Biography
With a celebrated career in his native country Australia, being hailed as one of the most acclaimed leading men of his generation, David now divides his time living and working in the US, UK and Australia.
David is currently starring as The Duke of Monroth in the Broadway production of Moulin Rouge! The Musical after originating the role on the first national tour in 2022.
In the US, David received critical praise for his performance of Dan in TheaterWork’s Next To Normal (BroadwayWorld and Connecticut Critics Circle Award nominations for Best Actor); starred as Jean Valjean in Connecticut Repertory Theater’s production of Les Misérables, which co-starred and was directed by Tony Award winner Terrence Mann; starred as Billy Crocker in Goodspeed’s production of Anything Goes; and as Father in Barrington Stage Company’s Ragtime. In 2017, he originated the role of Max Bronfman in Stephen Schwartz’s new production of Rags at Goodspeed Opera House and performed at 92Y Lyrics and Lyricists celebrating the career of Lynn Ahrens.
He has performed in various readings and new musical workshops, including Jekyll & Hyde, Indigo, Chasing Rainbows, and RAIN, by Sybille Pearson and Michael John LaChiusa at New York Stage and Film. He has appeared at Feinstein’s 54 Below, in numerous advertising campaigns, and was invited to sing the American and Australian National Anthems at the ANZAC Day ceremonies at the Rockefeller Center in New York.
In Australia, David gained critical acclaim as Chris in Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Miss Saigon which earned him Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for what the Sydney Morning Herald described as “the year’s most truthful and moving stage portrayals” and received a further Helpmann Award nomination for his performance as Fiyero in the Australian, Singapore and Korean productions of Wicked
David starred as Tick in the 10th-anniversary production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert, winning BroadwayWorld’s Best Actor in a Musical award along with earning his 4th Helpmann Award nomination, a Green Room and Glug Award nominations for Best Actor in a Musical. He was awarded a Green Room Award for Best Actor along with Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for his portrayal of Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde and was awarded Theatre People’s Award for Best Actor for the role of The Baker in Victorian Opera’s production of Into The Woods.
Other highly regarded performances include; the dual roles of Adam and Noah in the Australian premiere performance of Stephen Schwartz’s Children of Eden (Theatre People Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical); Malcolm in The Full Monty (directed by Jack O’Brien); The Beast in Beauty and the Beast; Greg in Boy From Oz; Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees; John Brookes in Little Women; Prez in Pajama Game; Perchik in Fiddler On The Roof alongside Topol; John in Andrew Lippa’s John & Jen; Oscar in The Wild Party; Orville Wright in Richard Maltby Jnr and David Shire’s new musical Take Flight; and Jimmy Smith in the Australian premiere of Thoroughly Modern Millie. David originated the role of Bud in the Australian premiere production of the two-man comedy, Gutenberg! -The Musical; created the numerous male roles in the Australian premiere of Breast Wishes; and received a GLUG Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in LOVEBiTES. David began his professional career in the original Australian productions of The Boy From Oz and Mamma Mia! and was awarded a MO Award for Best New Talent in 1997.
In concert, David has toured with UK musical theatre star Michael Ball on his Australian World of Musicals tour; performed with international star, Lea Salonga in Vietnam; performed with Stephen Schwartz in Stephen Schwartz and Friends; with Andrew Lippa in Lippa and Friends; with Australian Leading ladies, Marina Prior, Lucy Durack and Amanda Harrison; and once again toured internationally with Lea Salonga and Michael Ball in Do You Hear The People Sing? celebrating the music of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil in Taipei, Shanghai, Manilla and at the Sydney Opera House in 2022. David starred alongside Sutton Foster, Aaron Tveit, Betty Buckley, Joanna Ampil, Helen Dallimore and Stephen Schwartz in Defying Gravity – the songs of Stephen Schwartz.
David has appeared on the Australian television dramas Neighbours, Blue Heelers and Rescue: Special Ops; the tv film South Pacific starring Glenn Close and Harry Connick Jnr; and has been seen in many TV commercial campaigns spanning the last 25 years.
David has released two solo albums, ‘Til The Night Is Gone and At this Stage. He premiered his solo show, ‘Til The Night Is Gone to sold-out audiences at the 2010 Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Newcastle’s Civic Theatre and returned to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2014 to headline the Australian premiere of Picture Perfect. David’s solo show, Time Is A Traveller premiered to a sold-out, extended season in Sydney and toured nationally to great acclaim, being awarded the Theatre People’s Award for Best Male Cabaret in 2014.
