"There's fun from David Baida as the wandering Piragua Guy..."
-Variety (In The Heights review), October 28, 2009
"David Baida shows loads of stage presence and a lovely tenor voice pushing a fruit-ice cart."
-Hollywood Reporter, June 24, 2010
"And the cast includes some performers who, thankfully, are not physical replicas of the originators
of these roles, but who instead breathe likeability, singing talent and great humor and passion into
their characters.......David Baida stole the show with "Piragua," as he should."
-BroadwayWorld.com, Dec. 18, 2009
"Just like David Baida's beaming take on the Piragua Guy (the singing guy who sells shaved ice
treats), the majority of the show should bring a smile to your face. Be glad that "In the Heights" has
extra warmth to share with Chicago this holiday season."
-Daily Herald (Chicago), Dec. 18, 2009
"As Amiens, tenor David Baida is notable for his affecting rendition of several Shakespearean
songs..." -Los Angeles Times (LA, California)
"While the piragua salesman (the delightful David Baida) hawks his flavored ices, Nina's parents,
Kevin and Camila, appear in danger of losing their taxi service."
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 6 2009
"There are also wonderfully vibrant performances from Shaun Taylor-Corbett as Sonny, Rogelio
Douglas Jr. as Benny and David Baida as the comical Piragua Guy, who sells ice treats in a heat
wave." -Sarasota Herald Tribune, October 28th, 2009
"David Baida has a minor part as the soda cart operator who is always lamenting the fact that his
business is being taken away by the Mr. Softee truck, but he plays it with such zeal, you gotta love
him." -CreativeLoafing.com (Tampa)
"A fine representation from David Baida who played “Piragua.” His lyric tenor reminded one of old-
time broadway singers that truly understood the meaning of a line. Bravo."
-The Last Verista (Buffalo, NY), Feb 2, 2010
"A very talented supporting cast includes: Isabel Santiago as the gossipy owner of the local beauty
salon, Daniela; Genny Lis Padilla as Carla, a daffy girl who applies the idea of "what would Jesus
do" to every situation; David Baida as the Piragua Guy; and Jose-Luis Lopez as Graffiti Pete."
-BroadwayWorld.com (St. Louis), Nov. 11, 2009
"In the cameo role of the Piragua Guy, David Baida makes a memorable impression. His soaring
voice, humor and slick choreography prove the old adage, 'There are no small parts, only small
actors.' ” -Outs Theatre Review, Pittsburgh, Feb. 3, 2010.
"As the Piragua Guy who sells shaved ice drinks from a push cart (and constantly competes with
the Dairy Queen truck), David Baida is not only warmly funny but a wonderful singer, effortlessly
sliding up and around a couple of rather grand high notes."
-OnStage Boston, January 16, 2010
"Another character making the audience smile is the cart-pushing vendor, the "Piragua Guy" (David
Baida), who is at war with the Mister Softee truck."
-Belleville News Democrat (Belleville, IL), Nov. 17, 2009
"To a one, the cast members are appealing, from the four leads (Kyle Beltran, Yvette Gonzalez-
Nacer, Arielle Jacobs, and Rogelio Douglas Jr.) to the sassy supporting characters, especially
Isabel Santiago as the salon owner, David Baida as the piragua guy, and Shaun Taylor-Corbett as a
young clerk with designs on something greater—free sodas, at least."
-Twin Cities Daily Planet, Dec. 2, 2009
"David Baida was highly entertaining as the struggling, but persistent, Piragua Guy..."
-Examiner (Columbus, Ohio), Nov. 29, 2009
"Purposefully stealing the show intermittently is a street vendor, selling piragua (flavored shaved
ice) from a pushcart. “Piragua Guy” sings and glides through the scene, but leaves toes tapping in
his wake — a reminder that life can be simple if we make it so."
-Appleton Post-Crescent, December 9, 2009
"Shout-outs go to show-stopping David Baida who authentically reminded us of the guy who sold
us shaved ice in San Juan..." -The Resident (Hartford, Connecticut), Jan 20, 2010
"Even the secondary roles are memorable in this show that celebrates an entire neighborhood-
David Baida as the Piragua Guy." -Artvoice (Buffalo, NY), January 28, 2010
"Among the others making memorable impressions in the cast are Rogelio Douglas Jr. as Benny,
the African American who ignites some ethnic tension (there has to be a little, even in a feel-good
musical); and David Baida as the piragua man."
