Daniel Kunkel has been making theatre since middle school after discovering he was not equipped to play soccer. He has worked in high schools, universities, professional and community theatres, and Zoom rooms across the United States.
He currently serves as the Education Director at Live Arts in Charlottesville Virginia. In 2024, he earned his Masters of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University and brings his love of mental health awareness, trauma-informed acting training, and self-respect into every artistic space.
Daniel ccompleted his BFA at Otterbein University in 2020, where he joined with other students to found 11th Hour Theatre Company, the school’s first entirely student-run theatre company. He served as the artistic director for 11th Hour from 2017 to 2019.
Daniel’s theatre-making and educator highlights include BATTLEKNIFE: The 300XX Musical (Small Batch), The Lightning Thief (Live Arts), You Don’t Know Jackshit about the Mothman (Small Batch) Untitled Raccoon Play (The Tank), and combat choreography for Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (JSAAHC Charlottesville Players Guild).
Daniel also hosts and produces several podcasts, including The Mistletoe Secret, University Radio, and The Great Transylvanian Bite Off