This veteran of stage, film, television, concerts, commercials, voice-overs, and
modeling began his education as a Pre-med major at the University of Miami, having
never stepped upon a stage, nor ever even contemplated any sort of the arts - taking
one acting class as an elective changed his mind, and forever altered his life's course.
Having decided upon pursuing a career as a performer, David headed up to New York,
continuing his education at HB Studios and the Stella Adler Studio, studying
with many well-respected teachers, including the legendary Uta Hagen.
He worked his way through many an Actors' Equity Association showcase
production, before finally landing his 1st professional acting job, playing 'Tom
Robinson' in a regional production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Upon his return to New York, however, David soon realized that there were far more jobs available for actors who could sing... so he began singing. On the advice of his uncle, veteran opera singer and Broadway performer Walter P. Brown, he chose his 1st audition song - "A Woman Is A Sometime Thing" from George and Ira Gershwin's PORGY & BESS and, having never taken a voice lesson, nor ever sung in public, he landed his 1st professional musical gig... on his 1st ever musical audition! He headed to Tennessee to star as 'Jim' in BIG RIVER. Soon after, he finally earned his coveted Actors' Equity Association membership card - doing another musical.
Following a training hiatus in New Haven, Connecticut, Mr. Damane has gone on to perform on some of the most august and prestigious stages in the world, including Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall, New York City Opera, Ford's Theatre, Avery Fisher Hall, Goodspeed Opera House, Stratford Shakespeare Festival (Ontario, Canada), Paper Mill Playhouse, John Houseman, North Shore Music Theatre, and the Ethel Barrymore, WaMu, George Gershwin, Virginia, New Amsterdam, Ford Center, American Airlines, and Eugene O'Neill Theatres on Broadway.
Broadway highlights include the blockbuster runaway smash THE BOOK OF MORMON, Cy Coleman's THE LIFE, the international theatrical phenomenon RIVERDANCE, George and Ira Gershwin's classic PORGY & BESS, Roundabout Theatre Company's hilarious romp DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER, and Charles Dickens' immortal masterpiece A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Of particular pride was Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of the Tony award-winning musical BIG RIVER, co-produced with Deaf West Theatre. Hailed as a landmark theatrical event, and as the first "deaf musical" ever mounted on Broadway, it was nominated for two Tony Awards, and was awarded the American Theatre Wing's 2003-2004 "Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre". Off-Broadway, regional, touring, and international credits include, among MANY others, 'J.J. Brown' in THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN at Transport Group (Drama Desk nomination, Outstanding Actor in a Musical), MACBETH (Stratford Shakespeare Festival, Ontario, Canada), THE WHO'S TOMMY (Des McAnuff, Dir.), CARMEN JONES at Classic Stage Company (John Doyle, Dir.), DINAH WAS (David Petrarca, Dir.), TITUS ANDRONICUS, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, KINKY BOOTS, REUNION, the Broadway national tour of RIVERDANCE (Lagan Company), the Broadway national tour of THE COLOR PURPLE (Gary Griffin, Dir.), the Broadway national tour of Roundabout/Deaf West's seminal production of BIG RIVER, WHERE'S CHARLEY? (The Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.), SHOW BOAT (Goodspeed Opera House), ABYSSNINA, and the Broadway national tour of the super-hit THE BOOK OF MORMON.
Among his many concert appearances, Mr. Damane has also collaborated with Galt MacDermot, composer of the iconic musicals HAIR & TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA, on numerous recordings and concert performances of his newer works, as well as his classic hits, including performances at legendary Carnegie Hall, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Great Hall at Cooper Union. He was also a member of the vocal group THE JENNY BURTON EXPERIENCE, performing at New York's legendary Don't Tell Mama and Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. David studies voice in New York with noted teacher/coach Arthur Levy.
David's film and television credits include, among MANY others, LAW & ORDER, LAW & ORDER: SVU, ALL MY CHILDREN, ONE LIFE TO LIVE, HOPE AND FAITH, the recurring role of 'Dr. Arthur Kirby' on GUIDING LIGHT, Sony Pictures' AMERICA, 'Maurice Owens' on NBC's CHICAGO FIRE and CHICAGO PD, CBS's INSTINCT, 'Eddie McKay' on the Cinemax original series JETT, and as 'Leo Abbott' on the CW's reboot of DYNASTY. Voice-overs include numerous audio books, PBS's AMERICAN MASTERS series, Spokesperson for both Bengay and Blue Cross Blue Shield, and the video games World of Warcraft and Ubisoft's WATCH DOGS.
He was the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of New York's Ritual Theatre Company, is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Ritual Group, and is a proud member of Actors Equity Association's Paul Robeson Citation Award Committee.
Photo by Popio Stumpf Photography