Old Fashioned Love Story is a tale of being young, gay, drunk, and in the arts. On the
piano, David pines for lost love, for New York, for that period of life that seems all too
fleeting as he shares his bittersweet love story with a talented fashion designer of ten
years…of the forces that keep them together as they tear themselves and one another apart…
“David Beck's voice is acerbic and his wit is sharp.” - Booklife
“David Beck is a revelation and a delight.” -Broadway World
Official Trailer for Regarding Us, an independent feature film.
We enjoyed a sold-out opening at the Chinese Theater TCL in Los Angeles as part of the Dances with Films Festival in Los Angeles, sponsored by Outfest. My producers and I are currently in talks with distribution companies and will keep you posted when you can see Regarding Us!
Check out the film’s website www.regardingus.com and IG page www.instagram.com/regardingusmovie
Dear Friends and Subscribers,
Thank goodness for live theatre during the SAG-AFTRA strike, where all union actors are joining the screen writers in demanding fair pay in a streaming-dominated future. Thankfully, my feature film Regarding Veronica (the first feature I directed and produced) wrapped production July 2nd, just in time before this monumental and important strike. More on that in the coming weeks!
I soon start rehearsals for an Off-Broadway run of Doris Day: My Secret Love. I play the many men in Doris Day’s fascinating life, including her band leader Les Brown…and yes, I play the piano in it, too!
This charming two person play runs September 4-October 29 (with a possible extension through November) at the 28th Street Theater, 15 West 28th Street (between Broadway and 5th Avenue), 2nd Floor (elevator accessible), New York, NY 10001. Subways: N/R/1/2 to 28th Street, B/D/F/W to 34th Street. I couldn’t be more excited to join the fabulous cast and crew, led by the wondrous Tiffan Borelli as Doris Day.
I have the sheer pleasure of playing Ken in John Logan’s contemporary masterpiece RED at the Schoolhouse Theatre in Westchester through the end of April. If you are in the area, you certainly don’t want to miss this riveting production, starring Patrick Lawlor as Mark Rothko and directed by Owen Thompson.
I first met Owen Thompson years ago while I was still a wee lad in college, doing a summer internship at River Rep in Connecticut, a repertory theatre company that Owen founded with his parents, the wonderful actors Evan Thompson and Joan Shepard and his sister, Broadway actress and director Jenn Thompson. To be directed by Owen for the first time in such a riveting play is a real treat…an experience I will cherish for a lifetime. I simply don’t want it to end!
Did you spot me on the new critically acclaimed limited series with Jesse Eisenberg, Claire Danes, and Lizzy Caplan? I briefly appear in Episodes 5 and 6 in Lizzy’s flashback scenes from the 90s.
Dear Friends,
I recently told a true story from my life on the true storytelling podcast, RISK! I'd love for you to hear it. It's going to be featured on this week’s episode, which comes out Tuesday. You can find it anywhere you listen to podcasts, or at risk-show.com.
RISK! is a well known podcast that has featured stories from all kinds of people, including Samantha Bee, Aubrey O'Day, Sarah Silverman, Bowen Yang, and Trevor Noah. Excited to be included in this talented group!
I just started reading the very funny and raw Fleishman is in Trouble, which is the basis for the new limited series, starring Claire Danes, Jesse Eisenberg, Lizzy Caplan, Christian Slater, and ME! Well, I am in one episode and I play a magazine editor. Look out for me in Episode 6 on FX (Hulu)! My episode is directed by the Academy Award nominated filmmaking team Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (American Splendor, Cinema Verite, and episodes of Succession).
Last week was one for the books! I’ve been called in to fulfill one of my understudy obligations and have been playing the part of Jamie Cregan in “A Touch of the Poet” by Eugene O’Neill at Irish Repertory Theatre. Andy Murray is a wonderful actor so his are big shoes to fill, but the cast (led by Robert Cuccioli, pictured here) have been nothing but encouraging and gracious. I had about 24 hours to prepare for a 2 show day Wednesday, then finished the week with the 5 remaining performances. This week is still uncertain. Our stellar crew has helped me prepare to the best of their ability, led by our super SM April Kline-Grimshaw. And thanks for doing my makeup, Dan Bass! The thrill of live theatre! We run through April 17th in New York!
I am blessed to be back on the stage in an off-Broadway run of Eugene O’Neill’s A Touch of the Poet at the Irish Rep. I’m humbled to play the small role of Dan Roche, a low class bar fly who is passionate about the election of Andy Jackson. On top of that, I’m understudying three other roles for three fantastic actors. I’ve never understudied before, but the sheer joy of becoming one with O’Neill’s language (even if only my patient friend and boyfriend hear it!) is reward enough. Besides, it’s good practice when I play one of my dream roles of James Tyrone in Moon For the Misbegotten! The first-rate cast is led by the riveting Robert Cuccioli, famous for his Tony nominated portrayal of mad scientist Dr. Jekyll and his sinister alter ego Mr. Hyde in the smash Broadway hit musical.
