'TIL THE NIGHT IS GONE - DEBUT ALBUM

"DAVID Harris, who excited music theatre fans in Miss Saigon, The Full Monty and a clutch of Production Company shows, makes an equally impressive CD debut, beginning brilliantly with Save the Last Dance for Me. Harris treats it slowly and sensuously, turning potboiler pop into something meaningful. So it goes with the rest of the album. His liquid-light tenor voice, with its beguiling falsetto, clear and devoid of artifice, compels attention to the words. Peter Allen (I Honestly Love You), Dorothy Fields (The Way You Look Tonight) and Maxwell Anderson (Lost in the Stars) are among the lyricists who benefit from his intelligent interpretations. So does Lorenz Hart, even though his Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered was written to be sung by a woman. The program includes You Walk with Me from The Full Monty and reunites Harris with Miss Saigon's Laurie Cadevida for Last Night of the World. Bev Kennedy's reflective piano accompaniments are right on the button but this voice deserves to be heard with an orchestra. Perhaps next time. Harris will perform material from his album in cabaret at the Sofitel on Sunday, November 22."  4/5 stars - THE AGE. 

"When David Harris performed the lead in Cameron Mackintosh's revival of Miss Saigon in 2007, he gave one of the year's most truthful and moving stage portrayals. It earned him Helpmann and Sydney Theatre award nominations. The chemistry between Harris and leading lady, Laurie Cadevida, generated more heat than the tropical hell the love-torn protagonists found themselves in. 

A glimmer of that magical pairing features as a bonus track on Harris's debut solo album, Til The Night Is Gone. The album is a marked change of pace from the toe-tapping, heart-stopping tunes of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Fiddler on the Roof and Miss Saigon. 

The recording brings Harris's bright, lyrical voice to the fore in versions of So Close from Disney's Enchanted, You Walk With Me from The Full Monty, and Peter Allen's seldom-recorded ballad Harbour" - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

“Harris has always been an open, emotive performer on stage, whose rich and strong voice carries and enhances a story but on CD he is even more sensitive” – SUNDAY HERALD SUN    

"MUST HEAR - Harris has starred in his share of Australia's musical theatre productions. His debut album showcases his stunning personal touch on classics like Always On My Mind and I Honestly Love You.  4/5 stars - SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

"a mellow, fluid album of standards and rare gems" - DNA Magazine

"Til The Night Is Gone is the debut album from leading man, David Harris. It's a terrific album of low-key ballads, sung by a performer with a major voice. There's plenty of Peter Allen, including "I Honestly Love You" and "I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love", plus Rogers and Hart's "Bewitched", Kurt Weills' "Lost In The Stars" and Jerome Kern's "The Way You Look Tonight" and the underrated "How Could I Ever Know". His Miss Saigon co-star, Laurie Cadevida, joins him for a reprise or their duet, "Last Night Of The World". Musical direction and arrangements are by the astonishing Bev Kennedy, who certainly knows her way around a keyboard, with vocal arrangements by Harris, and musical supervision by veteran Max Lambert. Highly recommended"  4/5 stars - STAGE WHISPERS

"He was powerful as the troubled hero Chris in Cameron Mackintosh's gritty reinterpretation of Miss Saigon and hardly less so as the dedicated leader Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof and baseball star Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees. But there is also a soft side to David Harris as this personally produced debut recording so emphatically, and entertainingly, reveals.

His very individual take (in tandem with unfailing empathetic piano accompanist, musical arranger and joint-producer Bev Kennedy) on the opening ballad, Save The Last Dance For Me, and other similarly familiar repertoire gems could legitimately define the term, laid-back music.

His clarion light tenor, at times soaring to effortless falsetto, is the perfect instrument for Harris's chosen program and his rendition of Perter Allen-Carol Bayer Sager classic I'd Rather Leave While I'm In Love is eerily reminiscent of that late, lamented superstar's own".

4/5 stars - SUNDAY HERALD SUN 24/01/10

'TIL THE NIGHT IS GONE - IN CABARET

Based on his own debut album by the same name, David Harris brings ‘Til The Night Is Gone to the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Accompanied by Bev Kennedy on piano, Harris takes the audience through songs about his career, from competitions in RSL halls, being constantly upstaged by a chicken parmigiana, through to playing lead roles in The Fully Monty and Thoroughly Modern Millie, and songs about that thing songs are always about: love. This use of a mix of songs supporting the biographical narrative and running in accompaniment gives Harris a chance to show off both the best of his voice and his personality. 

