NEWS &
REVIEWS
ONCE @ Miner's Ally
08.26.2019
Ray Bailey
Theatre Barn Will Live Stream Excerpts From New Mommie Dearest Musical
03.31.2020
MARK PEIKERT - Playbill
After a memoir, a film, and a solo show, Christina Crawford now brings her story to the musical stage. With a book by Crawford based on her 1978 memoir, and a score by Crawford and David Nehls (The Great American Trailer Park Musical), the Mommie Dearest musical will get a sneak peek April 7 when New York Theatre Barn live streams two of its songs on YouTube with stars Tina Scariano (Christina) and Charlie Levy (Christopher).
"Mommie Dearest The Musical" Excerpts
04.07.2020
Music Director David Nehls creates a new arrangement of the National Anthem, and his singers ‘melt some faces’
March 4, 2019/in Cabaret /by John Moore, Senior Arts Journalist
Music Director, composer, conductor and lyricist David Nehls didn’t play sports growing up. So when he was asked to create a new arrangement of the National Anthem to be performed at recent sold-out Denver Broncos and Denver Nugget games, he says with a laugh, “This is what finally put me over the top with my family.”
BWW Review: THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL IS ZANY, CRAZY, AND THE MOST FUN YOU'LL HAVE IN A LONG TIME
May 7, 2018
By P'nina Topham
Broadway World
THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL reminds me of one of those weird news stories that takes place in Florida, right down to the shaking my head at 'how on earth did that happen?!?' Because, I ask seriously, how on earth did a musical like this happen? How did Nehls and Kelso create something packed with extreme stereotypes, that somehow comes across as genuine and totally authentic? How is it possible that a farcical production that first premiered in 2005 could speak so saliently to America today regarding judgement of others? And, pointedly toward myself, how on earth had I never heard of this great show before?
'Xanadu' Hits Denver Stage
01.22.2019
Gregg Moody
CBS4 Denver
Your First Look at Denver Center's 'Xanadu'
11.06.2018
Denver Center of Performing Arts
This is a musical adventure about following your dreams despite the limitations others set for you, with an original score composed by pop-rock legends Jeff Lynne and John Farrar.The director is Joel Ferrell, who most recently choreographed the DCPA Theatre Company’s DeVotchKa-infused Sweeney Todd and directed Off-Center’s 'Drag-On.' His cast includes Denver Center favorites Lauren Shealy, Sheryl McCallum, Sarah Rex, Marco Robinson and Aaron Vega. 'Xanadu' performs in the Garner Galleria Theatre through April 28, 2019.
PASSING STRANGE
at The Aurora For Arts Center
April 2018
REVIEW: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH at The Aurora For Arts Center
January 2018
By Michael Mulhern
Denver Theatre Perspectives
Director Nick Sugar is no stranger to Hedwig having played the title role to critical acclaim in the past. I believe that it was his intimate knowledge of the character and the musical that brought every aspect together and made this such an amazing production. Nick along with Music Director David Nehls found the best talent for this show and pushed this cast to make Hedwig one of the best productions I have seen at the Aurora Fox.
The Great AmericanTrailer Park Musical's award winning Gypsy Of The Year performance
Neil Simon Theatre, December, 2005
Cathy Trien, Marya Grandy, Tony Holds, Traci Jai Edwards, Leslie Kritzer
Band- David Matos, Paul Ranieri, Chris Jago
'Wild Party' Planners
12.7.2017
By Lisa Kennedy
American Theatre
"Musical director David Nehls—who has a home at the local Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities—came onboard when Off-Center was planning Rocky Horror. In another life, he had originated the role of Riff Raff for the show’s European tour. “Honestly, I was told on a conference call with Amanda and Charlie that we’d be doing The Wild Party and, no lie, I was going to quit,” Nehls admitted. “‘The Wild Party—we’re going to do that?’ It was a bear. I almost ran screaming. I didn’t, and I’m glad I didn’t.”
Still, it was a steep hill to climb. “This particular musical has a reputation as being one of the most difficult musical scores written for commercial theatre,” Nehls said. “So I was thinking, How are we going to take this very dense orchestration, very dense choral writing and put it into this immersive situation?”
I'm Now A Wiki!
12.7.2017
Check out my Wikipedia page!!
Daniel Langhoff Celebration of Life
"Shine"
Music and lyrics by David Nehls Vocal: Megan Van De Hey Piano/arrangement: David Nehls Cello: Sonya Matoussova Violin: William Lundgren Video: Robert Michael Saunders
December 5, 2017
Your first look at Off-Center's
"The Wild Party"
10.18.2017
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Directed by Amanda Berg Wilson
Music Director - David Nehls
Video by DCPA Video Producer David Lenk
Tickets and Information: wildpartydenver.com
David Nehls revisits "Rocky Horror"
2.27.2017
University of Colorado Boulder Theatre & Dance
The original Riff Raff from the West End production of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is the Music Director of our production opening this weekend!
Historic Elitch Gardens Theater Has Come Back To Life
CBS4 DENVER 8.23.2015
“The first live performances in this theater since 1991,” David Nehls with the Historic Elitch Gardens Theater Foundation said.
