David Arden Engel
A voice actor with wide versatility, adept comic timing, strong dramatic intuition and a keen directorial sense
Audiobook Narration Video Games E-Learning Podcast Narration SAG-AFTRA & APA Member
“Engel, an actor of tremendous physical and verbal gifts, carries it off effortlessly, bringing both meaning and masquerade to every word.”
Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times Chief Critic
“David is one of the most talented actors with whom I have ever had the pleasure and challenge to work with…His work never lacks for creativity and he is tireless in his pursuit of excellence…”
Warner Crocker, Freelance Director/Executive Artistic Director, Chicago, IL
“…Played by David Engel with wicked intelligence, and death-tinged comic brilliance.”
Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times Chief Critic
Demos. Come kick the tires.
A versatile, intelligent voice.
David Arden Engel brings to each project 30+ years’ experience as a professional actor, nationally touring theatrical-clown and world-traveler. He alchemizes the full scope of these experiences into his narration and brings a refreshing read to any copy.
Trained as a Classical actor, his strong voice is a resonant tenor with sandy mid-tones. David’s deft pacing creates an engaging experience for his listeners, lifting the action to the ear and allowing each thought to land.
His years performing as an eccentric clown result in excellent comic timing, characterization and delivery, while his acting chops allow him to plumb the darker depths of dramatic subjects.
Adept at narrating sagas of survival, paranormal murder-mysteries, historical military subjects and space exploration, David is equally at home with ‘Chic-Lit’ romance and STEM-based educational subjects.
With chameleon-like ease he can inhabit characters as diverse as lost dark souls, jovial sea-creatures, professors, charlatans, good ole boys and an aged rabbi or two.
A respected collaborator, David takes direction well yet has the intuitiveness to offer a session director or author-client a range of interpretations to enrich a text.
Book David Arden Engel today. His professional ethics, personal stamina, technical prowess, time management skills and love of storytelling will do the rest.
“Of all the actors I have directed, David is one of the most successful at his ability to marry his thought and feeling processes.”
Peter Forster, Casting Agent/Freelance Director, Chicago, IL
“Engel…is more comically than seriously indignant.. His humor is goofy but it works…adding an element of post-modern burlesque.”
Bruce Weber, Chief Theatre Critic, The New York Times, NY
“Engel…makes the bloodthirsty king (Macbeth) as pathetic as he is volatile and terrifying.”
Chris Davis, Theatre Critic, Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN
Why “Mouth Olympus?”
David playing the title role in “Titus Andronicus” Gotham Shakespeare Co., NYC
Acting Chops.
The moniker 'Mouth Olympus' describes the creative verbal voyage that I willingly take on behalf of my clients.
Originally, “Mouth Olympus” was the term coined by a beloved theater director to describe my nightly verbal-adventures playing the impossibly verbose character Valére in David Hirsons comedy "La Bête." I performed this challenging role for the plays U.S Midwest premiere, which was later played by Marc Rylance for it’s Broadway premiere.
"La Bête" opens with a densely rich, 33-page thirty minute monologue in rhyming couplets, and that was only the beginning of the night’s verbal-fireworks. This role made my reputation in Chicago as an actor who could take on ardouous roles with outlandishly long passages.
Since Valére, I've happily climbed "Mouth Olympus" many times: as Hamlet, Macbeth, Titus Andronicus, Cyrano de Bergerac and many other productions wherein I was often the sole loquacious character on-stage for an hour and more.
Excellent boot-camp for an audiobook narrartor.
Rock Star Clown.
Did I mention I'm a touring family entertainer with over 7000 solo shows under my belt?
Besides my years as a classical actor, I bring to your narration projects the artistic sensibilities and professional capabilities uniquely developed over the past 30 seasons as a full-time ‘variety entertainer.’
Wearing the many hats of producer, marketing director, agent, roadie and Fool, I tour nationwide to major arts centers, festivals, schools, museums and corporate events. I’ve performed across Europe, the U.K, the Caribbean, Singapore and in China.
My stable of Monty Python-esque acts keep my vocal instrument fine-tuned, my accents up-to-snuff and maintain the "Mouth Olympus" tradition. But with belly-laughs.
If my story-telling and vocal abilities can rivet the attention of three thousand K-5th graders for a full hour, what sort of dream-team could we make for your project?
David in his solo show “Pirate School!”
Get in touch and let the Wild Rumpus begin!
Reach out to David today and start your own journey with Mouth Olympus Audio.