(along with actress/singer/songwriter Kristine Zbornik) and did graduate work
in directing at North Dakota State University.
D.C.,or David as he was known at the time, left NDSU to study dance with the
BILL EVANS DANCE COMPANY in Seattle, Washington . While in Seattle he
appeared in CANDIDE, THE DOCTOR IN SPITE OF HIMSELF, DEAR
BRUTUS, JACQUES BREL IS..., and a few self-produced revues of the music of
Irving Berlin, Rodgers and Hart, George Gershwin and Harold Arlen with Paul
King and musical director/pianist Darcy Danielson at the Skid Road Theater
and The Conservatory Theater Company.
He moved to New York City and promptly left town as PIPPIN in a tour of the
show of the same name and, later, went on to tour in THE LIFE AND
ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY with the Great Lakes Shakespeare
Festival Company.
Re-locating to Chicago, he began performing solo and as part of the trio ON
THE SLY (with Hollis Resnick and Susan Hart) with musical director Rick
Snyder at Orphans on Lincoln Avenue and appeared in HARRY CHAPIN; LIES
AND LEGENDS, Craig Carnelia's THREE POSTCARDS and countless
commercials for Joe Sedelmaier . A brief appearance in ABC TV's LADY BLUE
convinced him that series television was in his future...cut to Los Angeles
where he first became associated with Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (14 years and counting).
His musical theater career - including the role of Judge Coras in the National
Tour of MARTIN GUERRE has allowed him the privilege of recording 7 solo
CD's - 1993' s TIME WAS, 1997's THE BOX UNDER THE BED, 2000's BLUE
SUMMER DAY, 2001's ALL IS CALM..., 2002's COLLECTED, 2004's BALLAD
and 2006's I AM STILL as well as produce the first Broadway Cares/Equity
Fights AIDS benefit holiday recording CABARET NOEL: a Broadway Cares
Christmas. His appearance at Nebraska's BROWNVILLE CONCERT SERIES
was taped and is broadcast regularly on PBS stations across the United States.
He has performed many times in the history of the Mabel Mercer Foundation's
CABARET CONVENTION at Town Hall in New York City.
D.C., along with Karen Benjamin and Margaret Irwin began the A HOLIDAY
CABARET benefits in Santa Monica California in 1995. Also a songwriter, D.C.
and Billy Philadelphia were proud to have their song, 'How's Your Little Act?'
nominated for a MAC AWARD for Outstanding Special Material in 1998.
Other collaborators include Steven Landau, Roy Zimmerman, Elizabeth Doyle,
Rick Snyder, Stephen Randoy, Carol Hall, Geoff Packard, Ritt Henn, David
Robison, Michael Gillis, Jeff Rizzo and Albert Hague.
D.C. is the recipient of the 2002 BISTRO AWARD from BACKSTAGE as
Singer/Songwriter.
D.C. is currently on the road with THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA as Andre.
While touring, he seeks performance venues for his concert shows.
Thank you so much for the interview and for your friendship.
Sandra - What has meant for your artistic career being in the Phantom of the
Opera, Webber's musical?
D.C. - In college, as the Overture to OKLAHOMA began (I was playing 'Curly')
I prayed that I would have a lifetime of this - standing backstage...listening to a
live orchestra...hearing the sounds of an audience...walking onto a stage to be a
part of the telling of a story with music... POTO has been the fullfillment of a
lifedream.
Sandra - What scene/song of the Phantom musical is your favourite and why.
D.C. - I am partial to the 'Notes' or 'Managers' scenes - of course!! as I am one of
the Managers in the show! They are intricate, they require attention, the music
is exciting, the story is fun to tell - Sometimes I completely forget that we are
singing - so the singing becomes of service to the story! Love that!
Sandra - What are some of the aspects you have brought into your
interpretation of Andre?
D.C. - I believe that Andre has loved Opera and this particular Opera House
since he was a child and he was his Mother's Opera companion. This is the
fullfillment of Andre's dreams!
Sandra - Can you tell us a good anecdote?
D.C. - Two nights ago - during the second managers (Act 2 'notes') scene, I saw
a note from the Phantom on the floor and immediately thought, 'oh no! another
note from the Phantom - what might this mean? do I pick it up and draw
attention to the fact that we have received another note - thus encouraging Mme
Giry, Carlotta, Piangi in their hysteria? How to get a hold of that note before
it's noticed by the others in the room????' I was lost in those thoughts and had
forgotten to sing during the musical climax of the scene finally 'awakening' to
see Firmin staring at me as if I'd lost my mind. (Apparantly I had for a few
moments). Later, when recounting what had 'happened' - Bruce, the actor who
plays 'Firmin' said, 'Oh, I saw it too, but I thought, 'oops somebody dropped a
prop - I'd better pick it up before someone slips on it and falls down'.
Sandra - What is your opinion about your character?
D.C. - I try not to have one. AS my character - I'm simply trying to eke out a
simple existence - in an Opera House with a Ghost in the basement (which
happens to have a pesky leak somewhere).
Sandra - What is it, in your opinion, that makes the show so appealing?
D.C. - The combination of romance, mystery (aided by the wonderful
set/costume/lighting designs) and music that you cannot forget!
Sandra - What did you find most difficult to prepare for your role?
D.C. - Getting to the point where I was comfortable and confident with the
music in the 'Notes/Prima Donna' sections.
Sandra - You have been part of musicals and shows so celebrated as Pippin,
Martin Guerre, Candide, Dear Brutus, Lies and Legends, etc., what role would
you like to play some day?
D.C. - Sweeney Todd.
Sandra - What are your current and future projects?
D.C. - Currently I am writing songs for my 8th CD - I'll be recording it in July
of this year and planning for it to be ready by October.
Sandra - What would you say to your fans?
D.C. - Your support and interest are appreciated. I am lucky to be doing what I
love to do.
Then my 'inner publicist' would tell me to say,
'Go directly to iTunes and download my latest CD 'i am still' !! then I would
add, 'please?'.
Please, don't copy this text and photos without my permission.
Copyright by Ladyghost.
