
"You and I will tell each other a story about all of us"
- Vietnamese proverb
David had an unusual start in Theatre. Since his high school offered the Theatre department almost no funding, he and his classmates got creative to produce ambitious plays like His Dark Materials, The Pillowman, and Waiting for Godot. They essentially formed a Theatre company - learning to build or scrounge for whatever they needed. They even converted their classroom into a black box theater, but a surprise visit from the superintendent forced them to change it back. This combination of resourcefulness and cheekiness made a mark on him during a formative time of his life. By the time he reached college, he was firmly set on making a career in the performing arts.
After graduating from the University of Houston Professional Actor Training Program, he worked across the country at various regional theaters. He then moved to New York City where he lives with his wife and works as a freelance actor and a producing artistic leader of The Sống Collective.
His identity as a first-generation Vietnamese-American influences the way he approaches his craft and career. His parents, both born in Vietnam, fled their country due to war. They started over with nothing, approaching life with a new understanding of how tenuous it can be.
As he grew, they asked him:
"Trong đời sống này, con muốn đi đường nào?"
[In this life, which road do you want to walk down?]
It'll be one that makes them proud.
Interview with the Asia Society - Texas