HOLDEN & ARTS ASSOCIATES
SHARING STORIES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS SINCE 1983
DAVID GONZALEZ
Produced by RainArt Productions
From New York, NY
photo by Jack Hartin
Resources
About the Company
Critically acclaimed and award-winning artist David Gonzalez offers numerous titles that combine live music with compelling drama and multi-media. His topics range from fairy tales to historical dramas, spoken-word/poetry, epic myths, and community voices, all of which enchant audiences of all ages with stories of love, hope, courage, and wisdom.
From the magical Sleeping Beauty (with music from Bach’s Goldberg Variations) and The Frog Bride (with music by Prokofiev and image projections of Kandinsky paintings) to the hysterical classic Aesop Bops!, David’s unique style of performance adds a fresh spin on traditional tales. His bilingual Cuentos: Tales from the Latinx World both entertains and educates about the rich cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. The Boy Who Could Sing Pictures is about empowering the voices of young people, and his newest work Talking Birds and Golden Fish brings together animal tales from India, Persia, South America, and the Caribbean.
David is also available for short-term or long-term community residencies that combine performance, teaching, workshops and more. (More information below.)
“From sell-out crowds at our main stage to outreach with our migrant community, David was a shining star of humor and inspiration.”
—The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
Best for Grades K + up
Audience Size: Small to Large Venues
Curriculum Connections
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Fine Arts: Dramatic Performance, Performance & Technology
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Literature: Fairy tales, Fables, Myths, Narrative, Storytelling, Poetry, Creative Writing
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World Geography/Culture: Latin America (Cuentos: Tales from the Latino World), Russia (The Frog Bride), Ancient Greece (Aesop Bops!)
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Emotional/Social Development: Perception, Stereotypes, Religion, Abuse, Racism, Anti-Bullying and Tolerance, Compassion and Generosity
Outreach and Workshops
David's emphasis is on collaborative planning and effective project design with community partners, performing arts centers, and local artists. David is available for short-term or long-term residencies and can tailor Outreach and Workshops around the following themes to fit your community’s needs:
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Residency Themes: Creative Writing, Poetry in Performance, Storytelling, Story-gathering, Collaboration and Team Building, Environmental Awareness: Touch the Earth
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Community Events: readings, college-level lectures (music, music therapy, sociology, psychology, creative writing, etc.), storytelling performances in schools, outreach to marginalized communities (elders, hospitals, detention centers, rural areas, immigrant communities, etc.)
David is also the Artistic Director of The Crisalida Community Arts Project. The Crisalida Community Arts Project is an initiative of the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, CA, and funded by The Irvine Foundation. Over two years (2014-2015 & 2015-2016), David spent a total of 6 months in Palm Desert with the goal of collecting, presenting and preserving the stories of the eastern Coachella Valley. For more about the Crisalida Community Arts Project, please read David’s blog.
For more information on David's long-term Community Development residency work to help arts organizations create effective outreach to their Hispanic communities, please visit his website for Crisalida Communications.
David is the proud recipient of three National Endowment for the Arts community Development grants at the University of Iowa, the university of Maryland, and The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, as well as the prestigious Arts Partners Grant from the Association of Performing Arts Professionals for a two-year project with Cleveland Playhouse Square. He is bi-lingual in Spanish.
