Biography
Since starting his career in 1988, David has worked as a producer, director and writer.
LIVE THEATRE AND THEMED ENTERTAINMENT
David is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Mycotoo, one of the top entertainment development companies, specializing in creating benchmark immersive experiences worldwide. David has been the creative lead – as Creative Director, Writer, Casting Director, Show Director – of myriad Mycotoo productions over the past 14+ years.
David was named one of the 50 Top Influencers in the Immersive Field in their 2024 inaugural awards.
David has been one of the top creators of immersive content in the Live and Themed entertainment business. Working with dozens of clients, representing best in class intellectual properties, David has been the lead Creative Director/Writer of renowned brand activations such as Westworld (SXSW – 2018), Game of Thrones (SXSW – 2019), Blade Runner 2049 (Comic Con – 2017), The Inkhole (for Happytime Murders – 2018), Fallout 76 (E3 – 2018), Westworld (CES – 2019), The Irishman (Little Italy Takeover – 2019).
David was also Creative Director/Co-Writer/Show Director/Casting Director of the world tour of Stranger Things: The Experience from 2021-2023, mounting new productions in New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Los Angeles, London, Paris and Toronto. Most recently, David was the Creative Director/Co-Writer/Show Director/Casting Director for Stranger Things: Escape the Dark, a new experience that opened the Netflix House in Dallas.
From 2010-2019, David directed more than 400 performers each year at the Queen Mary’s critically acclaimed Halloween Haunt Dark Harbor in Long Beach. David also worked on Halloween projects during that decade, including Horror Made Here, Dark Horizon and Aftermath 2: Chaos Rising.
Prior to his work at Mycotoo, David wrote extensively for many companies – including Scope Seven, Jack Rouse Associates and The Thinkwell Group, where he worked as a Writer and Creative Director from 2007 – 2009.
David has also written a dozen plays and screenplays, many of which he also produced and directed, including the World Premieres of two plays – Six Degrees of Fornication and IN & OUT: The US of Alienation and an award-winning short film, denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. David also wrote four new short plays which were part of Friday Night Quickies, Quickies Too!, Quickies T(h)ree and Quickies Floor!”
David also directed a series of public service announcements s in 2009, as part of The Wedding Matters series for The Courage Campaign.
FILM INDUSTRY
David began his career by collaborating with director/producer Martin Brest for over a decade at City Light Films from 1988 – 1999. While working his way up from Production Assistant to Vice President of the company, David was intrinsically involved from the inception to completion of such films as the multiple award-winning SCENT OF A WOMAN (starring Al Pacino, Chris O’Donnell, Bradley Whitford and Philip Seymour Hoffman) and MEET JOE BLACK (starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins, Claire Forlani and Marcia Gay Harden), on which David was the Co-Producer.
In 2000, David moved over to Cheyenne Enterprises, where he worked with Bruce Willis and Arnold Rifkin until 2005. While at Cheyenne, David worked on the acquisition and development of over 25 projects, including HOSTAGE (starring Bruce Willis, Kevin Pollak, Ben Foster and Jonathan Tucker), on which David was the Executive Producer.
Over his career in the film business, David worked with many talented writers and directors, including: Martin Brest, Florent Siri, Hideo Nakata, Dean Parisot, Peter Care, Glenn Gordon Caron, Paul McGuigan, Rob Bowman, John Polson, Doug Richardson, Tim Bogart, Mark Bomback, Kirk Ellis, Bo Goldman, David Veloz, Kevin Wade, Terry Winter, and Jeff Reno & Ron Osborn. David also developed screenplays from the novels of such award-winning authors as Robert Crais, C.J. Box, Stephen J. Cannell, Stephen King, Stan Lee, Elmore Leonard and James Ellroy.
Before starting his film career, David worked in Chicago’s vibrant theatre community after earning his BA from Long Beach State (where he graduated as the Outstanding Graduate from the School of Fine Arts) and his MFA from Purdue University.
David is married to Trina Lance and they are the proud parents of Daniel and Lilah.