing my non-comedic solo music under the name Dahlya Mani. Since then, I’ve released two originals with Cooper Leith of Zephyr Studios, and am working on a third single currently. Pursuing solo music is what I call a “professional hobby.” I’m not trying to be big in the music industry, but hey- if it happens, then sure! Releasing my personal music has been the most vulnerable thing I’ve ever done. Comedy comes with a nice amount of deflection- a lot of protective walls that allow us to feel deeply, but not too deeply. Music is raw as fuck (am I allowed to say “fuck” in this article?). Every single line of my lyrics reveals things about me that aren’t pretty! But that I know could affect someone somewhere in the right moment, enough to help them process their own inner life. Who knows!
Last but not least, I’m still dancing. I was a competitive dancer in my youth until I tore both of my hamstrings. I danced a ton in college- all styles. And now I take my training and choreograph comedic musicals, music videos, web series, etc. My passion in dance lies in creating a judgment-free space for non-dancers to learn how to express themselves through movement. I taught my first independent workshop in 2018- Creative Movement for Improvisers. The connection between improv and dance is so prominent. Especially in creating physical characterization, following your instincts, being a good scene partner, the list goes on. More than anything, I love welcoming people who have never truly explored dance into a space where they’re about to learn just how good they can feel if they ACTUALLY follow their feet (see what I did there?).
Anyhow, as you can see, I have my eggs in many, many baskets. Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to book a few TV and commercial spots, perform all over the nation with Femmedy Trio, write for Quick and Funny Musicals at UCB, be in many original comedic musicals around town (More Guns, Stranger Things, Mike Pence’s Alien Butt Baby, Dear Jerry Seinfeld). I am producing, choreographing, and starring in my own currently as well- My Favorite Murder: The Unauthorized Musical (mfmmusical.com). I am so truly and deeply in love with all forms of creative expression. All I hope for my future is that I can continue to do what I’m doing now on a greater scale and with even more passion and integrity.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s difficult to remember the trials. I usually see challenges as opportunities to grow. I’m not as successful as I’d like to be someday, but in all honesty- I’ve had a fairly smooth ride. The struggles for me come from spreading myself too thin- wanting to be as involved as possible and then burning out at all ends and suffering physically and mentally from that. I have a difficult time balancing social life with survival work with personal health etc.
However, I do what I can do maintain my health in all ways. I work WITH depression and anxiety, doing my best to use them as motivating factors in my art. I’ve been through intensive rehab for eating disorders and trauma, have struggled financially, have endured emotionally abusive employment situations- but we all have! I am lucky enough to be at a point now where these do not rule my life. I’ll forever be healing from some pains of the past, but those do not constitute my present.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I’d not burn any bridges. Most of my bridges have been rebuilt. But I have reacted emotionally in times of stress and confusion with people I’ve been close within my community. And though I’ve learned from those situations- I sure as heck don’t want to repeat them!
Oh, and I’d also stick with piano- I quit at such a young age. REGRETS!
Contact Info:
- Website: femmedytrio.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oprahwinfreckle/?hl=en
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2aXE69XQk2SrnHdNmT2hHQ
Image Credit:
Kylie Shaffer
Nick Dee Photo
Andrew Mena
Teya Duncan
Amanda Reich
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