Harris has a personality beautifully suited to the cabaret stage: he is warm and open with his audience, retelling stories with humour and pathos. A very generous performer, he allows the audience a connection not only through the humorous stories and re-enactments (complete with audience participation and blonde wigs), but also to the more vulnerable and serious moments of his life. 

Harris has a surprising voice: a rich tenor with a mix of straight-tone and vibrato lead to beautiful interpretations of standards such as “Save The Last Dance For Me” and “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered”, yet then he will come out with the story of how (for two days) he trained in yodelling, or perform for us an opera classic (with “completely improvised” guest star Marika Aubrey), and a high and clear falsetto will break forth. 

Last in Adelaide for Miss Saigon, playing his dream role of Chris, Harris recounted the story of his first job in Sydney, where he ushered for Miss Saigon and every night watched his dream role in his dream show. In a highlight of the cabaret show, Harris sung “Why God Why?” from the show, and the power and emotion of the character, which shone through in the Artspace Gallery, was beautiful. 

‘Til The Night Is Gone is a show with charm, heart, a killer voice, and just down right sex appeal. David Harris is very rightly a leading man of Australian music theatre, and is clearly a star on the cabaret stage. - AUSTRALIAN STAGE

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DAVID Harris weaves his own magical journey of song.

From a young boy hero-worshipping Peter Allen through talent shows in Sydney's RSL clubs to a lead role in a 15-month run of Miss Saigon, he pays homage to the songs and roles which shape his career.

He shares too, with the audience, the stories behind classics such as Allen's I Honestly Love You and what it meant to him when he landed the role of Chris in Miss Saigon.By the time he delivers one of the most beautiful renditions of Don McLean's Starry Starry Night in a pure voice, he has his crowd spellbound and asking for more. - THE ADVERTISER

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"This archetypal crooner possesses much more than just a fine voice. As one of Australia’s rising musical theatre stars, David Harris has the knack of beguiling an audience with his charm and wit. 

After an initial couple of songs in true swing style, Harris’s humour came to the fore, highlights being his tales of coming up through the talent quests in NSW RSL clubs and his double act with friend and colleague Marika Aubrey. After a jaunt into audience participation and some yodelling instruction, it’s back to business, which in this case is delivering some of the finest interpretations of well known songs heard on that stage. 

While Harris isn’t afraid to go for the belt, he’s also fearless with the quiet songs. His renditions of ‘Always on My Mind’, and ‘Vincent’ will live on in the memory" ADELAIDE THEATRE GUIDE

AT THIS STAGE

Versatile leading man David Harris will please theatre fans with his new release At This Stage, featuring more than a dozen classic favourites from the world of musicals.

Having worked as a professional actor for almost 15 years, Harris has built a legion of fans and an impressive catalogue of hit roles. His first album, ‘Til The Night Is Gone, was a collection of mellow, heartfelt ballads, featuring only a smattering of Broadway, while At This Stage is all show tunes. The choice of tracks has obviously been made very carefully, with Harris’ personal connection to the songs shining through. 

With two of Harris’ signature songs already included on his first album (“I Honestly Love You” from The Boy From Oz and the gorgeous “You Walk With Me” from Harris’ first high profile leading role, Malcolm, in The Full Monty), another two he has performed on stage are featured this time. Arguably his biggest role to date has been Chris in the Australian tour of Miss Saigon, and “Why God, Why?” is the big tenor solo from this thrilling show. Currently a member of the cast of Wicked, which opened in Singapore this week, Harris has teamed with current Elphaba Gemma Rix for the stirring act two duet “As Long As You’re Mine”.

 Broadway legends Rodgers and Hammerstein are well represented with three songs. The gorgeous “If I loved You” from Carousel benefits from a new and unusual piano arrangement – take away the vocal and it would be difficult to pick this song. “Younger Than Springtime” is a match made in heaven for Harris’ tender, earnest style. Is this, perhaps, an audition of sorts?

