Dana McCoy

Dana McCoy’s passions for music, theater  and performing were ignited when she saw her first Broadway production of Grease at the age of ten. After studying music, film, and theater performance in college, she took a detour on her way back to New York City by way of Detroit, where she wrote tracks for the seminal late-’80s techno project, Kevin Saunderson’s “Inner City,” which put her work on the domestic and international music charts. Settling in New York, she wrote and sang vocals on Andrew Komis’ 12″ single, “How Would You Like It?” and Ric Wake’s “Degrees of Motion” production, which took her on US and UK tours, and wrote songs for the film soundtracks of City of Industry and The Search for One-Eyed Jimmy. She also composed and produced a solo record, “Taking Shape,” which was selected by Billboard as one of that year’s best albums.

McCoy’s work on stage has been as electrifying as her work in the recording studio, beginning with the rock musical “Prom Queens” at No Moore, regular performances at the Loser’s Lounge, membership in New York’s Ukulele Cabaret, and founder and host of Life Cafe’s NAKED acoustic music series. She shared the stage with Gretchen Cryer, Evelyn Page, and Lesley Gore as founder, producer, and performer in “Pillow Fight Theatre Festival: Hot Chicks of Substance” at 45 Bleecker; wrote, performed, and produced “Cube Rat” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011; and currently appears in Richard Caliban’s “MoM: A Rock Concert Musical,” winner of Outstanding Musical at New York Fringe 2009, also selected as part of the Fringe Benefits Anniversary Series in 2011.

A savvy and creative producer and director, McCoy co-produced the “OurLand Festival” during summer 2012, which took place on three stages, over eight hours, with 20,000+ audience members, out of doors at Lincoln Center, during which she performed the finale of the Irish Rock Review on the main stage with members of Alice Cooper, Blue Oyster Cult, NY Dolls, and others. McCoy also co-produced “A Dickens Christmas for The Rockaways” in December of 2012, a celebrity-studded fundraising benefit at Theatre 80 St. Mark’s, for the Hurricane Sandy-damaged Rockaways, which featured performances and readings by a host of musicians, actors, and writers.

While currently directing two one-person shows and another major musical, McCoy is also presently helping develop the Broadway-bound musical “Bossa Nova for Belinda,” by Mark Barkan and Lawrence Dukore, which will see her take the stage in the title role.

MUSIC

• Kevin Saunderson’s Inner City (Writer)
• “How Would You Like It?” by Dana McCoy/Andrew Komis (Vocals)
• “Degrees of Motion” by Ric Wake (Vocals)
• “Taking Shape” (Solo Record; writer, singer, producer, performer)
• “Kiss Goodbye” for City of Industry OST (Writer, singer, producer)
• “Crime Pays” for The Search for One-Eyed Jimmy OST (Writer, singer, producer)
• Wrote and sang tracks with Mark Saunders
• Sang background for Taylor Barton with Jon Carin and G.E. Smith
• Wrote songs with Michael Mangini of “Who Let The Dogs Out?” fame
• Wrote tracks for Commercial Clients from MTV to Sachs and Bryant Park Fashion Shows

THEATER

• “Prom Queens,” a rock musical at No Moore and Don Hill’s
• “Loser’s Lounge” with Fred Amisen, Justin Bond, and Seveda Williams
• Member/Performer, Ukulele Cabaret at Jimmy’s 43
• Founder, NAKED Acoustic Music Series at Mudspot and Life Cafe, every Monday night for three years
• Founder/Producer/Performer “Pillow Fight Theatre Festival: Hot Chicks of Substance,” at 45 Bleecker, with Gretchen Cryer, Evelyn Page, and Lesley Gore [2008]
• “Cube Rat” (Writer, Performer, Producer) at Edinburgh Fringe Festival [2011]
• Cast Member/Producer “MoM: A Rock Concert Musical,” by Richard Caliban, winner of Outstanding Musical at New York Fringe 2009 and selected as part of the Fringe Benefits Anniversary Series 2011 [Next Performance in April 2013]
• “Bossa Nova for Belinda” by Mark Barkan and Lawrence Dukore [In Development; Title Role]

PRODUCTION / DIRECTION

• 45 Bleecker Theatre [2006 - 2010]
• Theatre 80 St. Mark’s [2010 - Current]
• Co-Producer and Performer, OurLand Festival [Summer 2012] three-stage, eight-hour, 20,000+ audience
• Co-Producer and Performer, “A Dickens Christmas for The Rockaways” [December 2012]
• Director, two one-person shows and one major musical [In Development]