David Baida

In August of 2016, out of 60 original contestants, David was named The Metropolitan Room's 2016 MetroStar Talent Challenge winner. David's prize for winning the intense 7-week cabaret competition was having his debut cabaret show produced at the Metropolitan Room for a 4-date engagement in 2017. His show, Unexpected Surprise, won the 2018 MAC Award for New York Debut-Male as well as a 2017 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Award nomination for Best Debut Show. BistroAwards.com described the show as "...clever, funny, inventive, and very entertaining. In addition, he has a robust and beautiful tenor voice..." David made his New York Cabaret Convention debut in October of 2018. BistroAwards.com praised his "excellent countertenor" while Theatrepizzazz.com said "his tenor...has charm, his performance great expression."

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On Broadway, David originated the roles of Antonio, Big Paquito and Latin DJ in On Your Feet. The Tony and Outer Critics Circle Award-nominated musical, based on the lives and music of Gloria and Emilio Estefan, played 34 previews and 746 performances at the Marquis Theatre. Theatremania.com said, "David Baida and Doreen Montalvo devastatingly play Emilio's grandfather and mother...It is the musical's most heart-wrenching scene." David originated the same roles on the 1st National Tour of the show.

 

David also originated the role of Piragua Guy on the 1st National Tour of In The Heights, for which he won the 2010 Broadway World Seattle Theatre Award for Best Featured Actor in A Musical (Touring). The Hollywood Reporter commented that David has “loads of stage presence” and “a lovely tenor voice”, Variety called him “fun” and BroadwayWorld quipped that David “stole the show…as he should.” He traveled to Tokyo with the show and performed it with Hamilton star and creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, in both Los Angeles and Puerto Rico. He additionally reprised this role in Rachel Rockwell's critically acclaimed production of the show at the Paramount Theatre in Chicago. "A memorable turn by David Baida." said the Chicago Sun Times. Other shows include Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Andrea McArdle, King Tut with Brian D'arcy James, Forever Plaid and Jesus Christ Superstar.

 

David spent 4 years singing all over the world on Celebrity and Crystal Cruise lines. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Drama from the University of California, Irvine. Fun Facts: David’s grandmother made wigs for Joan Crawford and his father was friends with John Wayne. David, whose parents hail from Ecuador and Honduras, has one of the world’s biggest memorabilia collections on Kajagoogoo, the 80’s British new wave band of “Too Shy” fame.