A pair of songs usually reserved for much older voices achieves varied results. “The Impossible Dream” makes absolute sense as the dreams of a passionate young man. “Bring Him Home” makes beautiful use of Harris’ exquisite falsetto but is not as well suited to a younger interpretation, with the latter stages becoming more of a power ballad than a gentle prayer. Maybe we will see Harris in this role on stage in about 25 years time.

In addition to current leading lady Rix, Harris has drawn on the contributions of another couple of colleagues. Kellie Rode joins him for a West Side Story medley and it must be mentioned that Rode displays a bell-like soprano that it is difficult to recollect ever hearing in the theatre. Lucy Durack, Australia’s own Kristin Chenoweth, joins Harris for the gorgeous duet “I See The Light” that will have listeners rushing out to watch their Tangled blu-ray again.

Other time-honoured selections “Corner of the Sky” (Pippin) and “Anthem” (Chess) suit Harris’ talents well, and their inclusion makes his liner notes about listening to these favourites in his car, gunning the accelerator, even clearer. “Unchained Melody” is probably the most recent track on the recording, although it is much closer in style to the Righteous Brothers’ recording heard in the movie than the way Sam sings it in the new stage musical Ghost. “Unexpected Song” brings the album to a stirring, emotional conclusion.

 A hallmark of Harris’ style throughout is his sincere, candid tone, which reveals many of the lyrics as if heard for the first time. With time-honoured classics like these that is some achievement. 

Kudos to Harris’ co-producer David Cameron, who played all instruments apart from drums and cello, which is a truly remarkable effort. The unique arrangements of the songs add significantly to the interest and character of the album.

Any theatregoer who has enjoyed watching Harris in a theatre is sure to enjoy At This Stage. Congratulations to all involved for the effort, skills and love that has gone into this recording. Fingers crossed that we will have the chance to hear the material live as was the case with ‘Til The Night Is Gone. - THEATRE PEOPLE

BREAST WISHES

“David Harris, the only man in the cast, is totally endearing as the mere male who morphs from negligent boyfriend, through Mills and Boon hunk and oleaginous plastic surgeon, to supportive husband of a wife about to undergo total mastectomy” - Courier Mail

“The team of five women and one solitary - and brave – man (David Harris) hold the audience in the palm of their hands from the opening number” – ABC Brisbane

DAMN YANKEES

“Harris is the perfect, muscular golden boy Joe Hardy. He blends naivety, honesty and ambition and his voice has warmth and emotional quality. Morley and Harris sing Two Lost Souls, a sexy, peppy duet, with passion” - Sun Herald

 “With his strong, bright voice, Harris delivers a fine performance as the enthusiastic, morally incorruptible Joe. He manages to bring a genuine touch of charm to the role without resorting to outright sentimentality, particularly in the lilting love song, ‘A Man Doesn’t Know’.” – AussieTheatre.com

“David Harris is perfect as the young star player who longs to be back home, and is especially touching with Goodbye, Old Girl and Near to You.” – Australian Stage Online

“…the young baseballer Joe Hardy, played by a splendid David Harris… Damn Yankees is blessed with an even and powerfully talented cast” – The Australian

“McHunky Joe Hardy, new star player for the Senators… Dreamy leading man Harris is perfectly cast, capturing the dilemma of Joe’s double life and selling each song beautifully. He also enjoys sparkling chemistry with the stunning Morley… Their 11 o’clock number ‘Two Lost Souls’ was superb.”  – Theatre People

Harris plays Joe with easy conviction and sings extremely well… the second-act trio Near to You, in which Meg and Joe affectingly express their longing, is a highlight, demonstrating the magic of musical theatre when everyone gets it right.”- Jim Murphy, Sunday Herald Sun

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

“Laura Fitzpatrick as Hodel and David Harris as Perchik give the most credible performance”- Herald Sun

GUTENBERG! THE MUSICAL

“Harris and Millar deftly act the lead male and female roles…Harris reveals a vibrant flair for comedy and an appealingly adaptable voice… Gutenberg! The Musical! is a zany, cute and fun vehicle to display their wonderful talents” – Sydney Morning Herald

“David Harris and James Millar boast impressive credentials in musical theatre, and their performances here are brilliant. Both have beautiful voices and spot-on comic timing — as well as boundless stamina to carry this two-hander with nary a breather.” – Sandra Bowen, Reviewer.

