David Pevsner
Born (1958-12-31) December 31, 1958
Skokie, Illinois, U.S.
EducationCarnegie Mellon University (BFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • writer

David Pevsner (born December 31, 1958) is an American actor, singer, dancer, and writer.[1] Pevsner appeared in the 1990 revival of Fiddler on the Roof, 1991 revival of Rags, and some other theatrical productions. He also wrote three songs for the 1999 musical Naked Boys Singing!, including "Perky Little Porn Star." He wrote and produced two one-person shows, To Bitter and Back (2003) and Musical Comedy Whore (2013). Pevsner portrayed mostly minor roles in films and television. His major screen roles are Ebenezer Scrooge in Scrooge & Marley, the 2012 film adaptation of A Christmas Carol, and Ross Stein in a 2011 web series Old Dogs & New Tricks. He recorded the 2016 album Most Versatile, whose album cover pays homage to Bruce Springsteen's album Born in the U.S.A.[2]

Early life

David Pevsner was born December 31, 1958, in Skokie, Illinois.[3] He attended Niles East High School in the same Chicago suburb and participated in its theater program.[4] He graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.[5]

Career

Stage work

Pevsner appeared in multiple theatrical productions. He appeared in the 1980s revival of a play A Flash of Lightning, written by Augustin Daly, portraying the role of Terry.[6][7] He also appeared in the 1990 Broadway revival of the musical Fiddler on the Roof, portraying Mendel the Rabbi's son and understudying the role of Motel played by Jack Kenny.[8][9] He appeared in the 1991 revival of the 1986 musical Rags, set in 1910, portraying the dual roles of Saul and Nathan.[10] He appeared in the 1995 theatrical play Party, portraying the role of Kevin, later succeeded by Marc Wolf.[11] In the play, Kevin, a college teacher who lives with his partner, hosts a party at his apartment, where the males characters play the naked truth-or-dare game.[12] Pevsner appeared in the two-act gay revue musical When Pigs Fly from 1996 to 1998.[13][14] Pevsner appeared in F*cking Men, the 2009 explicit play written by Joe DiPietro about the lives of gay urban men,[15][16] portraying Jack, who commits adultery with another man, while his husband does the same.[17]

Pevsner co-wrote the 1999 musical Naked Boys Singing! with the writing team.[18][19] He wrote three songs for the musical, including "Perky Little Porn Star"[20] and "The Naked Maid."[2] He wrote and performed two one-person shows, a semi-autobiographical To Bitter and Back (2002)[5] and Musical Comedy Whore (2013),[21] which Broadway World called a "musical autobiography."[22]

Film and television

Pevsner appeared in films, mostly portraying minor roles[4] in such films as The Fluffer (2001)[23] and Adam & Steve (2006).[24] Pevsner portrayed Elizabeth Taylor's doctor in the 2012 Lifetime television film Liz & Dick.[4] He also portrayed a major role of Ebenezer Scrooge in Scrooge & Marley, the 2012 film adaptation that tells the gay interpretation of the 19th-century novel A Christmas Carol.[4]

Pevsner also portrayed minor roles in television series,[4] particularly a bartender of a gay bar in an episode of NYPD Blue.[20] He portrayed a major role of Ross Stein in the 2011 gay web drama series Old Dogs & New Tricks, which ran four seasons till its ending in 2016.[2] In the series, his character Ross is a former 1990s television star and married to his more successful partner.[25] Pevsner also appeared as the Host of the web sci-fi comedy series Disorganized Zone, a parody of The Twilight Zone, alongside Judy Norton as the Organizer.[26][27] He also appeared in the fourth episode of a 2015 web series Coffee House Chronicles as Jamison, a gay middle-aged man who "bring[s] home a porn star" as his 25th-anniversary present for his partner.[28]

Most Versatile (2016)

Pevsner recorded the 2016 album Most Versatile, whose title was inspired by his being voted "Most Versatile" in a survey back in high school.[2] The album's working title was Shameless, named after his Tumblr blog and "for [being] something with a little skin."[2] The songs of the album explores "a whirlwind of one man's gay experiences" and feature Jim J. Bullock, Maxwell Caulfield, and some others as guest artists.[29] He wrote the lyrics of all thirteen songs.[30] He solely composed seven of those songs and co-composed five of those with several others. Michael Skloff composed one of Pevsner's songs, "I Gotta Give It Up to Love."[30] While "Perky Little Porn Star" and "The Naked Maid" from Naked Boys Singing! are included, the remaining songs are original.[2]

