Hi all,

Ugh, amiright? I’m certainly grieving and very tired. There’s a lot to put in perspective. I'm very grateful to the people who risk their lives to keep us safe. When I look at what they are going through, it helps puts things into focus. I don't have a lot of capacity to write about this and this blog is about my “acting career” so I’ll stick with that silly update for you all.

April was a month. It’s almost over. I did several new videos and I worked on a series of play readings for Heartwood Regional Theater, Bloomsday and Shipwrecked!. Should I have written a blog about them so you all could watch? Yep! Whoops…

Zoom readings aren’t likely to keep going once we are allowed to gather in groups of more than 5 but I will say, I got to work with some of my favorite actors of some marvelous plays and it was a lot of fun! Audiences seemed to enjoy them too.

I submitted a bunch of self-tapes/generals this month even though production has ceased. It’s nice to do a little acting, even in a limited capacity.

Additionally, I have a new character. All she wants is for her lover to read her mind, and I don’t know why that’s asking too much of a partner:

Also, Helena Farhi and I still making stuff remotely, and we did a ton of writing this last month. We did a little Gal Gadot’s Imagine (if you aren’t familiar, good for you) mashup with “I Saw a Tiger” of Netflix’s Tiger King fame. We got a bunch of our friends to help and we are really grateful to them. Additionally, we are launching something big soon and we are gonna let you know what’s up in May - stay tuned. It should be fun :)

Hi guys,

How quickly life changes in a couple of weeks. A bunch of the “bright spots” I wrote about last month aren’t a thing right now. That’s honestly the least of my worries. My worries are for my friends on the front line: doctors, nurses, grocery store clerks. My friends who have lost their jobs (so, most of them). The poorest, sickest and most vulnerable in my community, this country and the world. The general feeling of helplessness and anger at the powerful who seem incapable, or worse, unwilling to act to protect those who need it most. I’m very lucky my day job has allowed me to work remotely. I’m very lucky I’m in a cozy apartment and safe and healthy, when so many are not.

So when I think about the enormous loss of life and livelihood, it puts my own discomfort and grief in perspective. There’s an illustrator/poet I follow on instagram, @lordbirthday who has this really beautiful comic that says “Be sturdy and full of hope”. I don’t feel very sturdy. I don’t feel very hopeful. I feel more and more cynical every day. Perhaps you do too. But I’m attempting to be sturdy/hopeful, because as I pointed out, I’m extremely lucky. Rather than completely despair, as I am apt to do, I’ve been writing and filming projects to make people laugh. It’s not a lot, it’s not saving the planet, but I am self-isolated right now, so I’m choosing to focus on what I can do.

If you need a laugh, here are some projects I’ve worked on in the last few weeks. A little laughter can only help in times like this. Be sturdy and full of hope, my loves.

Peg, a character I filmed before the apocalypse. She knows a little something about grief.

A Witcher parody I wrote with Helena Farhi (Potato of Potato and Button fame) starring our dear friend and Helena’s roommate Steven Czajkowski.

Finally a character I filmed with the help of my friend Anthony Cascio’s farts. You’re welcome, world.

Person Who Has Never Farted In Her Life Farts for the First Time * 100% genuine farts provided by @anth0_o Self isolation has given me time to write and record things I've always wanted to do and never gotten around to. It's not high brow and I will not apologize for it. Those farts are real y'all

86 Likes, 16 Comments - Deirdre Manning (@deirdmanning) on Instagram: "Person Who Has Never Farted In Her Life Farts for the First Time * 100% genuine farts provided by..."

Hi buddies,

It’s my birthday month! And it’s the dead of winter. Like a lot of folks, I tend to get sad in the winter time. And I get sad around birthdays. This is NOT a cry for help. Merely an observation. So I’ve been allowing myself to feel a little blue but also think about all the bright spots in my life. I have a lot, in no particular order:

Loser Boy: people always said it’s hard to make friends as an adult, so I feel really lucky to have found a group of people who not only HARD YES weird stuff I pitch onstage, but also HARD YES my weirdness in real life. They are fantastic performers and people, and I’m surprised and delighted I found them last year.

