DAVID NEHLS
As a composer/lyricist, David has supplied music and lyrics for the following: THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL (Dodger Stages/ 2007 National Tour/ 2004 NYMF Festival/2008 Edinburgh Festival/ Produced Regionally), THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK CHRISTMAS MUSICAL (Licensed by Broadway Licensing and performed nationwide), BROADWAY BARES 19 &20 (Opening Numbers for both years as well as the 2016 opening number for BROADWAY BARES FIRE ISLAND), I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (World Premiere 2016 at the Arvada Center For The Arts And Humanities), THE WATERCOOLERS (2002 Off Broadway Production/ 2007 National Tour/ Continuing Industrials) BREACH (Evolution Theatre Company), A MIDNIGHT CLEAR, PANTO SLEEPING BEAUTY, PANTO MOTHER GOOSE (All 3 at Stages Repertory Theatre), IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1993 National Tour/Produced Regionally), KILLER WIGS FROM OUTER SPACE (2017 NYMF, workshop production 2016 CU Boulder and Short Animation Project, GenCon Selection- 2013, Terror Film Festival, Philadelphia-2013), THE WIND (Arvada Center, Stories On Stage), MOMMIE DEAREST which he has collaborated with Christina Crawford. David is the co-creator of MISS RHYTHM- THE LEGEND OF RUTH BROWN with his collaborator Sheryl McCallum which has been produced at the Denver Center Galleria Theatre, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center (during covid) and Stages Houston. DO YOU WANNA GO? is a new, personal show which David has performed to sold out houses in Denver (Champagne Tiger), New York (Don't Tell Mama) and Key West (Birdcage Cabaret).
As a Musical Director, David has conducted and MD'd 50 productions at the Arvada Center For The Arts and Humanities in Colorado, winning 10 Henry Awards, 5 for Musical Direction (2008/2009/2013/2014/2024) and 5 for Best Musical Production of the year (2007/2008/2009/2011/2013). He has also worked regionally as MD at such theaters as Denver Center, Stages St. Louis, Stages Houston, The Riverside Theatre -Vero Beach Fl, The Aurora Fox Theatre-Denver, Miners Alley Performing Arts Center, AMT of San Jose, Theatre Aspen, ICA Boston, Theatreworks Hartford, Carousel Dinner Theatre-Akron OH.
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He has also acted as Musical Director/Composer/Arranger/ Musical Supervisor for CAROLS FOR A CURE, a holiday CD benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS for the years 1998-2005.
An actor for 16 years, David has appeared in the National Tours of Me And My Girl (Sir Jasper Tring), Ziegfeld, A Night At The Follies (Eddie Cantor), City Of Angels (Sonny, The Gangster) and Little Shop Of Horrors (Seymour). From 1996 to 2000 he toured with the European Tour of The Rocky Horror Show originating the role of Riff Raff. Regionally, David has been seen as Cosme McMoon in Souvenir, Tom Sawyer in Big River, Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, George M. Cohan in George M! and The Top Banana in Little Rhody's Big Burlesque opposite Gennifer Flowers.
David was Vice President of the Historic Elitch Gardens Theatre Foundation (2014-16) to restore the 125 year old Elitch Theatre in Denver, CO. He has served as Co-Chairman of the Elitch Theatre New Works Festival 2015-16. David is also a member of BMI and is represented by Chris Till at Paradigm Agency NY and Christopher Belcher at RwB.
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