Performance Minimum Technical Requirements
For Solo or Duet Shows:
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Load In Time: 2 hours
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Crew Needs: 1
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Min. Stage Size: 10x10
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Sound: 16 channel mixer, mics, countryman, monitors
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Load Out Time: 30 mins
For Larger Ensembles:
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Load In Time for Large shows: 4 hours
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Crew Needs: 3
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Min Stage Size: 20 x 20
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Sound: 16 channel mixer, mics, countryman, monitors
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Load Out Time: 1 hour
Critical Acclaim
"With speech, sound, mime, dance and above all, inspired imagination, Mr. Gonzalez has the gift of creating magical worlds and drawing his audience into them. A palpable delight." - The New York Times
"I am used to having my young audiences applaud long and loud but after your performance was the first time ever I’ve heard them actually cheering! Thank you for the extraordinary performance of your original Sleeping Beauty." - Chris Brown, Chris Brown Presents
"From sell-out crowds at our main stage to out-reach with our migrant community David was a shining star of humor and inspiration." - Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
"We’ve been getting such great feedback from teachers, and kids, and the community members that attended... David was a pleasure to work with, and I think was very successful in sparking a conversation, both internally among our staff and boards, and with our audiences, about community engagement and what’s possible...The local elementary school (Meadowdale Elementary) David visited has among the highest populations of Hispanic/Latino students in our district, and they were thrilled to have this opportunity. We specifically offered the workshops to ELL students, with Spanish as their first language. David tailored the program to be in both Spanish and English, and made this group feel very special." —Gillian Jones, Director of Programming, Edmonds Center for the Arts. Edmonds, WA
"[With The Boy Who Could Sing Pictures] David Gonzalez has created another masterpiece for young and old alike. Serving up a generous portion of his keen musicality and deeply rooted, elegant physicality, David’s adaptation of Seymour Leichman’s story is as timely as it is timeless. ‘This was a story I didn’t want to end,’ said a youngster next to me in our multi-generational audience whose members leapt to their feet, excitedly applauding Gonzalez and his brilliant pianist, Daniel Kelly. I’m delighted to present this work again on the McCallum stage in the year ahead. It’s Gonzalez at his very best!” —Kajsa Thuresson-Frary, Director of Education, McCallum Theatre. Palm Desert, CA
Company Background
David is the proud recipient of the 2011 International Performing Arts for Youth "Lifetime Achievement Award for Sustained Excellence". In 2010 Mr. Gonzalez was named a Joseph Campbell Foundation Fellow. He was nominated for a 2006 Drama Desk Award for "Unique Theatrical Experience" for his production of The Frog Bride at Broadway's New Victory Theater. He has created numerous productions, including the critically acclaimed ¡Sofrito! with The Latin Legends Band, and MytholoJazz, both of which enjoyed sold-out runs at New Victory Theater. David's work Wounded Splendor, was the result of a two-year residency and commission from the University of Maryland. Sleeping Beauty, co-commissioned by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Brooklyn College, and The McCallum Theater, premiered in March 2010 and has gone on to tour nationally including a run at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. David was a featured performer at the 2007 National Storytelling Festival, and has performed at festivals in Spain, Switzerland, France, Costa Rica, Norway, Puerto Rico, and throughout the United States. He also appeared for three seasons at the Royal National Theatre in London. Mr. Gonzalez is the Artistic Director for The Alliance for a New Humanity, an international service organization dedicated to peace and sustainability. He received his doctorate from New York University's School of Education.
For more information, please visit David's website: http://www.davidgonzalez.com
AWARE one-on-one profile, interview & introduction to David's work.
PBS Pensacola -WSRE
Talking Birds and Golden Fish
A new storytelling performance featuring animal tales from around the world, including India, Persia, South America, and the Caribbean. The frisky critters have quite a few things to share with us: kindness, silliness, and other life lessons for young and old alike. Stories include Hummingbird and Tree, The Raven and Pigeons, and Margarita and the Golden Fish. Piano accompaniment and arrangements by Daniel Kelly.
Available as duet with piano.
Best for: Grades K- 5th
Please contact us to watch a full length archival recording.
The Boy Who Could Sing Pictures
photo by Jack Hartin
photo by Jack Hartin
photo by Jack Hartin
photo by Jack Hartin
A new production featuring two stories about empowering the voices of young people. In the first story, The Boy Who Could Sing Pictures, adapted from Seymour Leichman’s book, we meet Luca, son of Bustelo-the-jester, who discovers that when he sings for people, spectacular pictures appear in the sky that reflect the truth of the world and people around him. The adventure follows Luca through a summer-long tour of surprises and wonders, and reaches a climax with the command for a royal performance and a fateful encounter with the evil ministers who fear that Luca's songs may reveal too much... Luca learns to trust his talents as he saves the day and the kingdom too!
In the second story, Nina Nails It, based on a Persian tale, a savvy girl teaches a wizard where his true heart resides. The performance features the music of Heitor Villa-Lobos and Astor Piazzolla, along with original compositions and arrangements by Daniel Kelly.
Available as duet with piano and Video Projections. Jury-selected for a "Show" spotlight performance at IPAY 2019.
Best for: Grades 1st- 5th
"David Gonzalez has created another masterpiece for young and old alike. Serving up a generous portion of his keen musicality and deeply rooted, elegant physicality, David’s adaptation of Seymour Leichman’s story is as timely as it is timeless. ‘This was a story I didn’t want to end,’ said a youngster next to me in our multi-generational audience whose members leapt to their feet, excitedly applauding Gonzalez and his brilliant pianist, Daniel Kelly. I’m delighted to present this work again on the McCallum stage in the year ahead. It’s Gonzalez at his very best!” - Kajsa Thuresson-Frary, Director of Education, McCallum Theatre.