“This first Australian production is up to that standard and is blessed with two terrific performers in Harris and Millar. They know their business inside out, sing like angels and have the comic timing of a pair of Swiss watches on laughing gas.” – StageNoise

“The show succeeds on many levels, not the least of which is the endearing qualities of the two stars who prove they have the comedic chops to handle all manner of physical comedy and an array of zany accents… Harris reveals comedic skills heretofore unseen and is a bundle of energy in Bud’s many roles. His sinister Evil Monk, complete with (deliberately) offensive Asian accent and cracking neck, is a hoot.” – TheatrePeople

Both Harris & Millar turn in ‘tour de force’ stupidity. Both of these fine performers give this nonsense to you with elite control, the spontaneity of TheatreSports Olympians, and a joy in ‘play’ that we all too rarely see. To watch the boys at the top of their game and delivering at a speed of the Road Runner on Warp Factor 2001 is an experience you must not miss – but inhale before you enter the theatre. You’ll find it hard after that.
Success on the tightrope on which this brand of scripted comedy balances requires resource, wit, listening and absolute yeilding to the scene partner. And Millar and Harris are exemplary at it… While he may be known for romantic lead roles with a power-ballad or 10, David Harris is at home here. He is funny. Bloody funny.” – Broadway At Bedtime

JOHN & JEN

“wonderfully committed performance…especially from David Harris” – The Australian

“incredible Australian talent” – The Advertiser

“this wonderful two hander…rewarded with a standing ovation” – The advertiser

“Tuckerman and Harris did an incredible job of sweeping us through their evolving relationship… their voices, characters and philosophies” – The Advertiser

“with powerful contributions from singers David Harris and Kaye Tuckerman, this was a real tear-jerker – quite the festival’s most moving and memorable performance.”

LITTLE WOMEN

“The excellent cast is completed by deft performances…especially David Harris (John Brooke)” – Sydney Morning Herald

“Kookaburra’s excellent cast (which also features David Harris) perform with such well-pitched energy that they bring their roles to convincing life and nail all the emotional moments”- The Sunday Telegraph

“David Harris as john Brooke was perhaps understated by comparison with the larger personalities, but still well pitched” – Telegraph

“The show is strongly cast and everyone radiates intense belief in the work” – The Australian

“David Harris gives a fine performance as Laurie’s tutor, John Brooke” - Stagenoise

LOVEBITES

"The second act started with Harris giving an impassioned, emotional plea with his former rock climbing partner that left everyone stunned and firmly at the back of their seats" - DRUM MEDIA

"Harris's acting chops come to the fore strongly as mountaineer Peter turns the tables on Georgina" - SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

"This is a must-see" - THE WEST AUSTRALIAN

MISS SAIGON

“The pairing of lovely-looking, soaring soprano Cadevida and handsome, clarion-voiced Harris works wonders…”  - Variety

“David Harris and Laurie Cadevida are superlative leads who know when to temper open-throated emotion. Their final scene is deeply affecting.”  -  The Herald Sun

“There are some magnificent performances. As the lovers at the heart of the story, Cadevida and Harris really turn up the heat. You believe every moment of their love, snatched from the jaws of a tropical hell, and evoked through a series of fabulously pure yet sensuous duets. The tragic resolution is made more devastating by their compelling chemistry.” - The Age

“David Harris, one of Australia’s leading performers in musical theatre, in the role of Chris was simply electric. Not only can this man sing but he can act – a combination so often lacking in musical theatre performers where often one talent is so much strong than the other. Harris brings a real masculine strength to the role which wins the hearts of the audience right from the start.” – ABC Brisbane

“The cast is exemplary…David Harris excels as the American soldier Chris. Their passion and rapport afford great truthfulness and intensity. They persuade the audience to care about the couple's fleeting union and plight …Miss Saigon pulses along and finds reverie in its ballads and love duets, notably Sun and Moon, and Harris's spirited and thrilling interpretation of Why, God, Why?”  - Sydney Morning Herald

“… an impressive David Harris… powerful duets Sun and Moon and The Last Night of the World.”  - The Australian

