David Vining | Phoenix Theater: An Eccentric History

David Vining, Actor, Director, University Professor, Acting Coach, Mentor

A CRITIC REMINISCES

If I were to list everything I like about David Vining, I would have to create a second website to hold it all.

I first met David when I arrived in the Valley in 1977. He was on the theater faculty at Arizona State University, although, in those days, it was called the Department of Speech or something like that.

There was no doubt, though, that David was a theater man to the core. He lived it, breathed it and his students were more devoted acolytes than young men and women who sat in his classroom to gain necessary college credits.

It was impossible not to jump on the Vining bandwagon. He was so knowledgeable about theater, he had such passion for the art, he had such skill at acting and directing … you were seduced before you knew it.

He was then as he is now a gentle man. Soft spoken in person, though he can get quite testy on stage when the part calls for it. I would venture to say he is a loving man. Judging from the posts on his Facebook page, his family adores him. His students sing nothing but praises.

All that is touching, but does it make him a candidate for a page recounting the history of Phoenix theater?

Well, I met him in ’77, right? He was a busy man then. He is just as busy today, 37 years later. Still making theater on a regular basis. Recently, you saw him in double roles in Our Town and as Deputy Dindon in La Cage Aux Folles, both at Phoenix Theatre.

Did you catch him in The Lieutenant of Inishmore and Next Fall at Actors Theatre? As Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at Southwest Shakespeare Company? Father Christmas and the Snow Queen at Theatre Artists Studio?

How about his Mr. Peachum in The Threepenny Opera, his Deely in Old Times, his George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, his Teddy in Arsenic and Old Lace, all at Phoenix Theatre?

Or maybe you caught one of his directing efforts. A Little Night Music at Theater Works, Much Ado About Nothing and Love’s Labour’s Lost at Southwest Shakespeare Company and The Caucasian Chalk Circle at Mesa Community College.

Like I said, he has always been a BUSY man.

When all is said and done, however, what I and hundreds of young performers, directors and technicians will remember most will be his roles as mentor, teacher, encourager and stern critic whenever he catches someone slacking off on their talent.

His teaching positions at ASU (he is professor emeritus of acting), the University of London and Mesa Community College have created a legacy that can be matched only by a few.

Should he be included on a theater history page?

You tell me.

A FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPH

Of all the pictures of David I have seen over the years, I love this one the most. It was taken by Jon Simpson, a fine actor who gave up the stage to perform behind the lens.

Jon Simpson's portrait of David Vining perfectly captures the vitality of the man. Jon, an actor who makes his living taking incredible photographs, can be reached at jonsimpson.com — Jon Simpson’s portrait of David Vining perfectly captures the vitality of the man. Jon, an actor who makes his living taking photographs, can be reached at jonsimpson.com

ACTORS EQUITY PAYS TRIBUTE

Harold Dixon and David Vining, Distinguished Actor-Teachers, Receive Equity’s Arizona Theatre Service Award in 2004

TIME TRAVEL

Talk about your Throwback Thursdays, that’s David in the white tights in this photograph from the 1969 production of “Once Upon A Mattress” at the University of Redlands. Other faces you might recognize: Brian Hurley, Libby Hovey, David Lee, Donald Brinegar and Kathy Logan Bromberger. Harold Dixon, the legendary Tucson actor-director, ran the flies.

Who's that hunk in the white tights? David Vining in the 1969 production of "Once Upon a Mattress" at the University of Redlands. — Who’s that hunk in the white tights? David Vining in the 1969 production of “Once Upon a Mattress” at the University of Redlands.

Harold Dixon and David Vining perform in an unknown show a few years later. — Harold Dixon and David Vining perform in ”The Fantasticks” not long after ‘Mattress.’

Here's another photograph from 'The Fantasticks.' — Here’s another photograph from ‘The Fantasticks.’

NOTABLE CREDITS

2014. ”American Pastime.” Theater Works. Director. David received rave reviews for his work on this baseball-themed musical. His was one of several national productions of the work, which hopes to land on Broadway some day.

Theater Works. 2014. National Pastime. Alanna Kalbfleisch, Sarah Wolter, Joseph Kremer. Directed by David Vining. Photo by Grads Photography.

2013. ”Our Town.” Phoenix Theatre.

Phoenix Theatre. 2013. Our Town. Joseph Kremer, Maria Amorocho Weisbrod, Allison Houston, Sharri Watts, Robert Anthony Peters, Jenny Hintze, Debby Rosenthal, Andy Cahoon, David Vining and Alan Ruch — Phoenix Theatre. 2013. Our Town. Joseph Kremer, Maria Amorocho Weisbrod, Allison Houston, Sharri Watts, Robert Anthony Peters, Jenny Hintze, Dion Johnson, Debby Rosenthal, Andy Cahoon, David Vining and Alan Ruch.

2012. “A Christmas Carol.” Southwest Shakespeare Company.

Erica Connell is the Ghost of Christmas Past and David Vining is Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol" at Southwest Shakespeare Company. (Photograph courtesy of the company.) — Erica Connell is the Ghost of Christmas Past and David Vining is Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” at Southwest Shakespeare Company. (Photo by Mark Gluckman.)

2011. “Next Fall.” Actors Theatre.

