David Sabella
Singer | Actor
BROADWAY AND BEYOND
David Sabella may be best known for his years on Broadway, in the co-starring role of “Mary Sunshine,” in the 1996 revival of CHICAGO, The Musical with Bebe Neuwirth, Ann Reinking, and Joel Grey.
Sabella also made history during the 1995 Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition when Maestro Pavarotti publicly declared him to be “Excellent… not good, Excellent!”
In addition to Broadway, Sabella appeared with Chita Rivera at Mandalay Bay (Las Vegas) and later returned to the Broadway company of CHICAGO with Melanie Griffith as Roxie Hart, where he remained until 2004. He worked on The Visit, Kander & Ebb’s last collaboration, for which John Kander wrote the role of Luis Perch especially for him.
“To attend one of his shows is to experience a master class in the art of cabaret. … an evening of shared intimacy and splendid emotional and artistic uplift.”
Off Broadway and Concert Artist
Off-Broadway, Sabella received an “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play” award for his work in The Phillie Trilogy. He also starred as Julian Eltinge in Jules, and dazzled audiences in dueling leads in Kiss and Makeup (written specifically for him) at the New York International Fringe Festival.
As a solo concert singer, Sabella has appeared at such illustrious venues as Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall (AKA David Geffen), Jazz at Lincoln Center (Rose Hall), City Center, Town Hall, Feinstein’s/54 Below, Birdland Theater, Laurie Beechman Theatre, Urban Stages, Pangea, Judy’s Chelsea, and Don’t Tell Mama. And, as a voiceover artist, his voice can be heard on several network television cartoon series, including Peter Pan and the Pirates for FOX, with Tim Curry, and Teacher’s Pet for Disney, with Nathan Lane.
Opera and Classical Singing
As a classical singer, Sabella starred as the title role in Handel’s Giulio Cesare (Virginia Opera, recorded on Koch International Label), Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea (Utah Opera), and Strauss’ Die Fledermaus (Lincoln Center).
He also appeared numerous times at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center as principal alto soloist and was a winner of The New York Oratorio Society Competition at Carnegie Hall, and The Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition.
“David… you have prepared this aria very well. You will sing this aria very beautifully on the winner’s concert like you are doing now. I don’t have to hear to the end. This is excellent, not good, excellent!”
Print and More
David’s personal caricature was unveiled (June 1998) and hangs in the world-famous theater restaurant, Sardi’s. Sabella has been featured in national magazines such as Opera News, In Theater, Entertainment Weekly, A&U (Cover), OUT, Next, and most recently Gay Parent (June 2021),
Sabella is co-author (with Sue Matsuki) of “So You Want to Sing Cabaret,” (2020, Rowman & Littlefield), as well as one of NYC’s most sought-after voice & performance coaches (www.davidsabella.com)
shows
Click on the image to learn more
The Razzle Dazzle of Chicago
Celebrate the music of Kander and Ebb and the Broadway smash, Chicago.
David Sabella Sings Peter Allen: Unlike Any Other Man
One of the original Greatest showmen.
Time Heals
A Post-Pandemic healing and reflection.
Amanda Reckonwith Returns
Opera and Cabaret Diva, the incomparable, Amanda Reckonwith
“Sabella is a slick storyteller, underscoring the patter throughout to make a seamless show… allowed the piece to transcend cabaret into more one-man show territory. His voice has always been strong and agile… simple, earnest and fabulously phrased….. enough to have you humming Kander and Ebb for days.”
The Razzle Dazzle of CHICAGO
“Will someone PLEASE put David Sabella back on Broadway?! Sabella is a Broadway caliber entertainer… (and) an exceptional cabaret performer!”
Michael Barbieri, NYC Nitelife Exchange
“Sabella is a slick storyteller, underscoring the patter throughout to make a seamless show… allowed the piece to transcend cabaret into more one-man show territory. His voice has always been strong and agile… simple, earnest and fabulously phrased….. enough to have you humming Kander and Ebb for days.”
