Lessons From David
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21-year-old Brooklyn native, David Iacono is here to remind us that nice guys finish first.
Words by Dio Anthony
I don’t know much about auras, and where the concept originated and all the science that goes into deciphering one–but I do believe David Iacono’s aura–if it were to be photographed, would appear as yellow. Creative, relaxed and friendly. He’s kind too, exuding a curiosity that can only be possessed by someone his age–21, curious and ready to take charge of his life. David is mellow and soft-toned and you would think the popular phrase–boy next door originated with him. Born and raised in New York he takes me through his life, his curiosities and shows me what it’s been like to be him.
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DIO: You went to LaGuardia High School of the Arts. What are some of your prominent memories from school that pop-up in your head?
DAVID: That’s a great question. Wow. Just today I was thinking about this. So there’s this show at LaGuardia High called Rising Stars, which is sort of like the all-school talent show, I guess you would call it. Me and my really good friend, Mikey, when we were freshmen we saw our first Rising Stars and everyone does an act. It could be anything, from dance to vocal music—whatever. Every year there’s also hosts and they’re sort of the MC’s and string the whole show together. We thought, that’s what we would do—all we knew how to do was talk [laughs]. We can’t dance, and we can’t play any instruments—but we feel like we want to be heard. It was really funny and a little stupid of us to think that way. When senior year rolled around four years later, we auditioned together and we got it! LA Arts has a really big auditorium. It feels like Broadway level big. So getting to actually do that and having achieved that dream by the time we graduated, and performing on that stage—that was pretty cool.
DIO: Describe yourself in high school and in what ways would you say you’re different and in what ways are you the same?
DAVID: Hm. As I got older, in high school, I became less cringey. But when I first got there, I was definitely a very cringey kind of person, [laughs]. I guess we all were during those years though. I just very much wanted to feel like I was a part of something. And I felt like I was at this school where your differences were celebrated. I really wanted to feel like I was a part of a group, you know what I mean? I think that when you’re that age, and even still now, I think belonging to a community feels like a really good thing. especially because you don’t really know who you are. I think identifying with a bunch of other people helps ease some of the discomfort that comes with that. I think putting in that effort was a very beautiful natural thing. But sometimes I think I would try a little too hard.
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DIO: When we’re that age—we just want to fit in and oftentimes we’ll try anything to do so.
DAVID: Exactly. I hope I’m different now in the sense that I let those types of communities form more organically. Because I think the result of that is feeling like you actually really are a natural part of them--like you’ve fallen into the right place— as opposed to feeling like you have to be a part of something.
DIO: Was there a teacher that was particularly influential to you from your days at LaGuardia Arts?
DAVID: Yeah, I think there were a couple. My first two years I had the same drama studio teacher. Her name was Mala Tsantilas. I had been acting for a pretty long time before I got to high school, since I was a kid. I was auditioning and stuff like that. But once I was taught by Ms. Tsantilas during my freshman year, I feel like she completely helped me re-imagine what acting could be and why people act. Not to mention the techniques in which we act. She introduced me to this idea of when you’re playing a character to bring as much of yourself to the character as possible.
(CONTINUED) It doesn’t have to be this daunting thing of—how am I going to portray a completely different person, you know what I mean? She taught a lot of Meisner technique, and a lot of Meisner stuff is to put yourself in that circumstance—actually put yourself in that circumstance. Then there was also Naima Warden, Mrs. Warden was such a loving person and also taught me a lot. I assistant directed one of the plays that she was directing senior year, and she showed me that there’s a very loving way to bring people onto a project, which I appreciate.
DIO: What do you feel like you’ve learned in these past few years of your life?
“I think belonging to a community feels like a really good thing..”
DAVID: That’s a good question. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve probably learned more than I have in any other time of my life, and I’m still learning. I think one main thing is that, at least for me, everyday structure is important. Even if you don’t have anything specific going on, giving yourself structure is a really important thing to do. Which I kind of struggle with, but I’m learning how to do it. Instead of getting up everyday and going on your phone for two hours just because there’s nothing specific going on that day. Once I got out of high school, it was like, oh cool—I don’t have to wake up at 6:30 every day. Or get on the train and go to school and worry about my homework. In between jobs—life does feel very much like a free-for-all. So, I think it’s important to have structure. No need to go crazy, but I like to remember to not lean too far into just going through the motions of the day. I try to do something that helps me mentally.
DIO: Do you have a favorite quote or one that you always come back to?
DAVID: The first one that just came to mind, because I’ve come back to it in the last couple of days is—you are what you do. That’s been very helpful to me, and I think it will prove to be in the near future. It’s easy to get put up in your head a lot and judge yourself for the thoughts you have. That’s valid, sure—to a certain extent. But I also think that actions speak louder than words and you are what you do. If I think of another, I’ll let you know [laughs].
DIO: Are you a big reader?
DAVID: I was a reader when I was a kid— heavy. I’ve talked about this before but I love Percy Jackson and The Olympians. That was my favorite book series when I was a kid. I grew up reading it and am actually re-reading it now. It’s a comfort thing. I’m re-reading the fifth one in that series. The Last Olympian. The author Rick Riordan does such a good job of building a world, and I’ve just grown to love those characters. Very epic. I would recommend it for sure.
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DIO: Is there a tradition that you partake in with your family?
DAVID: Oh, that’s a good one. Hmm. My family and I go to this restaurant a lot near my house. Michael’s of Brooklyn. It’s right by where I grew up and we’ve been going there for years. My grandparents have probably been going before my mom was even born. [laughs] At the very least since my mom was much younger. Every week or so. Sometimes we’ll all go together. We went a lot more when I was a kid. But we just went the other day and it’s really nice. The people that own the place are like family to us. It’s a place where I have lots of fond memories.
DIO: In another life, what profession, other than acting, what would you most likely be?
DAVID: Hmm. I don’t know. There’s this dude on TikTok who I don’t even know if I follow anymore, but I followed him for a while. Or maybe he just doesn’t post that much anymore. I’m not sure what It’s called but, he jumps out of a plane and parachutes down, landing on a field. I don’t know what the profession is called but I would really enjoy that. [laughs].
DIO: Tell me more, is this a planned thing?
DAVID: Yes, it’s an attraction for when people go to the game. I think I’d very much enjoy that. I went skydiving once and ever since I’ve had the dream to do it again in some capacity. I think there’s something very beautiful about falling out of the sky. So if there’s a way to get paid doing that, why not?
DIO: This was such a great conversation with you. Short and sweet. Honestly too short.
DAVID: I agree, I wish I could ask you some questions now.
WORDS + STYLING BY: DIO ANTHONY PHOTOGRAPHY BY: MICHELLE MALEK GROOMING BY: MONICA ALVAREZ