The cover art of the album pays homage to that of Bruce Springsteen's album Born in the U.S.A.. It was designed by a graphic artist Hank Hudson and photographed by Gabriel Goldberg. While designing for the album cover, Hudson narrowed the idea down to the Springsteen homage and the 1977 photo of Pevsner that was used for the high school survey. The 1977 high school photo is eventually included in an inner panel of the album, and the Springsteen homage was chosen as the front cover.[2]

Personal life

Pevsner is Jewish.[4] He is also gay.[4][5][31]

Selected works

Theatre

  • A Flash of Lightning (1980s revival), Terry – the play was written by Augustin Daly
  • Fiddler on the Roof (1990 Broadway revival), rabbi's son Mendel; Mr. (Motel) Kenny – Mr. Kenny was Pevsner's understudy role
  • Rags (1991 revival), multiple roles – Doctor, Saul, 14th Street Ballet Dancer, and Nathan
  • Party (1995–1996), Kevin – Marc Wolf would later succeed Pevsner portraying the role
  • When Pigs Fly (1996–1998)
  • F*cking Men (2009), Jack – the play was written by Joe DiPietro

Film

Television and web series

Written works

  • Naked Boys Singing! – co-written with the writing team; wrote three songs, including "Perky Little Porn Star" and "The Naked Maid"
  • Most Versatile (2016) – solo album
  • Damn Shame: A Memoir of Desire, Defiance, and Show Tunes (2022) – book published by Penguin Random House[34] (softcover: ISBN 9781039000506; eBook: ISBN 9781039000513)

