Absolutely wonderful! The best (assembly program) I have seen so far. Kids were engaged the entire time...and it was an amazing way to reinforce our school's (program)."
Christine Soderman, Guidance Counselor
Godwin Elementary School
Midland Park (Bergen Co.), NJ
Magical, Interactive, Educational Shows for
Schools & Libraries in New York. New Jersey, and Connecticut
A little bit about
The Great and Powerful Dave
Is your child shy? Or a ham? When I was a kid, I was both. I think many born-performers are like that; in everyday life, they're quiet observers of other people, but when they get onstage, the inner-goofball emerges.
When I was in elementary school, I discovered that magic was a great way to showcase my goofiness. I grew up in the small town of Elma, New York where I checked out every kid’s magic book at my public library, built a magic stand out of scrap wood, and I put on shows for the neighborhood kids.
In my teens, I set aside my interest in magic when I discovered theatre. I attended the University of Michigan, and then became a professional stage actor. I was hired as a resident actor with a small theatre company in Pennsylvania and, in my first season, they were mounting a children’s theatre production of the King Arthur tales and needed someone to play Merlin the Magician.
“Any of you know any magic?” the director asked the actors in the company. No one responded. “Well, um”, I hesitated, “I did when I was a kid, but I haven’t…” “OK,” the director said, “you’re Merlin!”
And so it began – again. After creating the magical effects for that show and performing them as Merlin, my interest in magic was rekindled. I used the skills I had gained as an actor to create a zany kids magic show, and soon I was not just a professional actor; I was a professional magician too!
Even in diapers, I seemed destined to entertain. That's my big sister, Diane.
In ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ at Pennsylvania’s Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble.
Ultimately, my interests as an actor took me to Hollywood, where I appeared in over 50 TV episodes and movies, including some of funniest and most-beloved: Seinfeld, Friends, Will & Grace, and Legally Blonde. During those years, I also performed kids’ magic shows at hundreds of private parties; sometimes for Hollywood A-listers and their children.
Over three seasons, I appeared as Ted Danson’s obnoxious next-door-neighbor, Mr. Grenquist, in his sitcom Becker.
My wife and I left Los Angeles to raise our two daughters, Olivia & Geneva, in beautiful Ithaca, New York. And now that the girls are in college, I'm based in Manhattan, using everything I’ve learned – from being an actor on stage & screen, and from being a dad -- to entertain kids with my Zoom magic shows. So whether your child is shy or outgoing, watch me bring out the goofball in them as the star of their own Zoom magic show!