David played a key role in Geoffrey Naufft’s play about two men in a gay relationship that is tested when one of them is involved in a serious accent.

Actors Theatre 2011 'Next Fall' Andi Watson, Debra K. Stevens, David Vining. Photo by John Groseclose. — Actors Theatre’s 2011 production of ‘Next Fall’ featured Andi Watson, Debra K. Stevens and David Vining in the cast. (Photo by John Groseclose.)

2011. “Circle Mirror Transformation.” Actors Theatre.

David Vining and Maren Maclean in "Circle Mirror Transformation" at Actors Theatre, 2011. (Photo by John Groseclose) — David Vining and Maren Maclean in “Circle Mirror Transformation” at Actors Theatre, 2011. (Photo by John Groseclose)

The cast of Circle Mirror Transformation, clockwise from left: David Vining, Alyson Maloney, Rusty Ferracane, Maren Maclean, Staci Robbins. (Photo by John Groseclose)

David demonstrates his skill with the hula hoop while his castmates watch. (Photo by John Groseclose.)

"Circle Mirror Transformation" is about the games actors play during rehearsals. (Photo by John Groseclose). — “Circle Mirror Transformation” is about the games actors play during rehearsals. (Photo by John Groseclose).

2011. ”A Christmas Carol in Concert.” Actors Theatre.

Actors Theatre. 2011. A Christmas Carol in Concert. Ben Tyler, David Barker, Patti Davis Suarez and David Vining at A Christmas Carol in Concert. Photographer not credited.

2010. ”Father Christmas and the Snow Queen.” Theatre Artists Studio.

Theatre Artists Studio. 2010. Father Christmas and the Snow Queen. Susan Sindelar, Lesley Tutnick-Machbitz, David Vining. Photographer not credited.

2009. ”Blackbird.” Stray Cat Theatre.

Actors Theatre. 2009. Blackbird. David Vining, Nina Miller. Photograph by John Groseclose.

2007. “The Lieutenant of Inishmore.” Actors Theatre.

Bitterly blood curdling and breathtakingly funny. A brazen and unapologetic farce. The Lieutenant of Inishmore tells of a ruthless Irish Liberation Army enforcer and the one thing he loves more than anything else in the world . . . his little black cat, Wee Thomas. Think Monty Python meets Quentin Tarantino. The Martin McDonagh script builds to a stunning surprise that had audiences around the world laughing in disbelief – when they weren’t cringing from the gore!

Actor Theatre's production featured Beau Heckman, David Vining, Oliver Wadsworth, Colin McFadden and Tim Shawver among its cast. Credit for this photo was not listed on the park. Will the photographer please contact us so that proper credit can be given? — Actor Theatre’s production “The Lieutenant of Inishmore” featured Beau Heckman, David Vining, Oliver Wadsworth, Colin McFadden and Tim Shawver among its cast. (Photo credit unknown)

1989. Enter A Free Man. Actors Theatre.

Actors Theatre. 1989. Enter A Free Man. Mark DeMichele, David Vining, Mike Lawler, Susan Sindelar, unidentified. Photographer unknown. — Actors Theatre. 1989. Enter A Free Man. Mark DeMichele, David Vining, Gerald Burgess, Susan Sindelar, unidentified. Photographer unknown.

1979. Ashes. ASU Theatre.

David appeared in this production with Janice Robillard and Steven Mastroieni.

1977. “Godspell” Director: David Vining.

This was one of the first productions I saw after arriving in the Valley. I thought it was extremely well done. I had met David at ASU, liked him a lot and I knew that he and Janice Robillard, one of the cast members, were married. That added a personal incentive to attend. The fact that I enjoyed the performance was just the proverbial icing on the cake.

Scottsdale Daily Progress, Dec. 2, 1977.

APRIL 1977. “A Day in the Life of Joe Egg.” ASU Lyceum Theatre. Clipping from the Scottsdale Daily Progress of April 8.

What is amazing about this clipping is that David, still a young man, had amassed a resume of more than 75 roles by 1977. Well, it’s no wonder. In his work today, he displays an astonishing versatility.

1970 The Fantasticks

The Fantasticks in Redlands, CA in June, 1970. David Lee as El Gallo, Kathy Brombacher (then Logan) as Luisa (also the musical director), David Vining as the Girl's Father, Harold Dixon as the Boy's Father, Bonnie Sanders as the Mute, Brian Hurley as Matt, Mark Williams as the Old Actor, and directed by Dennis Robinson, who also played the Man Who Dies. The production was dedicated to drama teachers at the University of Redlands, Al and Bertha Johnson, who retired that year. — The Fantasticks in Redlands, CA in June, 1970. David Lee as El Gallo, Kathy Brombacher (then Logan) as Luisa (also the musical director), David Vining as the Girl’s Father, Harold Dixon as the Boy’s Father, Bonnie Sanders as the Mute, Brian Hurley as Matt, Mark Williams as the Old Actor, and directed by Dennis Robinson, who also played the Man Who Dies. The production was dedicated to drama teachers at the University of Redlands, Al and Bertha Johnson, who retired that year.

David Vining and Harold Dixon as the Fathers in a 1970 production of "The Fantasticks." — David Vining and Harold Dixon as the Fathers in a 1970 production of “The Fantasticks.”

Kyle Lawson's guide to the Phoenix area's theaters and performers