Broadway
Amadeus	Salieri	Broadhurst Theatre
	“…David Birney gives a poised performance with a certain welcome radiance...A measured grace.” — Clive Barnes. N.Y. Post
Benefactors	David	Brooks Atkinson Theatre
	“…David Birney gives a poised performance with a certain welcome radiance...A measured grace.” — Clive Barnes. N.Y. Post
Man and Superman	Jack Tanner	Roundabout Theatre
	“David Birney is sure-footed …confident …charming… adept at spinning the Shavian whirligig.” — N. Y. Times
Lincoln Center
Playboy of the Western World	Christy Mahon	Beaumont Theatre
	“A funny play, a beautiful play...The performing is seamless...Mr. Birney for Christy Mahon, the woebegone lad who has risen up to clout his Da... his fingers clutching his battered cap in spasms of joy as he discovers he's a hero to folks.... yearning for a single "gallant" act, uses his shyness as an uncocked valve, forcing his intense happiness out through the narrowest of emotional openings, bleating his new found ecstasy because it is more than he can abide. Believing himself abandoned and forced to the road again, he reads Synge's mournful apostrophe to the world's gypsies with a heart-breaking music that makes you rush to the bookshelf the minute you get home....Mr. Birney makes that...a highly personal matter.” — Walter Kerr, The New York Times “There is a winningly vulnerable boyishness in David Birney’s playboy.” — Time Magazine “The role of Christy Mahon...Mr. Birney attacks it with a charm and a humor and a skill that should win him praise and honors....A superb “Playboy.”” — Newsday “David Birney...gives the role a wonderful youthful feeling...He is splendid.” — Long Island Press
The Miser	Cleante	Beaumont Theatre
	“...a gorgeously controlled performance. Mr. Birney is one of our most interesting young actors…he can even convey charm throught the terrifying periscope of honesty.”
Antigone	Haemon	Beaumont Theatre
Enemy of the People	Hovstad	Beaumont Theatre
Summertree	Young Man	Mitzi Newhouse Theatre
	“Summertree” is moving and illuminated by one of the loveliest performances of the season by David Birney.” — Newsday. “David Birney is the young man to the life, performing with understanding and deft touches of comedy.” — Edith Oliver The New Yorker “Impossibly …perfection conceals the actor in the actor.” — Walter Kerr NY Times
Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet	Romeo	American Shakespeare Festival
	“David Birney is one of the most promising young leading men to have surfaced in recent seasons.” — Walter Kerr N. Y. Times “…He is heroically and tragically romantic.” — Elliot Norton, Boston Herald American
Romeo and Juliet	Mercutio	Buffalo Studio Arena Theatre
Hamlet	Hamlet	Pacific Conservatory Theatre
Hamlet	Hamlet	PCPA Solvang Theatrefest
	“Birney blossoms into splendid Hamlet… witty,forceful, dynamic, yet still touching.” — LA Times
Comedy of Errors	Antipholus	NY Shakespeare Festival
King John	Dauphin	NY Shakespeare Festival
Titus Andronicus	Chiron	NY Shakespeare Festival
Antony and Cleopatra	Antony	Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival
	“David Birney communicates the intensity of love that overrides judgment, duty patriotism…the scenes between them (he and Cleopatra) sizzle…he gives a moving tragic dimension to Antony’s final scenes.” — The Plain Dealer
Much Ado About Nothing	Benedick	Washington Shakespeare Theatre
	“Mr. Birney is a skilled physica comedian…verbally adept.” — Washington Times “Mr. Birney is confident enough to brandish sunflowers with a flourish, a "merry heart” and a dopey demeanor ....Assurance...unafraid to take risks...he genuinely suffers love...benevolent lyricism...a preview of love lasting. ...finely spoken.” — New York Times
Macbeth	Macbeth	Grove Shakespeare Festival
	“Birney shines in this production…Birney is very good… tightening the screws on inner torment.” — LA Times
Richard II	Richard	PBS American Playhouse
Richard III	Richard	Dartmouth College, Guest Artist
	“Birney gave living proof to his stunning ability as Richard III.” — Valley News
As You Like It	Jacques	Colonial Shakespeare Theatre
	“Speaking of definitive presentations, the character of Jacques gets an interpretation you won’t forget by David Birney…“All the world’s a stage… “Birney does subtle wonders with that speech.” — The Providence Phoenix
