photo by Daniel Coston
DAVID DABBON is a Composer, Arranger, and Orchestrator. His work as can currently be seen on Broadway having written the dance arrangements to the musical “Beetlejuice.” He composed the music to the song "Eat Sh*t, Bob" that appeared on "Last Week Tonight" with John Oliver. His immersive game show musical "Game On" commissioned by Pittsburgh CLO had a 12-week run at the Greer Cabaret Theatre in Pittsburgh with book and lyrics by Marcus Stevens. He and playwright, Gabriel Jason Dean are commissioned by Geva Theatre Center to write a new musical that will have its first reading fall of 2020. Also on Broadway, David created the dance arrangements for the musical "Disaster!" and provided additional orchestrations for “Sondheim on Sondheim” (Grammy Nomination OBC). He served as Music Supervisor for “The Christians” at Playwrights Horizons and also David Greig’s production of “The Events” at New York Theatre Workshop. He was the arranger for the world premiere of Sarah Ruhl's "Stage Kiss" at Playwrights Horizons. He conducted the red strand of 200 singers of Lincoln Center’s "the public domain" created for the Mostly Mozart Festival 2016, by David. He was the choral music director for LCT3's "The Harvest." David was the composer for Seattle Children's Theatre production of "The Little Prince." His musical "Our New Town" written with Gabriel Jason Dean and Jessie Dean was presented as part of the Findings Reading Series through the Civilians R&D group and had its first full production at Wagner College in October 2019.
David's work as an orchestrator has been played in some of the world’s most renowned concert halls and orchestras from the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, to David Geffen Hall. His orchestrations can be heard on the album “Audra McDonald, the New York Philharmonic: Sing Happy” for the songs “Sing Happy” and “Carefully Taught/Children Will Listen.” He was the Conductor and wrote additional dance arrangements/incidental music for "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" that was directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall with a new script by Dick Scanlan in Denver, CO. He created the dance arrangements for the Broadway-bound production “The Nutty Professor,” by Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes, directed by Jerry Lewis which had its premiere in Nashville at TPAC. David was also the dance arranger on "A Sign of the Times" at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre and Delaware Theatre Company. He also created the new dance arrangements for Disney's production of "Beauty and the Beast" which is currently playing on the Disney Dream.
Arranger and Orchestrator for HBO's Documentary "Six by Sondheim" (Send in the Clowns). Orchestrator: "Audra McDonald Live At Lincoln Center" for PBS ("I'll Be Here" by Adam Gwon) and “Audra McDonald at Carnegie Hall.”
Off-Broadway David worked as Music Director for James MacDonald's New York productions of “Love and Information” at New York Theatre Workshop and the Atlantic Theater Company's revival of "Cloud Nine." He composed an original score for the marathon 6-hour play of "The Mysteries" at The Flea 2014 directed by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar. He music directed and arranged "These Seven Sicknesses," (The Flea) and also was the composer/music Director for “Amy Freed’s Restoration Comedy” (The Flea). Orchestrator/ Conductor: “Bernice Bobs Her Hair” at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. Composer of the full-length film "All Gods Creatures"; Composer/Arranger for "Alison is Having a Really Bad Day" (TV Pilot). Composer: "Bacha Bazi: Boy Play" (New York Theatre Workshop/Dartmouth Summer Lab 2013).
His TYA musical with Dean "Mario and the Comet" directed by Courtney Sale had a lab thru NPYA at NYU and a youth production at SCT. He was the composer for the workshop of the immersive production "Golden Lotus" produced by Broadway Asia with collaborators Ed Sylvanus Iskandar, Chase Brock, and Jason Williamson.
He was commissioned by Dallas Black Dance Theatre to write an original ballet premiered at the Soluna Festival in Dallas, TX in May 2015. The ballet is titled "Surface."
Albums: “Sondheim on Sondheim,” (Additional Orchestrations Grammy Nomination). "Audra McDonald, New York Philharmonic: Sing Happy" (Orchestrator on "Sing Happy" and "Children Will Listen/Carefully Taught). "Audra McDonald: Go Back Home" (Orchestrator on "I'll be Here"). "Sweet Bye and Bye" (Vocal Director/Vocal Arranger) "Disaster" (Dance Arranger) and "Beetlejuice" (Dance arranger)
Other productions as the composer: "All Happy Housewives Sleep with the Milkman/ American Family,” “Just Listed,” "Greetings from Coco-Boco," "Come on Six O'Clock” (Festival Winner), children's musical "Snowed In" with book/lyrics by Tom Bruett. David is composing music for a play with dance titled “Perfect Spiral" with JoAnn M. Hunter.
David Dabbon has been called “One of the greatest teachers of our time” has taught masterclasses and worked at various institutions around the U.S. and globe. He has taught at New York University – Tisch PHTS, Carnegie Mellon University, Montclair State University, Pace University, Neighborhood Playhouse, Pittsburgh Musical Theatre, Educational Main Street, and the Hartt School.
David is a Usual Suspect at New York Theatre Workshop, was a writer at the Johnny Mercer Song Writing Institute through ASCAP and Northwestern, he was a member of the Civilians R&D 2017 group.
Education: Masters in Choral Conducting from Carnegie Mellon University studying under Choral Master Dr. Robert Page, and earned his B.M. in Music Direction from the Hartt School of Music in Connecticut.