I see a lot of this sort of tweet on Twitter: "What's David Hyde Pierce been doing since Frasier? I wish he'd do more stuff." Often I feel obliged, as a devoted fan of David's, to reply to these "tweeps," informing them that, since Frasier, David has been working pretty much non-stop in the theatre, as well as in his capacity as a national board member of the Alzheimer's Association, and various other things. It sort of peeves me that so many people (outside of New York, that is) are of the mindset that unless an actor is acting in film and television, he must not be acting.
Here are just a few of my favorite things that have been keeping David busy since his last birthday. You can read about each of them further by clicking the links. (You can also view my blogpost on his 53rd birthday, which features highlights of his whole career from its beginning, here.)
Hosting and performing for Chicago Piano Day 2012. A classically trained pianist, David began his undergraduate studies at Yale as a piano major before switching to English Literature and Theater. He continues to practice almost daily.
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| Playing a duet with renowned pianist Emanuel Ax |
Starring in The Landing, a new musical by John Kander, book and lyrics by Greg Pierce (David's nephew), in a developmental lab production at the Vineyard Theater.
Directing The Importance of Being Earnest for the Williamstown Theatre Festival, with Tyne Daly as Lady Bracknell.
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| Deep in thought during a staging rehearsal. Photo credit: John Dolan |
Recently, David joined the world of opera (of which he is a big fan) by accepting a place in Opera Philadelphia's American Repertoire Council. I'm hoping someday he'll direct an opera production; I think, with his dual background in theater and music, he'd do it beautifully.
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| With Daniel K. Meyer (OP board director), famed opera baritone Nathan Gunn, and David B. Devan (OP general director). Photo credit: Hughe Dillon |
Currently starring with Sigourney Weaver and Kristine Nielsen in Christopher Durang's new play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, which was first mounted in Princeton, then brought to New York at Lincoln Center, and is now in a limited run on Broadway, where it opened last month to mostly enthusiastic reviews.
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| In rehearsal for Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike |
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVID! Many more years of brilliance to come!
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