Interactive & Educational Magic Shows for
Schools & Libraries in New York. New Jersey, and Connecticut
So who is this guy,
David Moreland
'The Great & Powerful Dave'?
I was a shy kid who was quick with a wisecrack when, during third grade, I discovered that magic was the perfect way for a quiet kid to showcase their sense of humor. I’d regularly walk a mile and a half to the Elma Public Library (thirty minutes southeast of Buffalo), camp out there for hours, and pore over the kid’s magic books.
Using what I learned, I built a magic stand out of scrap wood and put on shows for the neighborhood kids. I have such happy memories of those times, it’s no surprise that, as an adult, I created an elementary school assembly program, ‘The Magic of Reading’, which combines my love of conjuring with my love of libraries.
Even in diapers, I seemed destined to entertain. That's my big sister, Diane.
After high school, 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.
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“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 fun, interactive magic shows for kids, and soon I was not just a professional actor; I was a professional magician too!
In ‘The Taming of the Shrew’ at Pennsylvania’s Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble.
In my teens, I set aside magic when I discovered theater. I was in all the high school plays & musicals, and – a huge perk – I formed many friendships that endure to this day. (In my bullying-prevention show, ‘Stop Bullying Now!’, I talk about the importance of working to find ‘your people’; others who share your interests, give you a sense of belonging, boost your self-esteem, and insulate you from the worst effects of bullying.)
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 schools, libraries, and 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 mom knitted that sweater, and I wore it on the show!)
When our daughters were born, my wife & I left Los Angeles to raise them in beautiful Ithaca, New York. Now, the girls have flown the coop – the younger one studies textiles in Sweden, and the older is a chemical engineer in New Orleans! – and I've moved to Manhattan. Here, I use everything I’ve learned – from those magic books at the public library, from being an actor on stage & screen, and from being a dad -- to entertain and educate young people at schools and libraries throughout New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
Now, I look forward to speaking with you about bringing a
Great & Powerful show to your school or library!