“David Harris confirms the leading man potential he displayed in TPC’s Thoroughly Modern Millie last year. Looking tall and masculine, he sings angelically and makes the most of the slightly underwritten role of Chris”  - Theatre People

“Chris played and sung with unrestrained passion by David Harris”  - Geelong Advertiser

“David Harris captures the essence of what can be a difficult role of Chris” – Daily Telegraph

“Without exception, this is an outstanding cast. From imports Laurie Cadevida and Leo Valdez to locals David Harris, Sophie Katinis, Christina Tan and RJ Rosales. These singers are passionate storytellers….David Harris is becoming Melbourne's newest leading male star. Earning his stripes with wonderful performances in The Full Monty and Thoroughly Modern Millie, he excels here as the angry and conflicted American GI. Harris handles the difficult and conflicted Chris with both charisma and boundless energy…While vocally Miss Saigon is a joy, it is the quality of the acting that prevents the production from lapsing into melodrama – The Australian Stage

“Sun and Moon…delivered with a poignant beauty by David Harris’s Chris and Laurie Cadevida’s Kim…The loud applause and cheers he received at the end from the Sydney audience showed the strength of his performance” – Newcastle Herald

“David Harris is a performer of stature” - Stagenoise

“The excellent cast sing superbly. David Harris is hugely charismatic as the thoroughly decent Chris” – Sunday Telegraph

“The lead performer make it a must-see. There is real chemistry between lovers, Kim (Laurie Cadevida) and Chris (David Harris) – their passion in the kissing scenes borders on the pornographic. Sexing up their relationship makes it all the more real and underlies the tragedy of their circumstances” – Bnews

“Cadevida and Harris sizzle together. Their duet, Last Night Of The World, is especially beautiful but they also find great depth in their conflicted characters” – West Australian
 

SCHWARTZ & FRIENDS

"His Q&A with Campbell proved fascinating and he looked on warmly while a range of talents, from David Harris to West End star Carrie Rawlings, performed his impressively crafted and beguiling works. Among many highlights were Harris's Corner Of The Sky from Pippin and Broadway favourite Liz Calloway" - THE AUSTRALIAN

"Well done to David Harris for his stellar contribution" - THE ADVERTISER

TAKE FLIGHT

“Outstanding all-Australian cast” – The Australian

“David Harris shone in the role of Orville Wright” – The Australian

THE BOY FROM OZ

"David Harris was equally divine as Allen’s lover for 15 years Greg Connell, owning I honestly love you with a show-stopping interpretation that was so good and so beautifully performed, that it was as though the song was existing for the very first time." - STAGE WHISPERS

"David Harris, as Allen's partner, sings a heart-wrenchingly beautiful version of I Honestly Love You" - HERALD SUN

"As Allen's lover Greg Connell, David Harris delivered a sensitive, highly credible reading of their complex relationship. His exchanges with Allen were achingly poignant." - THE AUSTRALIAN

"Boyishly handsome, Harris performs I Honestly Love You with sweet tenderness." - THEATRE PEOPLE

THE FULL MONTY

“..the freshness of the cast made it very appealing with fine singing from David Harris as the pigeon-chested Malcolm” – Sunday Herald Sun

“David Harris brings a softer edge with ‘You Walk With Me’” – Sunday Herald Sun

“This show’s a winner and there is not a dud in this Australian production” – The Australian

THE PAJAMA GAME

“David Harris is pleasing and laudable in the difficult role as Prez… not only creating a laughable predator, Harris is also able to gain our trust as the caring and dedicated Union leader.

“Harris plays the geeky, skirt-chasing Prez with relish” – Herald Sun

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE

“David Harris shines as Jimmy Smith” – The Age

“David Harris as Millie's admirer Jimmy and Adam Murphy as Trevor ``the Stiff'' Graydon are hilarious foils” – Herald Sun

“irresistible portrayal of Jimmy Smith” – Sunday

“David Harris has emerged from smaller character parts to bona fide leading man in his role as heart throb Jimmy Smith. He had plenty of charisma and made effortless work of his big act one ballad ‘What Do I Need With Love?” – Theatre People

“David Harris lends his delightful baritone and considerable acting talent to the role of Jimmy Smith… Harris shines in the role, particularly the ballad What Do I Need with Love? He is an actor we’ll definitely be seeing more of.” – Melbourne Stage