Artist Spotlight - Dan Davis
Our October artist spotlight has been involved with Watertown Lyric Theater for 50 years.
Dan Davis, who is currently directing Watertown Lyric Theater’s production of Newsies, has lived in the Watertown area most of his life. Since his dad was a pharmacist and manager at Kinney Drugs they moved around locally, but Dan was able to attend Watertown School from 6th grade until graduation. About a year after graduating, Mr. Davis set out for New York City to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) for two years. Soon after that he went to Florida to work the dinner theater circuit, but found his true home and the love of his life, Patricia (Patty) Davis, back in Watertown.
After moving back home, he and Patty worked different jobs but for a 10 year period they both ran an assisted living home. Eventually, Dan decided to get his Teaching Assistant Certification and has been working in schools with kids with disabilities on a one-to-one basis ever since.
Dan Davis has a passion for directing shows that feature casts combining kids with adults. The president of HarmoNNY, Joe Foy, recounted playing in the pit band for Dan’s production of Matilda just before the pandemic, which was a phenomenal production.
Mr. Davis is excited to be directing again as Watertown Lyric Theater gears up to present Newsies on October 26, 27, and 28 at the Dulles State Office Building, all shows starting at 7 PM. Newsies is based on real events surrounding the newsboys strike of 1899, and has real characters such as Joseph Pulitzer.
Mr. Davis said that, though some call it a “Dan Davis Production” he would not be able to put on the show without Kyle Aumell as his assistant director (“right hand man”), Ticia Aumell (a previous spotlight) as music director, Patty Davis as production manager, and the choreographers and other volunteers.
So catch Newsies on October 26, 27, and 28 at the Dulles State Office Building, starting at 7 PM. Tickets will be available at the door but also check the Watertown Lyric Theater website, linked below, for more ticket information.