Muddy Paws Rescue: I’m volunteering with MPR, a 501c3 nonprofit organization working to save the lives of thousands of dogs in need through foster-based care, advocacy, and community outreach. I’m an adoptions counselor for them and I get to play with pups and match them with people looking to adopt. It’s a great feeling. Come volunteer/foster/adopt :-)

Therapy: I’ve been in therapy for almost a year and a half and it’s literally the best thing. I’m very lucky I’ve been able to afford it/have an insurance that pays for it. I know not everyone has that opportunity.

Lots of supportive friends and family: I had a ton of people reach out for my birthday, and I feel very supported and loved. My family always gives me really great advice and are a phone call away. When I get overwhelmed, they’re there for me. I mean, they’re there for me when I’m not overwhelmed too. I can always count on them.

Plant babies: I have many plant babies in my home. They are super cool.

Writing projects: I’ve got several projects in the pipeline, both stuff on my own and with writing partners. It’s fun to write!

UCB classes: When I did the work study program, I got a lot of class credits. So I’m using them: I’m in an academy improv class with Alex Dickson that I love and in sketch 101. It’s fun to be a student again. A good reminder to keep learning/stay teachable.

What else: neighborhood dogs, cheese, Netflix, sourdough starters, walking to work and seeing the Chrysler building, warm coats, hot coffee, instagram dogs, avocados, humidifiers…

When I think of these nice things, is my seasonal depression solved? NOPE! The sad is still there (it’s seasonal depression, after all). In the improv class I’m taking now, “Improv is Feeling” we had to watch the Brene Brown Ted Talk about vulnerability. If you haven’t watched, watch it here, it’s very cool. I know it’s from 2013, I’m know, but I hadn’t watched it!

She talks about our desire to numb the bad feelings, and how it mutes our ability to feel the full spectrum of human things. Including joy and love. So, I’m trying to notice all of it, the nice and the not-nice things in my life and see how that feels. I guess the point isn’t to feel less sad. It’s to allow a little more space for all the feelings. And to notice. And notice that I do feel a bit less sad…

Then again, I’ve no idea. Just spit-balling here. Today is cold but sunny. A crisp, beautiful New York morning.

I’m worried this blog post is “off-brand”/too rambling. But everyone on this email list (I think?) is interested in my life and my life isn’t just my glamorous adventures as a NYC comedienne/actress. It’s mostly the latter. But, alas, not all glamour.

Don’t worry, next month I’ll have funny video to share. Hugses to all xoxo

Hi Gang,

2020 has already started off with a bang! I was cast as the lead in a webseries called Murder of the Weekend. It’s a murder-mystery comedy with a great script by Hayes Biche. The cast and crew was truly amazing and we shot it in seven days and it was nuts - real low budget indie filmmaking shenanigans. Also it was an ALL-FEMALE CAMERA TEAM, including our fabulous DP, Lauren Mendoza. She was kind enough to share some stills with me (see below). I’ll let you know when it’ll be released, since I don’t know how long post-production will take.

Additionally, I’m working on some writing projects this year, and have some sketches/character videos planned for you. I’ll keep a lid on those for now, but they’ll be fun.

Something I can share is my indie improv team, Loser Boy, now has a monthly residency at the Tank. The Tank is a non-profit theatre that gives emerging artists a place to produce their work at no-cost to them. They are a wonderful organization and truly unique in their mission in NYC. LB is grateful for their partnership and we can’t wait to present our show - Form-ication (gross). We want to give improvisers and audiences the opportunity to see new/rarely done forms. We’re the second Monday of the month starting in January and running through August. If you are here in town, get your tickets here.

On a personal note, my goal for 2020 is more empathy, more openness. That’s the whole update. Love you all.

Still from the talented Lauren Mendoza - featuring fellow actor and mensch, Brian Pollack.