Nehls says the Shakespeare-inspired building was abandoned in 1991 after spending nearly a century employing some of show business’ best and brightest.
'The Wild Party' Takes Us Back To The Roaring 20's (REVIEW)
10.24.2017
CBS4Denver
Greg Moody
KILLER WIGS FROM OUTER SPACE
CU BOULDER 2016 WORKSHOP
PHAMALY’S EVITA CONFRONTS COMPLEXITIES OF POLITICS, CLASS, GENDER
CRAIG WILLIAMSON
NORTH DENVER TRIBUNE 7.21.2016
DU CAMPUS — Eva Peron was a fascinating historical figure. Born in poverty, she became an actress and then went on to marry Juan Peron, two years before he was elected president of Argentina. As First Lady, she was beloved by the masses who looked to her as their protector. In the 64 years since her death, she has achieved iconic status, with her story told in books, films, and the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Weber stage musical Evita, being performed by Phamaly, the theater company working to inspire people to re-envision disability through professional theater...
As expected, the quality of the music is excellent. Donna Debreceni and David Nehls, two of Denver’s best musical directors, worked together on this show, and the result is just gorgeous. Solos and ensemble pieces cover the extremes of dynamic range, from big and powerful to intimate and tender. Co-Choreographers Debbie Stark and Ronnie Gallup have the cast in near constant movement, synchronized then diverging, selectively taking advantage of what this cast can do.
Elitch Theatre celebrates 125 years with gala event
By Joe Vaccarelli
Denver Post AUGUST 19, 2015
"This summer, 125 years after Elitch Theatre opened, there’s a chance that future generations of actors will get the start that Hollywood legends such as Grace Kelly, Vincent Price and Douglas.."
FULL ARTICLE - DENVERPOST.COM
Comcast News Makers: David Nehls
Historic Elitch Theatre Foundation
August 2013
Elitch Theatre Announces Summer Film Series
KUSA-TV - 4pm News
May 2013
After 24 years, live performances return to Historic Elitch Theatre
JOANNE OSTROW
The Denver Post August 18, 2015
This week, it will once again host live performances. After a multi-phase, years- long renovation, the theatre re-emerges as a Denver cultural landmark open to the public with the New Works Festival, Thursday through Saturday. “You'll still see paint peeling,” said David Nehls, vice president of the board.
FULL ARTICLE - DENVERPOST.COM
Old Nappy Le Pube - Killer Wigs Cartoon
Tera HorrorFilm Festival - Philadelphia, PA 2013
GenCon - Indianapolis, IN 2013
"A Small White Sail Boat"
Martha Hawley Tribute
2012
Kirk Montgomery Tours Elitch Theatre
Live With David Nehls
2012
KUSA - 4pm News
Ragtime History with David Nehls
City of Arvada, CO
8.25.2011
The Arvada Center opens it's 2011-2012 theater season with "Ragtime". We talked to music director David Nehls about the history and music of that era. See "Ragtime" at The Arvada Center
September 13 - October 2, 2011.
"I'm A Princess" from short film
ROGUE EAGLE CREEK
Performed by Jessica Lauhere
Pringles, Double-Wides and Wal-Mart Gags in Bulk
Charles Isherwood
The New York Times September 28, 2005
"Mr. Nehls's music is more appealing if not markedly original, a blend of pop idioms ranging from country balladry to R&B to rockabilly. In one of the show's splashier numbers, a homage to the Weather Girls' "It's Raining Men" (that's fancy talk for rip-off), virtually the whole cast gets to make like bad drag queens and twirl around in garish wigs and shiny swirls of synthetic fabric."
Breach
Avenue Theater, Denver, CO 2011
Rock the Cabaret fundraiser for Breach
"Things I'll Never Be" excerpt
March 13, 2011
Meet David Nehls, Musical Director of Schoolhouse Rock
CITY OF ARVADA MARCH 4, 2010
Arvada Center dominates with 12 Henry Awards
JOHN MOORE
The Denver Post - JUNE 29, 2009
The Colorado Theatre Guild’s fourth annual celebration of the best in Denver-area theater turned into mostly a coronation of the Arvada Center’s record-obliterating “Les Miserables” on Monday night ...
Souvenir 2006: David Nehls & Alex Ryer
The Arvada Center
"Good Time Gone Bad" by David Nehls
performed by Kevin Cahoon & Ghetto Cowboy
Joe's Pub - October 15, 2006
DENVER'S GONE TO POT!
Great American Trailer Park Musical
Off Broadway - New World Stages, NY
Betsy Kelso, David Nehls
September 22, 2005 - December 4, 2005
"Desperado" performed by David Nehls
Choreography Showcase
The Mazer Theatre, NYC - 2002
Choreography by Caroline Younger
Dance by Brian Barry
Piano and Vocals David Nehls
THEATER IN REVIEW; 'The Great American Trailer Park Musical'
CAMILLE SWEENEY
The New York Times OCT. 1, 2004
"...With music and lyrics by David Nehls, and book by the comedy writer and performer Betsy Kelso, this heartfelt, humorous look at trailer park life is surely destined for bigger things. Every song is full of surprises, as the music slips across the dial of American radio from country to blues to rock to disco to bump and grind and R&B..."