David W Connolly

David W Connolly is an actor, educator and disability inclusion advocate who, immediately after graduating the musical theatre performance program at Sheridan College, made his Broadway debut, becoming the first amputee to have performed there.

Currently, he serves as the Associate Artistic Director at Drayton Entertainment, one of Canada’s most successful not-for-profit, professional theatre companies. There, he has helmed over thirty productions including the Canadian regional theatre premieres of The Prom, Kinky Boots, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Mama Mia! and Newsies.
For the screen, David has directed and choreographed several series for CBC as well as projects for CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS and choreographed two feature films with director, Deepa Mehta. He has collaborated with artists including Katy Perry, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, kd lang, Patti LaBelle, Sarah Brightman and many others.
Dance Magazine wrote, “David demonstrates the quintessential balancing act between career and community service.” Annually, David curates and moderates the disability inclusion panel at BroadwayCon, is an Ambassador for The Shriner's Hospital for Children, The War Amps Child Amputee Program and has volunteered for The Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon, Easter Seals, Project Angel Food and The Hincks-Dellcrest Centre for Children's Mental Health.

He is a proud member of The Directors Guild of Canada, ACTRA, Equity and The Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.