Learn your Defying Gravity concert stars well! David Harris
Defying Gravity, a world premiere concert celebrating the work of acclaimed composer Stephen Schwartz, will premiere at Sydney’s Theatre Royal for three performances only – on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 February 2016. If you’re a fan of international musical theatre, you won’t want to miss this exciting musical event! It has a stellar line up of performers – headlined by none other than Tony Award-winning Sutton Foster and Broadway heartthrob Aaron Tveit, and features renowned West End star Joanna Ampil, Broadway and film icon Betty Buckley, and two of Australia’s own talents Helen Dallimore and David Harris.
At the concert you’ll hear Stephen Schwartz classics such as Day by Day, Colors of the Wind, When You Believe, Popular, Corner of the Sky, Beautiful City, Meadowlark and, of course, Defying Gravity.
In the lead up to the concert, we want to make sure you know everything you need to know about these talented stars, and about Stephen Schwartz, the man behind the magic, so we have created a handy series of beginners’ guides to all these big names! Next in the series is Aussie performer, David Harris. Put your learning caps on, and make sure to book your tickets now – they’re selling fast!
David Harris 101
Who he is:
David Harris has not only had a hugely successful musical theatre career in Australia, earning himself many Helpmann nominations for his various leading roles, but he has also showcased his talents on the international stage. Harris recently starred as Jean Valjean in Connecticut Repertory Theatre’s Les Miserables, and has appeared in various New York workshops and readings including Jekyll & Hyde. Harris has also toured with UK musical theatre star Michael Ball, performed alongside international star Lea Salonga in Vietnam, performed with Stephen Schwartz and Andre Lippa, and toured internationally with Lea Salonga and Michael Ball in Do You Hear The People Sing?
Harris’ career started in Australia in The Boy From Oz and Mamma Mia, which earned him a MO Award for Best New Talent in 1997. Since then, he has gone on to grace the stage in many leading roles including his Green Room Award winning and Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominated performance as Emmett in Legally Blonde, The Baker in Victoria Opera’s production of Into The Woods, Chris in Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Miss Saigon, and Fiyero in the Australian and Asian touring productions of Wicked. And before leaving for New York, Harris was awarded the Theatre People Pro Choice Award for his cabaret Time is a Traveller at the Hayes Theatre Co, in 2014.
Shows he’s worked on:
Legally Blonde (Australia), Wicked (Australia and Asia), The Boy From Oz (Australia), Mamma Mia (Australia), Miss Saigon (Australia), Les Miserables (Connecticut Repertory Theatre), Into The Woods (Australia), Children of Eden (Australia), The Full Monty (Australia), Beauty and the Beast (Australia), Little Women (Australia), Fiddler on the Roof (Australia), The Wild Party (Australia), , John & Jen (Australia), Take Flight (Australia), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Australia), Gutenberg (Australia), LOVEBiTES (Australia).
Awards:
1997 MO Award for Best New Talent, 2013 Green Room Award for Male Actor in a Leading Role for Emmett in Legally Blonde.
Fun Fact:
He has released two solo albums, ‘Til The Night Is Gone and At this Stage. You can check them out here: http://www.aussietheatre.com.au/australian-recordings.
Essential viewing:
Harris performs ‘Sun and Moon’ with his costar Laurie Cadvida in the role that earned him much critical acclaim, Chris in Miss Saigon.
Harris recently performed Valjean in the US, and here’s a snippet of his talents in this moving rendition of ‘Bring Him Home’.
It’s not a musical theatre song, but I could listen to this soulful cover of Jason Mraz’ ‘I’m Yours’ on repeat.
