Who is David Harris?
I am an actor and singer currently playing The Baker in Victorian Opera’s Into The Woods. I am loyal, logical, a thinker, dreadfully impatient, fussy, a perfectionist, a confessed worrier, a home body who loves delivering Dad jokes whenever possible and going to the gym.
What would you do differently to what you do now?
I would love to be more patient. If I have an idea, I want to action it and see it come to fruition as quickly as possible, which can cause me to be impatient and frustrated too easily when that cannot happen or when people don’t follow through. I would like to react differently.
Who inspires you and why?
People who love what they do inspire me along with those people who show great passion for what they do. I find enthusiasm, positivity and passion addictive and contagious and I love being around those types of people. I am inspired by people who have fought to get what they want and didn’t settle for mediocrity. Happy people inspire me most.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I have always wanted, but have yet done so, go into schools and chat to kids about my story and to tell kids that their time at school is only a small blip on the whole timeline of their lives and that there is a whole new an exciting life awaiting them outside of school. At school, I was so concerned that I needed to be a certain way or another and I certainly see life outside of those awkward teenage years a thousand times better.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Any place where I can delve into another culture far removed from my own, then lie on some sand, or deck chair in the hot sun at the end of the trip.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take then to, and why?
I usually take them to whatever great café or restaurant I have found recently or an old favourite. I love a good coffee and a great chat up over one, or two cups of good coffee.
What are you currently reading?
I am currently madly reading the Into the Woods script!! There are so many words and lyrics that for the past few weeks, that is all I have been reading. I don’t think I have been in a show before that has me spitting out so many words, so quickly.
What are you currently listening to?
Robbie Williams Swing Both Ways album.
Happiness is?
Ask any spiritual leader and happiness is hard to describe quickly, but I think true happiness comes from a sense of acceptance and peace from within no matter what the external circumstances are. We can all be “happy” in the moments when good things present themselves, but happiness is remaining peaceful and happy even when they are gone and the “bad” circumstances are present. I want happiness like that.
What does the future hold for you?
The immediate future after Into The Woods is touring my own show, Time is a Traveller to Melbourne, Brisbane and Newcastle in August, then a short holiday before I relocate to New York in September. I am looking forward to all the new adventure that awaits me there.
Since being awarded a MO Award for Best New Talent in 1997, David Harris has become one of Australia’s most acclaimed leading men of his generation. He began his musical theatre career in the original Australian production of Mamma Mia!, after touring as an original cast member of The Boy from Oz.
David has received critical acclaim and award nominations (Helpmann & Sydney Theatre Awards) for his performance in Miss Saigon (Chris), Wicked (Fiyero), and Legally Blonde (Emmett) – winning the Green Room Award for Best Actor in a Lead Role in a Musical. He received a GLUG Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance in LOVEBiTES.
Other highly regarded performances include: Damn Yankees, Little Woman, The Pajama Game, Fiddler on the Roof, The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Gutenberg! -The Musical and Children of Eden.
In concert, David has toured with UK musical theatre star Michael Ball and Lea Salonga, and the celebration of the music of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil – Do You Hear The People Sing? Earlier this year, he played the Beast in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in concert at Melbourne Zoo, and in concert with Lucy Durack at Taronga Zoo in their show, Wickedly Broadway.
David’s television credits include Rescue Special Ops, Blue Heelers, Neighbours and numerous advertising campaigns for both Australia and the U.S. as well as live performances on Mornings with Kerri-Anne, The Morning Show and Carols in the Domain. He has released two solo albums, ‘Til The Night Is Gone and At this Stage and is featured on the original cast recordings of Breast Wishes, LOVEBiTES, The Boy From Oz and Showqueen Sessions 1.
David will next be seen as The Baker in the Victorian Opera production of Into the Woods at Arts Centre Melbourne (19 – 26 July), and following an extended sold-out season at Sydney’s Hayes Theatre, Time is a Traveller will tour the east coast in August, with shows in Melbourne (6 – 8 August), Brisbane (9 August) and Newcastle (16 August). For more information, visit: www.davidharrisofficial.com for details.
Image: David Harris
