“Harris is the archetypal leading man, bringing a commanding stage presence, a superb voice and undeniable magnetism to his performance”
The Music, 2018
Biography
With a celebrated and highly acclaimed career in his native country Australia, David now divides his time living and working in New York, London and Australia. In the USA, 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. He recently originated the role of Max Bronfman in Stephen Schwartz’s new production of Rags at Goodspeed and performed at 92Y Lyrics and Lyricists celebrating the career of Lynn Ahrens in May 2018. He has performed in various readings and workshops, including Jekyll & Hyde, Chasing Rainbows and the new musical 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, was invited to sing the American and Australian National Anthems at the ANZAC Day ceremonies and starred alongside Sutton Foster, Aaron Tveit, Betty Buckley and Stephen Schwartz in Defying Gravity – the songs of Stephen Schwartz in 2016. In Australia, David was awarded a Green Room Award for Best Actor as well as Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations for his portrayal of Emmett Forrest in Legally Blonde (directed by Jerry Mitchell) 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. 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. In 2018 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. David returned to the Australian stage in 2021 to star as Anatoly Sergievsky in Chess alongside Silvie Paladino. 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. On television, David has been seen in many TV commercial campaigns spanning the last 20 years and has appeared in guest roles on Australian television dramas including Neighbours, Blue Heelers and Rescue: Special Ops. Film credits include The Eye of the Storm starring Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis and South Pacific starring Glenn Close and Harry Connick Jnr. 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. David recently starred alongside Sutton Foster, Aaron Tveit, Betty Buckley, Joanna Ampil and Helen Dallimore in Defying Gravity – the songs of Stephen Schwartz. 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 most recent 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.