"Whenever Lanson is on stage he all but steals the show. As the voice of cynical reality, he chides, he kvetches, and he gets to deliver some of the best lines in the play. His Gary is fully realized and multi-faceted, and he knows how to deliver a punch-line."
-CT Theatre News
"David Lanson (as Andrew’s Hollywood-style pal) who even received spontaneous applause after his appearance in Act I – this actor knows how to build a character quickly."
-In the Spotlight
Born and raised in Arizona, David’s early introduction to the arts were in the Arizona theatrical and music scenes playing guitar and singing with various bands and performing on stage in and around the Southwest.
After working closely with coach Deborah Carrick for his forimtive years, he bounced around to multiple coaches working on a number of disciplines including musical theatre, comedic improv and performative sign language.
In the midst of his university career he chose to leave Arizona and continue his training elsewhere, being accepted and choosing The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 2005. Upon graduating he joined the Academy’s resident company which led to his seeking out and discovering multiple creative home bases after his training and began working with numerous theatre companies throughout the city including Tongue in Cheek, GAP productions, and The Amoralists Theatre Co. He’s enjoyed working in and around the city’s most sought after spaces from Playwright’s Horizons, SoHo Repertory, Joe’s Pub @ The Public, P.S. 122, Theatre for the New City, Abrons Arts Center, and upstate’s Arc Stages in Pleasentville, NY.
Character types best suited for David include (but certainly are not limited to) new or young fathers, big goofy comedic relief best friend of the lead, young professor, scientist or lab tech, CIA nerd or geek computer whiz, couch potato, clergy, football player
Select credits include: Mark Roberts’ ENTER AT FOREST LAWN (SoHo Rep, Amoralists), John Cariani’s LOVE/SICK (Arc Stages), Mathew Vitticore’s BALLADEERS PLAY TO THE MOON (Joe’s Pub, The Public), Derek Ahonen’s THE BAD AND THE BETTER (Playwrights Horizons, The Amoralists), CHEATERS CLUB (Abrams Arts Center, The Amoralists) and HAPPY IN THE POOR HOUSE (American Academy of Dramatic Arts). David has developed new work with playwrights such as Derek Ahonen, Arthur Kopit, Mark Roberts, Matthew Vitticore, Matthew McShane and Jonathan Bolt.
He’s also worked alongside directors Daniel Aukin, Derek Ahonen, Steve Boockvor, George Heslin, Jay Stull, Deborah Carrick and Ed Como.
His commercial and film credits include working on acclaimed films ‘Wolf of Wall Street’, ‘Please, Talk With Me’ as well as on commercial campaigns with Complex Magazine and Sony.
In the last three years David has begun performing stand up comedy, starting at Comic Strip Live under the tutelage of Gladys Simon and branching out to other mics, some of which include Stand Up NY and East Village Comedy Club and various other venues.
