David Cale
The Public Theater’s (Artistic Director, Oskar Eustis; Executive Director, Patrick Willingham) acclaimed production We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, will hold its official press opening tonight Thursday, June 27.
Written and performed by David Cale, with music co-written with Matthew Dean Marsh, the musical memoir is directed by Robert Falls, in a co-production with Goodman Theatre. Cale’s acclaimed autobiographical solo-show runs 90 minutes and plays through Sunday, July 14.
Growing up, playwright, lyricist, composer, and performer David Cale escaped his parents’ fraught marriage by singing in his bedroom and tending to birds in his backyard animal hospital. Lush songs, featuring a six-piece orchestra, and an intimate portrait of his mother unite in Cale’s vivid musical memoir of hope, family, and transcendence. Cale returns to The Public after appearing in Deep in a Dream of You and The Total Bent.
“I’m deeply thrilled to bring my most personal, and I think, artistically ambitious show, We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, home to New York City,” said David Cale. “It was my dream early on in the writing and composing of the show that it would live in the Anspacher at The Public Theater, where I’ve had such spiritually stirring experiences, and the fact that is happening makes me profoundly happy.”
Cale’s solo works include Palomino (Kirk Douglas Theatre, K.C. Rep, also director), A Likely Story (The New Group), Lillian (Playwrights Horizons, Goodman, Obie Award), Deep in a Dream of You (The Public, Goodman, Bessie Award), and The Redthroats (Second Stage, P.S. 122, Goodman, Bessie).
He wrote the book, lyrics, co-composed the music for, and starred in the musical Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky (Playwrights Horizons, Goodman, Outer Critics Circle nomination). He composed the songs for Employee of the Year (UTR at The Public, Bessie nomination).
Most recently he wrote the solo play Harry Clarke starring Billy Crudup (Vineyard Theatre/Audible, Minetta Lane, Lucille Lortel Award).
Select acting credits include The Threepenny Opera (Broadway/Studio 54) and The Total Bent (The Public). His film credits include Light From Light (upcoming), Private Life, and The Slaughter Rule. TV credits include “Russian Doll.”