IT’S NOT UNUSUAL TO LOVE DAVID BURNHAM

The tenor is back in the desert with a Tom Jones bang—
and a burning bush in his future.

Broadway leading man David Burnham—known for starring as Fiyero in Wicked, Fabrizio in The Light in the Piazza, and Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat—returns to CV Rep with his show The Tom Jones Songbook on July 22 at 7pm. Stage and Cinema caught up with David to chat about what audiences can expect, his upcoming turn as Moses in The Prince of Egypt, and why arts education means so much to him.

What do you have in store for us in your show on the 22nd?

I’m so excited to come back out there! I did my Broadway show at CV Rep last summer and had so much fun—the audience was great and I love the venue. Adam asked me to come back and do my Tom Jones tribute show. It’s just the most fun—super retro, taking everyone back to the ’70s and having a good old time. The songs are all familiar, even if people don’t necessarily know a lot about Tom Jones himself. It’s not an impersonation show—I’m not a look-alike or sound-alike—but I grew up with his music because my mom loved it, and I got hooked at a young age. There’s a lot of humor too. It really is a celebration of him.

You just announced you’ll be playing the title role in The Prince of Egypt at Moonlight Amphitheatre in September! What are you looking forward to, and what keeps bringing you back to Moonlight and to Stephen Schwartz’s work?

It’s funny—going back to Schwartz and the Bible! I actually did Children of Eden when I was a kid at Moonlight, so it feels full circle. And I have this connection with Stephen Schwartz from doing workshops and Broadway (Wicked). We’re doing the version they did in London, and Stephen himself is going to come and make some changes, which is amazing. I love Moonlight—it’s such a beautiful venue, and there’s something special about performing under the stars.

You’ve had such a varied and impressive career—from Broadway to symphony concerts, playing Fiyero, Fabrizio, Shakespeare in Something Rotten!, and even stepping in for Donny Osmond as Joseph. What thread connects it all for you?

I feel so lucky. Every time I get a job, I’m just like “yay!” Artistically, I always try to bring the truth of who the character is, whether they’re good or bad. Shakespeare in Something Rotten! is a little bit naughty, but I ask: what are they, who are they, why do they do what they do? I always start from the acting first, and the vocals come out of that. I’ve been lucky to sing some beautiful music and act in amazing material. When I’m not doing book shows, I’m doing my concert work—which I love because I get to be my own boss: write the script, pick the music. It’s very fulfilling.

You’ve also developed new musicals like Happy 50ish!. How does writing and developing compare to performing?

I love creating new stuff—that’s what we have to do: create. My friends were having trouble with the show and asked me to jump in and help. We ended up taking it Off-Broadway and around the country, which was really satisfying. There’s nothing like seeing something new come to life.

What inspires your commitment to arts education?

A few years ago, a friend and I started doing Camp Sing with kids. I’d never worked with kids before and didn’t know I had anything to give back, but my friend told me to jump in. I found out I love guiding young people and sharing what I’ve learned. They’re so open and ready to learn—it’s really refreshing. I’m also going to sing at the Best Buddies International Conference, which is for kids with disabilities. The theme is “Wickedly Inclusive,” so I’ll do some Wicked songs, talk, do a workshop, and explain what it’s like to be on Broadway and build a life in musical theater. Honestly, I get way more back than I give.

With everything you’ve done, what’s next on your bucket list? Any dream roles?

For me, it’s really about creating new roles—that’s the joy. I’ve been part of a lot of workshops, like Wicked. I love breathing new life into existing characters. I’m not the first to play Moses, but it’ll be fun to put my own stamp on it. I don’t have that one “dream role.” Sometimes the most fun roles are the ones I never knew I wanted—like Shakespeare in Something Rotten!—which turned out to be so over the top and fun.

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Don’t miss David Burnham at CV Rep in The Tom Jones Songbook, a joyful, funny, and heartfelt tribute to one of pop music’s great icons.
July 22, 2025, at 7
Get your tickets here