David on his acting genes

Here’s a nice piece in The Saratogian ahead of this weekend’s fundraiser for the Home Made Theater in David’s hometown, Saratoga Springs.

Star of stage and television, David Hyde Pierce was born in Saratoga Springs with at least two generations of acting talent contributing to his genes. The Tony Award-winning actor (Curtains, Spamalot) who played the neurotic and loveable Dr Niles Crane in the hit television sitcom Frasier, will lend his support to Home Made Theater as its special guest at the 25th anniversary Spring Benefit on Saturday, March 27.

The fundraiser begins at 7pm with hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a silent auction at Spa Little Theater in the Spa State Park. Tickets are $65. To view the invitation, go to www.homemadetheater.org.

Calling from NYC where he was hosting New York Philharmonic’s star-studded Sondheim: The Birthday Concert early last week, Pierce said he hadn’t previously been aware of Home Made Theater, but that he decided to make this benefit appearance in honor of his late father, George Pierce, who “had a true passion for acting.”

The talented David Hyde Pierce himself has never done community theater, skipping directly from college to professional productions.

“My connection is my dad, who did a lot of community theater in the 1930s through the early ’50s. He wanted an acting career, but it was the Depression, and my grandfather, Arthur Pierce, who had also been an actor, convinced him instead to join his insurance business,” Pierce said.

“My father was in Holiday at Skidmore, and the second professional play I did was Holiday, and that’s when I started to find out all he had done. He was also a magician; he used to perform at fundraisers for the church (Bethesda Episcopal in Saratoga Springs). And my parents were great ballroom dancers.”

Pierce also has a review mentioning his older brother, reporting that “Little Tommy Pierce appeared on stage with his father.”

David grew up with a passion for music, studying piano and playing organ at church, but discovered drama in high school. He studied classical piano at Yale University, but found that he wasn’t dedicated enough to practice the required amount of hours to become a successful concert pianist.

Instead, he returned to his love of drama and graduated in 1981 with a double major in English and theater arts. He then moved to New York where he worked several menial jobs (including selling ties at Bloomingdales and working as a securi ty guard) while acting in the theater during the late ’80s and early ’90s.

Pierce’s life and career changed forever in 1993 when he landed the role of Dr Niles Crane in the long-running audience favorite, Frasier.

“A friend of the family came to see me in Curtains, and said, ‘Oh, my gosh! You’re your father! It must be in the blood!’” Pierce said.

He’ll leave for London in a month, where he’ll rehearse and perform the comedy La Bete through the summer, before coming back to Broadway with the play in September.

In the meantime, March has been filled with benefits and several hosting obligations.

“I try to do the benefits that have a particular meaning for me,” he said, noting that he has recently been in Washington DC, for the Alzheimer’s Association, the disease from which his father died.

Pierce and his siblings — Tom, Nancy and Barbara — donated the funds last year to rebuild a 1920 Skinner organ located in the loft at Bethesda Episcopal Church on Washington Street in Saratoga Springs and to connect it electronically to the larger 1967 Casavant instrument in the church’s chancel, beside the altar.

The rebuilt instrument was named in honor of the Pierces’ parents, the George and Laura Pierce Gallery Organ. The Casavant organ was purchased in 1967, when George served on Bethesda’s governing board.

David performed impressively on the new instrument ina public recital and organ dedication in October at the church. He said he began playing the Casavant organ at the front of the church at age 16.

“I’d come here after I finished my homework, and some nights I’d stay and practice until midnight,” he recalled.

On this next visit to his birthplace, at HMT’s 25th birthday celebration, Pierce plans to sing and talk, and remember his dad.

“I’d better decide soon just what songs,” he said, not sounding the least bit worried.