-The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD), Feb. 26, 2010
"Add to this ensemble other likable characters, such as the Piragua Guy, Graffiti Pete and, as in
other great urban musicals like "West Side Story" and "Rent," New York City itself, and you have a
barrio of personalities you won't soon forget. " -Center Stage (Chicago), Dec. 15, 2009
"Somehow, though, it’s the backdrop of lesser characters who give In the Heights its flavor...the
guy who sells shaved-ice piraguas (the sunny David Baida, who pays Kevin at some
performances). " -Elizabeth Maupin on Theater (Orlando, FL), March 10, 2010
"Song highlights include the gossipy humor of “No Me Diga” (literally, “Don’t tell me that”), the
powerful “Pacienca y Fe” (where Abuela Claudia pines for the stars over Cuba) and the lighthearted
“Piragua” (with “Piragua Guy” David Baida singing about “scraping by” as he serves the Puerto
Rican shaved-ice treat)." -News-Press.com (Ft. Myers, FL), March 30, 2010
"And David Baida’s Piragua Guy is just a joy, both for his simple pleasure of owning his own
piragua pushcart, and his ultimate triumph over Mr. Softee." -HoustonArtsWeek, April 7, 2010
"...and even David Baida's genial Piragua Guy gets to shine with a solo as sweet as the ices he
peddles from his cart." -Houston Chronicle, April 8, 2010
"...Baida lends his superb tenor voice to the Piragua Guy."
-The Critic's Critic (Houston), April 8, 2010
"This minor local color figure (endearingly sung by David Baida) epitomizes both fading Hispanic
traditions..." -Dorchester Reporter(Boston), Jan. 21, 2010
"The bug-eyed David Baida is equally comical as the nosebleed-prone Jinx. He hits the high notes
with a captivating tenor and as a milquetoast he quickly butters up the audience during "Cry" when
he goes almost Elvis on us." -Press Journal (Vero Beach, Florida)
"A special mention must go to David Baida who not only plays brother Simeon, but also turns in a
deliciously comic performance as the Pharoah's butler."
- Tribune Chronicle ( Warren, Ohio)
"It would be a disservice not to mention the brilliant tenor David Baida, who leads the waiters at the
Kit Kat Club with a stunning acapella version of 'Tommorow Belongs To Me', one of the highlights
of the show." -The Beachcomber (Long Beach, NJ)
"David Baida and Robert Tunstall pretty much steal the show as the Wizard and Don
Wand." -The Californian ( Salinas, CA)
"The Wizard, played by David Baida, and Don Wand, played by Rob Tunstall, are a dynamic duo on
every level. Their comedy has impeccable timing, their duets are vocally well-balanced and they
nearly steal the show."
-The News Gazette (Champaign, Illinois)
"Baida and Tunstall rate extra mention for their performances in 'Luxury Castle' and 'The Way We
Used To Woo'. These two are simply an extraordinary
pair."
-The News Gazette (Champaign, Illinois)
" One of the most pleasant surprises was the comedic team of the Wizard, played by David Baida
and his sidekick played by Robert Tunstall."
-The Gazette (Billings, Montana)
"In this and other sequences, such as the second act's hilarious "The Way We Used To Woo",
Baida and Tunstall were a vaudeville show by themselves."
-The Times (El Paso, Texas)
"...and purple-suited David Baida left nothing to be desired in his antic, music hall rendition of King
Herod's song." -Brooklyn Arts & Entertainment Journal (New York)
"David Baida confidently presided over the evening's events as the Narrator and also gave an
amusingly touching portrayal as the Mysterious Man. " -
-Off-Off Broadway Review (New York)
"...Narrator David Baida (who also doubles up- literally- as the Mysterious Man) walks in and out of
the play with great grace and humor..." -Brooklyn Heights Paper (New York)
"Baida does a wonderful job with his number 'A Fireside, A Pipe and A Pet'...Baida is also fun to
watch in singing 'Edna Jones, the Elephant Girl'..."
-Press Republican (Plattsburgh, New York)
"David Baida, who should share top billing with O'leary and Wheeler, plays Moonface, the central
comedy figure in Anything Goes. Without him and his humor, the liner would sink. His rendition of
'Be Like The Bluebird' is another Act 2 highlight."
-The Beachcomber (Long Beach, NJ)
"There's also humor aplenty in Crazy For You, provided by almost all of the cast members but
especially by the Deadrock Trio, featuring Moose(C. Arthur Smith), Mingo(David Baida) and Sam
(Sean Lough). These guys are funny from the first moment, and when the show hits Deadrock, most
of the laughter begins." -The Beachcomber (Long Beach, NJ)
Reviews