Please contact us to watch a full length archival recording.
Sleeping Beauty
A rhymed-verse storytelling spin on the classic fairy tale with live music including Bach's Goldberg Variations, and image projections that create a magical multimedia world in which our beautiful (and funky) princess is awakened by true love's kiss...or not. This production, pulsing with majestic language and high art is scaled to perfection for young audiences and creates a spell of imaginative wonder that brings cheers to the theater.
Available in duet or larger ensemble with Video Projections
Best for Grades: 3rd – 5th
Please contact us to watch a full length archival recording.
Cuentos: Tales from the Latinx World
Cuentos paints a vivid picture of the people and rich cultures of the Spanish-speaking world with colorful tales from the Caribbean, South America, and the Bronx! From the silly antics of the Puerto Rican anti-hero "Juan Bobo" to the mysterious dealings and powers of the Orishas in a suite of Afro-Cuban stories, these tales are filled with memorable characters, fantastic plots and positive messages for children. Spanish language words are sprinkled throughout the stories and songs in such a way that young audiences can repeat and retain their sound and meaning. Solid entertainment and a great introduction to the marvelous world of Latino literature and culture.
Available as a solo, in duet, or larger ensemble.
Cuentos "A" best for Grades: K – 2nd
Cuentos "B" best for Grades: 3rd – 6th
Please contact us to watch a full length archival recording.
Aesop Bops!
Fast-paced, funny, and packed with audience participation, Aesop Bops! features a potpourri of Aesop's classic stories including The Lion and the Mouse, The Fisherman and His Wife, and The Turtle's Shell. This feast of funky, physical storytelling leaves young audiences feeling like they had just performed the show too! Aesop Bops! rocks, and rolls out the red carpet - inviting kids to join in the fun.
Available as solo or duet with keyboard.
Best for Grades: K-3rd
Please contact us to watch a full length archival recording.
The Frog Bride
When a King sends his three sons to find their brides, two return with fair ladies. The last returns with... A FROG?! The Frog Bride is a hip adaptation of a classic Russian tale. Two outstanding musicians weave one of Prokofiev's classics with an original jazz-funk score, as David performs every role against a backdrop of stunning live video projection and moving images by painter Wassily Kandinsky. Filled with comic sparkle, The Frog Bride with David Gonzalez is a "ribbiting" coming-of-age story.
Available as solo, duet with piano, or larger ensemble with Video Projections.
Best for Grades: K -5th
Please contact us to watch a full length archival recording.
¡Sofrito!
¡Sofrito! is a rousing combo of storytelling, classic Mambo and funky new music that delightfully brings the stories and music from Puerto Rico, Cuba, and da' Bronx to the stage. These tales bring to life some of the rich culture and imagery that resonates through the Latino world, and The Latin Legends Band spices up the mix with hot music played by the Grand Masters of the genre. ¡Sofrito! features tons of audience participation in its songs and dances.
Available as Large Ensemble
Recommended for All Grades
Please contact us to watch a full length archival recording.
Maddog and Me:
Bullying and the Power of Kindness
This inspiring mix of world tales/fables and personal stories addresses the culture of cruelty in our society. Through fables, myths, and stories from his own life growing up in a rough neighborhood, David Gonzalez looks at the roles of bully, victim, and bystander and offers insights for cultivating compassionate relationships and communities.
Available as a solo performance.
Best for Grades: 3rd- 6th
Archival Highlights recording.
Man of the House
The story of a boy’s search for his long-lost father. In this touching and funny adventure, Pablito, a spunky contemporary kid, faces a slew of obstacles and takes a chance on growing up. Along the way our hero discovers new parts of his Latino identity and deepens his understanding of what “family” can be.
Premiered November 2013, commissioned and produced by the Kennedy Center.
Available in duet with keyboard and video projections.
Best for Grades: 4th - 8th
Please contact us to watch a full length archival recording.
Mytholojazz
A musical twist to Greek myth accompanied by the original compositions of jazz piano virtuoso D.D. Jackson. Audiences journey into Hades with Orpheus as he swings and serenades his way through the ordeals of the underworld in search for his lost wife Eurydice.
Available in duet with Keyboard.
Best for Grades: 5th + up
Full length archival recording.