David Cale

David Cale is a monologist, playwright, songwriter and actor. He is the writer and performer of solo works including the Obie Award-winning Lillian, The History of Kisses, Palomino, A Likely Story, Deep in a Dream of You (Bessie Award), Smooch Music and The Redthroats (Bessie Award). He collaborated with Dael Orlandersmith on the duet show The Blue Album. He wrote the book and lyrics, co-composed the music and starred in the musical Floyd and Clea Under the Western Sky (Outer Critics Circle Award Nomination). His songs have been sung by many artists including Elvis Costello and Debbie Harry. He has acted in plays on and off-Broadway, most recently in Stew and Heidi Rodewald’s The Total Bent, and in films including The Slaughter Rule and Light From Light.

Cale’s recent works include the solo play Harry Clarke, starring Billy Crudup, for which he received a 2018 Lucille Lortel Award. His solo musical memoir We’re Only Alive for A Short Amount of Time, for which he wrote the book and lyrics and co-composed the music with Matthew Dean Marsh, received a 2019 Jeff Award, was listed in The New York Times Best Theatre of 2019 and was the recipient of a 2020 Drama Desk Award Nomination, a 2020 Lucille Lortel Award Nomination, a 2020 Outer Critics Circle Award and a 2020 Obie Award.