Randolph B. Eigenbrode, Cabaret Scenes
“The best cabaret show I have seen all year…” “A master class in how to do it…” “STOP whatever you are doing and DO NOT MISS THIS!”
Richard Skipper – Richard Skipper Celebrates
“A flagrant display of marvelous talents and music making.”
Steve Ross (The Crown Prince of the New York Cabaret)
David Sabella Sings Peter Allen: Unlike Any Other Man
Time Heals
“To attend one of his shows is to experience a master class in the art of cabaret. … an evening of shared intimacy and splendid emotional and artistic uplift.”
Marilyn Lester, NYC Nitelife Exchange
“thrilling beauty and emotion that it will haunt you for days after… Such magic doesn’t come along often, and it must be celebrated. Bravo to all.”
Bart Greenburg, Cabaret Scenes
“…major wins at every turn with equally sophisticated treatments of Sondheim, Berlin, Connick and others.” … a show so satisfying that David Sabella could keep doing it for years to come…”
“… major street creds for his decision to deconstruct, reinvent, and repurpose material with shockingly new looks at some Andrew Lippa and Stephen Sondheim, both numbers created with Mr. Hartman.”
“With each note precisely placed, and his phrasing meticulously planned, Mr. Sabella’s vocal work in this show completely validates his reputation as a voice teacher.”
“a very palatable voice, pretty and pristine, and one that he knows how to use, and well… able to sing so quietly as to be whispering, capturing (a) tender and vulnerable quality. Conversely, Sabella is able to bring vocal power that resonates throughout the room without becoming belty, keeping the force close to home so that it doesn’t overwhelm.”
Stephen Mosher, Broadway World
“His multi-octave tenor achieves incredible majesty on sustained notes, with a delicate vibrato and disciplined modulations that testify to his technical excellence.”
John Hoglund, Backstage – Bistro Bits
“Sabella smoothly modulates his voice to suit the mood and style of the music at hand. His musicianship, like that of his excellent musical director Mark Hartman, is never in question. Their taste is always above reproach.”
David Hurst, Show Business Weekly
“…he emerges as an attractive performer with undeniable stage presence. This performer is a risk taker, and that fact lends an air of excitement to his show. By way of example, he takes a chance with an arrangement of “No Moon at All” (Evans/Mann) that is in direct opposition to the way the song is usually performed. And what a revelation! Quiet, delicate, introspective, the song takes on a wondrous new life. …keeps the audience alive with anticipation for each new number, curious and anxious to know what surprise awaits them around the next musical bend. …the show is carefully thought-out and well crafted. There is a sheen to this act that one doesn’t always find in the clubs around town.”
Barbara and Scott Siegel, Theater Mania.com
“Amanda Reckonwith Proved a Stunning Force of Nature in Her Return to the Stage! …just as fun, vivacious and full of high drama as she ever was, plus in superb voice. Both vocally stunning and humorous… aced it with passion and perfect vocal dynamics and lyric interpretation… wholly combined operatic chops with knee-slapping humor.”
Marilyn Lester, NYC NiteLife Exchange
“David Sabella and Amanda Reckonwith are a couple made in Heaven. He is a consummate entertainer, and she is his adorable creation. David brings all his experience as an operatic and Broadway singer and loads of comic invention to this outrageous and loveable character.”
Charles Busch, (actor, playwright, screenwriter, director, drag legend)
“So funny I did a spit-take. Musically and dramatically over the top and then so beautifully focused and poignant in the ballads. … for the shear joy of cabaret at it’s best, make a date to see Amanda Reckonwith.”
Claudine Jellison, (actress/singer)
“…hilarity and technical virtuosity… the encore alone is a three act play that had me gasping for air between belly laughs… great references for opera fans, and plenty of Broadway, and of course FUN CAMP. Next time Amanda (or David for that matter) is on the bill grab yourself a ticket and have some fun! Also a very special shout out to the super talented Mark Hartman on the keys who had his own hilarious Victor Borge moment while Amanda changed into something “a little less comfortable.”
Jesse Lutrel, (award winning singer/actor)