Dave Gipson has amassed an impressive body of theatrical experience, working with theatrical companies in SW Florida, St Louis Mo, and East TN. That experience included playing the lead role of Jean Valjean in a production of Les Miserables, the lead of Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, and numerous other leading roles in musical comedy. He has served as musical director, leading professional musicians in the orchestra pits for shows like Oklahoma, and has served as orchestral conductor for The Drowsy Chaperone, Young Frankenstein, and others. 

Dave currently serves as musical director and accompanist for Broadway veteran J. Mark McVey (JMarkMcVey.com), who played the role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserable for over 3000 performances on Broadway, in London, and on tours in the US.

Dave is one of the rare people to write the music, lyrics, and script (book) for stage musicals. Dave’s show POLLYANNA – A NEW MUSICAL won the 2025 International Christian Film Festival, as well as the 2024 Pensacola Christian Theatre Festival. The show will receive a full production in 2026 as the Spring production of Tusculum University. Dave is currently doing his first musical collaboration, and is also writing his own new adaptation of Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Recently, Dave premiered his newest musical, HOME BEFORE DARK, in which he also played a lead role and directed.

Dave has partnered in the past with Naples Performing Arts Center, directing children and teenagers in music and theatre. NPAC produced the first reading of POLLYANNA, using students from their program. Dave enjoys mentoring young people in music recording and theatre on a weekly basis. His latest production HOME BEFORE DARK was the result of a full year mentoring a teenage actor in the lead role.

As a composer, Dave received accolades in the Music Industry, having won a BMI (Broadcast Music Industry) award for theme music used in the hit TV show TRADING SPACES.