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With a career spanning Broadway, television, and video game voiceovers, Danielle Lee Greaves has built an impressive résumé since she earned a bachelor’s in theatre at Russell Sage College.
Her stage credits include the original Broadway cast of Hairspray and Show Boat; Broadway productions of Rent and Sunset Boulevard; and touring productions of The Lion King and The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess. Her television appearances include parts on The Blacklist and Blue Bloods, and she’s the voice of Barbara Schternvart in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Greaves is currently playing Minnie McKnight on the 17-city union national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical Parade. (The tour had its preview performances in Schenectady, just a short distance from RSC’s Albany and Troy campuses!)
Read about her role in Parade, her experience at Russell Sage, and the advice she has for aspiring performers in the following Q&A.
Please tell me about your role in Parade, and what attracted you to it.
In this Tony Award-winning revival production of Parade, I play Minola “Minnie” McKnight. She was the maid and cook for the Selig/Frank families in Atlanta, Georgia, for about two and a half years, from 1910 until 1913. She gave key testimony during the trial of Leo Frank, in the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan.
Honestly, I didn’t know about Minnie or the Leo Frank murder case before being cast in the New York City Center production of Parade in November 2022. My connection to Minnie only grew when our production transferred to Broadway for our six-month limited run.
What attracted me to the role is I love portraying historical women. I’ve played Tituba in The Crucible, Elizabeth Keckley in Civil War Voices, Sojourner Truth in A Woman Called Truth, and Ethel Waters in Ethel Waters: His Eye Is On The Sparrow. I love researching their stories. I find it an incredible honor and responsibility to fully embody their lives to the best of my ability, and Minnie is no different.
Sadly, after doing extensive research, there isn’t any information about her life that doesn’t revolve around her connection to the Leo Frank trial, but our tour is playing at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta in April, where this true story took place. While I’m there, I’m going to do some more investigation work. Any records or information I can find about her life would be a true gift!
I know you’ve had an extensive career prior to Parade! Do you have a favorite role so far? How about a dream role?
Yes! I’ve been blessed to have an incredible career in theatre, with some TV and film work sprinkled in. I’m so happy that after almost 37 years, I’m still going and growing in this profession I love!
My favorite role, the role closest to my heart, is Joanne Jefferson in the musical Rent. I have performed the role on the first and second union national tours in 1998-1999 and on Broadway from 1999-2000. I also performed on an Asian tour of Rent in 2005.
As far as my dream role? My dream is to originate a principal role in a new hit Broadway show. That is the one goal I’ve yet to achieve!
What attracted you to Russell Sage College for your theatre degree?
I was attracted to Russell Sage College for my theatre education because, at the time, it was an all-women college, and it was out of New York City. I’m a native New Yorker, born and raised in Harlem. I knew I needed to be fully immersed in my educational environment to stay focused.
When I graduated high school I was busting to jump into the business, but my dad thought it best that I go to college first. I’m grateful for the invaluable knowledge and experiences I gained from my four years at Sage.
How did Sage’s theatre program prepare you for your career?
Looking back at my time in Russell Sage’s Visual and Performing Arts program, I truly valued the safety of an intimate, nurturing, learning environment where I could experiment, make mistakes, receive encouragement, and grow without the pressures of competition. At larger colleges, I felt I might get swallowed up and be just another number, but at Sage, I was truly seen and heard! I believe that made all the difference in how I began my career after graduation. This industry is very tough. I’ve seen how the pressures of this business can break people if they’re not prepared. I also really appreciate that I had the opportunity to perform in shows that I otherwise might not have had the opportunity to in the real world.
What advice do you have for current theatre majors who aspire to the career you have had?
What I always tell the aspiring artists, not just with regards to theatre, but in any facet of our industry, is to believe in yourself! There is only one you, and what you have to offer the world is special. Now, like I said, this is a tough business. You have to have a thick skin to deal with the competition, the constant rejection, and the negative self-talk but, if you know in your spirit this is what you want to do, GO FOR IT! Being an artist is an AMAZING adventure!
Are you working on other personal or professional projects right now?
I’m not working on anything outside of being on tour right now, but what I love about this career is there could be an exciting, surprising new experience just around the corner!
Is there anything you would like to add?
I’d like to add a very special thank you to my college sister Lisa Jones ’86! She was an incredible dancer in the Visual and Performing Arts program and a loving, supportive friend to me. I’m proud to be an alumna of Russell Sage College and a Golden Horseshoe from the Class of 1988!
[Note: “College sister” refers to a Russell Sage College tradition, now called “Bigs and Littles,” which pairs first-year students with a junior, for mentorship and support. Another tradition is class mascots and colors, with each class identifying as Golden Horseshoes, Blue Angels, Red Devils, or Purple Cows.]