Merchant of Venice	Shylock	Colonial Shakespeare Theatre
	“The highlight of this production is Birney’s complete immersion in the role of Shylock. His ability to convey a kind of quiet dignity and keenly felt pain… Birney offers nuance. The anger that boils within him is tenuously contained, as if with superhuman effort, as Shylock internalizes the slings and arrows of persecution for being a Jew in a mostly Christian world. His explosions, when they come, are riveting. But it’s in the pauses that we come to understand Birney’s feel for the character, …It’s a masterful performance.” — The Independent
Twelfth Night	Orsino	State Theatre of Virginia, Barter Theatre
The Tempest	Prospero	Colonial Shakespeare Theatre
	“Taken by a “Tempest”…the star attraction: David Birney... bristling with the character's anger at his fate, yet burnishing that emotion with a sense of hurt …evoking a spectrum of emotions and beautifully delivering the Bard’s lines, including those of the famous speech, “…We are such stuff as dreams are made on.” — The New London Day
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Regional
Major Barbara	Cusins	Mark Taper Forum, LA
	“But the productions real treat is David Birney…who plays Cusins…Birney’s zest is so infectious that you can almost see the little wheels turning in his head as he contemplates Undershaft’s millions. Even if he were playing with a cast of rank amateurs (and he’s surely not) he’d bring that final scene to all it’s Shavian life.” — The Hollywood Reporter
I Hate Hamlet	John Barrymore	The Cape Playhouse
	“Airy comedy becomes a solid treat…David Birney as the ghost of John Barrymore, makes the evening his own… Birney's Barrymore doesn't teach so much as woo... …It's Birney's evening, for sure.” — The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Biko Inquest	Kentridge	Mark Taper Forum, LA
	“a luminous performance—David Birney’s driving intelligence and high energy as Kentridge.” — LA TIMES “...A commanding portrayal by David Birney who holds this production together with his well modulated and finely detailed performance.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Present Laughter	Garry Essendine	Hartford Stage Company
	“Birney shines in Coward’s period piece…David Birney is quite flawless.” — Hartford Courant
Endgame	Clove	Hartford Stage Company
Poor Bitos		Hartford Stage Company
Three Sisters	Fedotik	Hartford Stage Company
Moon for the Misbegotten	James Tyrone Jr.	Berkshire's Miniature Theatre
	“Poetic, sad, funny, trembling and beautiful…played brilliantly and subtly by David Birney.” — New Berkshire
The Price	Walter	Berkshire's Miniature Theatre
	“... a deeply resonant performance by Birney whose larger-than-life impulses fills the void that surrounds him... A masterly performance that is subtle, rich, fully nuanced, lucid and deeply affecting. ” — The Berkshire Eagle
Dear Liar	G.B. Shaw	Berkshire's Miniature Theatre
	“Shaw is played by the talented and charismatic David Birney as a many sided man who over the course of the play and his pursuit of Mrs. Pat goes through joys and agonies. ... Birney’s presentation is wrenching and so real ...At other times he can be gay and charming and persuasive. ... hilarious and dynamic... Birney and Dowling make for perfect casting in this duo.” — Berkshire Arts Reviews
You Can't Take It With You	Tony	State Theatre of Virginia, Barter Theatre
The Importance of Being Earnest	Algernon	State Theatre of Virginia, Barter Theatre
Hay Fever	Simon	State Theatre of Virginia, Barter Theatre
The Private Ear/The Public Eye	Cristoforou	State Theatre of Virginia, Barter Theatre
Equus	Dysart	Austin, TX - Guest Artist
	“ ...Birney dug into the drama’s thematic core, the issue of the individual passion broken by therapy...(he) presented a cogent presence on the stage.” — Austin America-Statesman “David Birney...renders a nightmarish dream of self incrimination with a gripping rhythm...the interaction of Birney with Mills...brings out the most honest, intriguing and entertaining work from this veteran actor.” — The Austin Chronicle
To Kill a Mockingbird	Atticus Finch	Oklahoma City, OK, Guest Artist