There are substantial discounted tickets available for previews, which begin Feb. 26th. We run through April 17th.
It was a pleasure reuniting with songstress and raconteur Zoë Van Tieghem at the legendary Don’t Tell Mama for our Valentine’s Day cabaret Love and Other Stuff. My favorite song in our set was a sultry version of “Fridays I’m in Love”, originally performed by The Cure.
I had a blast performing in these zoom readings of two original short plays, directed by the legendary Laura Esterman. Watch the virtual performance by clicking on the image below.
This weekend, I had the tremendous fortune of playing Ken, Mark Rothko’s fictional assistant, in the riveting two-character play RED by John Logan. Directed by Owen Thompson. Produced by Bram Lewis at Schoolhouse Theater. Also featuring Patrick Lawlor as Rothko.
Dear Friends,
This past week was a busy one for me, having the opportunity to perform in two historic venues in New York City. The first: Acting in a staged reading of a provocative new play Collect from Ogalala by Buffy Barton, directed by Brittany Vicars. We performed at The Players in Greenwich Village. I played a Welsh alcoholic playwright with deep marital problems who may or may not be a sexual predator. I loved playing this complicated role and I look forward to see how the play develops.
The second: Accompanying the luminescent Zoe Van Tieghem on piano at the fabulous Don’t Tell Mama in midtown. We performed an eclectic number of songs, including “Vienna” by Billy Joel and “So In Love” by Cole Porter as Zoe payed tribute to her hometown of New York through hilarious storytelling.
Next up: Playing Ken, Mark Rothko’s assistant in a zoom staged reading of the brilliant two-hander RED by John Logan.
Bonjour mes amis!
Tomorrow at 3 pm, I'm appearing as Valère in a zoom production of Tartuffe with the Pandemic Players at The Schoolhouse Theatre in Westchester. Surprisingly, I’ve never performed Molière before, so this is indeed an exciting venture.
Below is the link with all the pertinent information.
https://www.theschoolhousetheater.org/
Merci beaucoup!
I had the great fun of playing one of my dream Shakespearean roles recently: Orlando in As You Like It with the Bardcast Players via zoom. The performances were a benefit for the Actors Fund and Broadway Cares: Equity Fights AIDS. You can check out one of our virtual performances on youtube HERE.
This weekend I got to play a wonderful role I never thought I’d play! Gwendolen Fairfax in Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, put on by the Pandemic Players with the Westchester Schoolhouse Theatre. The zoom production was directed by Owen Thompson, who I first met years ago when interning with his family’s repertory theatre at the Ivoryton Playhouse in Connecticut. As you can see by the costumes below, we went all out for zoom!
Next up: I’m playing Orlando in As You Like It in a benefit for the Actors Fund in April.
“In matters of grave importance, it is style and not sincerity, that is the vital thing.”
See if you can spot me!
This past week, I had the immense privilege of performing in Death of Classical’s immersive theatre experience TO AMERICA at the historic Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. It is a sacred experience I will always treasure. Check out the New York Times review here. (It was a massive cast, comprising of primarily musicians and dancers, but yes, I do get a mention for my recitation of James Weldon Johnson’s Beauty That is Never Old!)
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/arts/music/green-wood-cemetery-music.html?searchResultPosition=1
Dear Subscribers,
If you’re looking for a bit of culture on this holiday weekend, look no further! Last month, I played American journalist William L. Shirer (protege of Edward R. Murrow) in a virtual reading of The Battle Not Begun by NPR news analyst Jack Beatty with Gloucester Stage, a small professional theatre based in Massachusetts. I’m happy to say that the reading can be streamed for free now through the weekend, and apparently we are a Boston Globe’s Critic Pick for the week!
The play centers around the “peace” talks between Hitler and Neville Chamberlain, so if you’re looking for the “David Beck show”, you won’t find it here, but my character as the narrator/outsider pops in just enough to satiate your desires!
I was happy to reunite with director Myriam Cyr on this, and tickled to work with Malcolm Ingram, who I remember having me in stitches in the Broadway revival of The Rivals.
Here is the link with all pertinent information:
https://gloucesterstage.com/battle-not-begun/
I hope everyone continues to stay healthy and sane during this time.
Love and Peace,
David
Dear Friends,
At long last, it gives me great pride to share with you the award-winning "Backup Plan", a 15 minute short film I wrote, directed, co-starred in, produced, and composed the score for. It's now streaming on AMAZON PRIME! (If you don't have Amazon Prime, you can rent or buy it at a nominal price.)
After you watch it, do us a solid and give us a review on Amazon! I have written a feature screenplay (which has placed in several screenwriting contests already) inspired by the short ready to go and even have a few investors on board and MIND-BLOWING talent attached as interested, but of course the pandemic has caused delays. If you watch the short film and you're interested in being a part of the feature in any way -- financially, artistically, emotionally -- message me! I'd love to hear from you.
Thank you so much for your continued support and enthusiasm as we trudge through 2020 one day at a time!
Love and Light,
David Beck