References

  1. ↑ Hume, Valerie-Jean (May 18, 2013). "Review: David Pevsner Bares His Sexual Soul in Desert Rose's Musical Comedy Whore". CV Independent. High Country News. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Pevsner, David. "Mr. Versatility: an interview with David Pevsner". ChicagoPride.com (Interview). Interviewed by Gregg Shapiro. GoPride Corporation. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  3. ↑ Willis, John (1994). Theatre World. Vol. 48: 1991-1992 Season. New York: Applause Theatre Book Publishers. p. 225. ISBN 9781557831439.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Pevsner, David (December 13, 2012). "Gay actor David Pevsner plays a queer Scrooge in new film". Wisconsin Gazette (Interview). Interviewed by Gregg Shapiro. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Marcus, Judy (May 24, 2002). "Pevsner bares his heart and soul in Bitter". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  6. ↑ The New York Times Theater Reviews. 1989. p. 153. Retrieved December 28, 2016 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ Willis, John (1987). Theatre World: 1985–1986 Season. Vol. 42. Crown Publishers. p. 92. ISBN 9780517565308. Retrieved December 28, 2016 – via Google Books.
  8. ↑ Stewart, John (2006). "206. Fiddler on the Roof (1990 Broadway revival)". Broadway Musicals, 1943–2004. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 188. ISBN 0-7864-2244-0.
  9. ↑ Guernsey, Otis L. Jr.; Sweet, Jeffery, eds. (1992). "Plays Produced on Broadway". The Applause / Best Plays: Theater Yearbook of 1990–1991. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 312. ISBN 1-55783-107-6. ISSN 1063-620X. Retrieved December 28, 2016 – via Amazon.com.
  10. ↑ Willis, John (1994). "American Jewish Theatre: Eighteenth Season". Theatre World: 1991–1992 Season. Vol. 48. New York City: Applause Theatre Book Publishers. p. 113. ISBN 1-55783-143-2. LCCN 73-82953. Retrieved December 30, 2016 – via Google Books.
  11. ↑ Willis, John (1998). "Party". Theatre World: 1995-1996 Season. Vol. 52. New York City: Applause Theatre Book Publishers. p. 78. ISBN 1-55783-323-0. LCCN 73-82953. Retrieved December 30, 2016 – via Google Books.
  12. ↑ Holden, Stephen (May 12, 1995). "Theater Review: A Gay Party and No Sad Undertones". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  13. ↑ Willis, John; Lynch, Tom, eds. (1999). "When Pigs Fly". John Willis Theatre World 1996-1997 Season Volume 53. Applause Theatre Book Publishers. p. 118. ISBN 1-55783-343-5. OCLC 42465014. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  14. ↑ Willis, John (2001). "Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly". Theatre World: 1997–1998 Season. Vol. 54. New York City: Applause Theatre Book Publishers. p. 75. ISBN 1-55783-409-1. LCCN 73-82953. Retrieved December 31, 2016 – via Google Books.
  15. ↑ Gans, Andrew (September 11, 2009). "DiPietro's F*cking Men Opens in L.A. Sept. 11". Playbill. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  16. ↑ "F*cking Men Returns to the Celebration Theater in January". January 8, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  17. ↑ Keisha7 (2009). "F*cking Men Theatre Review - The Smash Hit Play from London's West End Makes Its US Premiere at Celebration Theatre". LA Splash. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  18. ↑ Willis, John; Hodges, Ben (2007). "Naked Boys Singing!". Theatre World: 2004–2005. New York City: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 160. ISBN 978-1-55783-703-5. ISSN 1088-4564. Retrieved December 31, 2016 – via Google Books.
  19. ↑ Gates, Anita (July 23, 1999). "Naked Boys Singing!". The New York Times. p. E-2. ISBN 9780415936972. Retrieved December 31, 2016. Republished in The New York Times Theatre Reviews 1999-2000 (2002) – via Google Books. ISBN 0-415-93697-7.
  20. 1 2 3 Raymond, Gerard (March 28, 2000). "Grin and Bare It". The Advocate. p. 83. Retrieved December 31, 2016 – via Google Books.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 Hernandez, Greg (May 13, 2013). "Monday Morning Man: David Pevsner!". Greg in Hollywood. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  22. ↑ Kaan, Gil (June 20, 2016). "BWW Review: Musical Comedy Whore – A Raw, Unapologetic Look at An Escort's Past". Broadway World. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
  23. 1 2 Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2002). "The Fluffer review". Screen World 2002. Vol. 53. Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. p. 206. ISBN 1-55783-599-3. LCCN 50-3023. Retrieved January 1, 2017 – via Google Books.
  24. 1 2 Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2000). "Adam & Steve". Screen World: The Films of 2006. Vol. 58. New York City: Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 196. ISBN 978-1-55783-729-5. ISSN 1545-9020. Retrieved January 1, 2017 – via Google Books.
  25. ↑ Terrace, Vincent (2015). "226. Old Dogs and New Tricks. odnt.tv. 2011 (Drama)". Internet Lesbian and Gay Television Series, 1996–2014. pp. 135–136. ISBN 978-0-7864-9805-5.
  26. 1 2 "About". Disorganized Zone. WordPress. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Disorganized Zone Starts Filming". Judy Norton. September 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  28. 1 2 James, Diego (September 30, 2015). "New Coffee House Chronicles Features Underwear Model John Suazo". Out. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  29. ↑ "David Pevsner releases first CD of original gay songs: Most Versatile". Windy City Times (Press release). Chicago. August 30, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  30. 1 2 Harrity, Christopher (September 18, 2016). "Sing Dirty to Me, Baby". The Advocate. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  31. ↑ Pevsner, David (April 14, 2010). "An Open Letter to the Closeted Leading Man". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
  32. ↑ Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2000). "David Searching". Screen World: 1999. Vol. 50. New York City: Applause. p. 210. ISBN 1-55783-411-3. LCCN 50-3023. Retrieved January 1, 2017 – via Google Books.
  33. ↑ Willis, John; Monush, Barry (2000). "David Searching". Screen World: 1999. Vol. 50. New York City: Applause. ISBN 1-55783-411-3. LCCN 50-3023. Retrieved January 1, 2017 – via Google Books.
  34. ↑ Pevsner, David (January 6, 2022). "'Shame, ageism and nudity – there's a lot to identify with': actor David Pevsner on his memoir". The Guardian (Interview). Interviewed by Emine Samner. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
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