	“Birney brings an incredible integrity to the role of Finch...(he) creates a courageous man who stands above the rest...each word is delivered with conviction and honesty.” — The Daily Oklahoman
I Do, I Do	Michael	Casa Manana Theatre
Love Letters
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Tours
Camelot	King Arthur	National Tour
	“Birney...bridges the gaps between the young, neurotic King Arthur, the agonized older statesman and the thrilling idealist of the closing scene...His singing is ...assured...and his rendition of Arthur’s first act curtain speech is crisp and moving in a manner that reflects classical chops.” — LA TIMES “David Birney as the doomed King Arthur, plays with the energy and commitment of a major Shakespearean hero.” — LA Weekly “David Birney....not since Richard Burton has there been an Arthur who so clearly shows us both sides of his struggle. ...the audience stood in ovation. ...a tribute to Birney’s moving delivery of the play’s closing lines...encouraging young Tom...to keep the dream of Camelot alive. ...go to see that. Go to swoon...the dream will snare you. ” — The Arizona Republic
My Fair Lady	Higgins	National Tour
	“…sparkling…Applause greeted Birney’s first appearance. …The Higgins role is a difficult one requiring elaborate passages of almost-spoken singing. He dealt with these with brusque, good humored versatility—an outspoken male chauvinist who meets his nemesis without flinching. Birney was a clever, haughty eccentric and “confounded complacent” Higgins…this was a fine realization of the role. …he conveyed his love for the grandeur of the English language, “the language of Milton, Shakespeare and the Bible.” And he sounded very much like a confused bachelor who was helpless without Mrs. Pearce and Eliza. ” — The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “David Birney played Prof. Henry Higgins…in Wednesday night’s opening performance of My Fair Lady…giving a strong romantic undercurrent to the linguistic experiment Higgins conducts on the florwer gire Eliza Doolittle.  Moving with the resolution and seductive energy of a matinee idol.” — The Kansas City Star
Talley's Folly	Matt Friedman	New England Tour
	“The comedy thrives on his delivery...memorable.” — The Cape Cod Times “David Birney... is dynamic, forceful, humorous, logical, and a delight.” — The Tribune, Scranton “David Birney... is up to the demanding role of Matt in every respect, blending forwardness and reticence, comic gusto and romantic charm with great skill.” — Leader, Corning, NY “Mr. Birney...has his audience in the palm of his hand... loveable but awkward, David Birney is magnificent as Matt Friedman.” — The Weston Forum
Guys and Dolls	Sky Masterson	Ohio, Kenley
The Diaries of Adam and Eve	Adam	National Tour
	“Sharp and resourceful…played with freshness and theatricality....charming.” –Variety “...endearing…a reminder of Twain’s storytelling genius and how much fun it can be… flavorful as apple cider, pungent, ironic.” –The Los Angeles Times “Mark Twain isn’t just for Hal Holbrook anymore. David Birney brings Mark Twain’s words to life…in a romantic adventure for the ages.” –Times Union, Albany, NY
Originally edited and adapted for the stage by David Birney, the play was first produced for The American Playhouse series for PBS, directed by David Birney and starring David Birney and Meredith Baxter. The Diaries of Adam and Eve opened the Mark Twain Festival for the Mark Twain Museum in Hartford, Conn., and has since toured Performing Arts Theatres from New York to California, from Texas to Florida to Wyoming, as well as a variety of Regional theatres across the country. See Publications.
A Christmas Pudding	Actor/Director
A Christmas Pudding is a Christmas collage of music, Bach and Mozart and others, English Irish, French and American carols and songs along with unusual stories, poems, humor of the season. The piece was edited and adapted for performance by David Birney for six or so actors and a Consort of some dozen singers. Now in its 17th year, it has been produced and directed by Mr. Birney at the Westwood Presbyterian Church on the west side of Los Angeles as a benefit for the homeless. As well as other theatres across the country. See Publications.