Dear Friends,
I am beyond thrilled to share with you my latest adventure, Spring Street - The Webseries!
I wrote this psychological thriller as I was influenced by New York's grit, it's diverse community, and the strength and resilience of its community. Please take a look to view our video pitch in the link below, and please share it will your contacts!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/320676168/spring-street-the-webseries-season-one?ref=user_menu
Here is a video as well as a few pics of a one act play I recently performed in at the bar Jimmy's #43, part of ESPA's Detention Series (Primary Stages). The piece was written by Seth McNeill, directed by Rachael Harrington, and I shared the stage with the lovely Natalie Neckyfarow.
Hello friends!
This fall has been a busy season! Several staged readings, including playing Sherlock Holmes in the new libretto Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant, commissioned by American Lyric Theater. This was my second reading this season with ALT and Larry Edelson, and I thank them and my management Uzan International Artists for these unique opportunities. It's such a fascinating process to be a part of any new work, but this is a particularly special experience because the final libretto will, naturally, be sung! I hope that we actors helped the composer Evan Meier and lyricist E.M. Lewis in clarifying this invigorating text, and I anxiously anticipate hearing the opera, set to workshop this spring!
Two other readings I had the privilege to take part in were: Love, Genius, and a Walk by Gay Walley and directed by Myriam Cyr, performed at the legendary restaurant Sardi's and commissioned by the Gustav Mahler Foundation; and the family comedy-drama The Octette Bridge Club with The Twelfth Night Club, the oldest continuing female theatre group in the world, dating back to the 19th century! My dear friend and wonderful actress Joan Shepard directed. As a teenager, I interned with her summer stock company River Rep in Ivoryton, Connecticut. We did everything from The Mystery of Edwin Drood to Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare to Light Up the Sky by Moss Hart. Where does the time go?!
I also recently finished recording my eighth book for the blind with the New York Public Library, The Trace by Forrest Gander. Finally, and most significantly, I signed on with a fantastic director and producer for my feature film The Thin Place. More details on this coming soon....all I can say right now is that I am absolutely ecstatic, as all the pieces seem to be falling into place...it just proves that if you trust and do the work, it'll happen!
OH...and my non-profit film company The Great Griffon has officially received tax exempt status from the IRS! This might be the best news ever!
Below is a picture I took Columbus Day weekend when I did a bit of location scouting for The Thin Place. That's my friend Lindsay's dog Ede (short for Edelweiss) in the photo. My doggie Mickey was there too, of course (He's the official mascot of The Great Griffon!), but he's hiding in the bushes.
Have a fantastic day, and thank you, as always, for your support.
Dear Subscribers,
I am finally back in New York after spending most of the summer in Vermont playing Horatio in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. The audiences were appreciative, the weather was beautiful, and the reviews were glowing!
June Pichel Cook from The Hardwick Gazette wrote: "Horatio (David Beck) is Hamlet's friend and a difficult role to play; a shadow to the "In-your-face" action that may be going on. He plays it well and deeply. The final scene reflects a resignation that the course of events was unalterable."
Unalterable indeed...
Jim Lowe from Times Argus wrote: "Particularly fine performances also came from John Marshall and David Beck as Laertes and Horatio."
This week, I am taking part in a reading of the libretto workshop Mila, the Great Sorcerer (written by Jean Claude van Itallie and Lois Walden) about the life of the sacred Tibetan poet Milarepa at the Opera National Center with the American Lyric Theater. This is completely foreign territory to me, and I am ecstatic to begin tomorrow. A few of us actors will read and dissect the bold, new text...which will ultimately be sung, of course, by superb opera singers!
In the meantime, words to live by...
Dear Subscribers,
The Exalted, the satiric short film I wrote and produced with fashion designer Viktor Luna, is now available for the masses to view on youtube! Check out the 15 minute film here, and please share via social media and comment!
Marise's mother always told her, "Sometimes you have to bring people down in order to raise yourself up." And that's what she did. But does Marise have enough ruthless ambition to become "exalted"? This black comedic short film is a parable for modern times.
For this film, we had the honor of collaborating with Kate Hodge (The Good Wife, White Collar, Blue Bloods...), Ashley Rebecca King (of the critically acclaimed cabaret duo Portz and King), and Rosina Fernhoff (Obie Winner, Snow People). This was also my second collaboration with producer Susan Hunt, an excellent filmmaker in her own right, who worked with us on post-production. (Susan was a producer on For Francis.)
I also must give credit to the great musicians who contributed to this project, including Meg Cavanaugh, one of my oldest friends from way back doing children's theatre at Town Hall in Dayton, Ohio....Meg is now a jazz/rockstar in London, England. Look at us all grown up!
I hope you enjoy the movie, subscribers, and please share and comment!
Onward,
David G Beck
Dear Subscribers,
Say what you want about Tom Waits's voice, there is no denying the power of his storytelling through song. I am very pleased to be dusting off my old guitar tonight and joining Anthony Wills, Jr. and his company, Artistic Pride Productions for The Mule Variations. We will present the entire 1999 Tom Waits album via spoken word, dance, cacophony, and of course, song. I love working with Anthony and his company because each cabaret I do with them challenges me in ways that are at times terrifying, at times exhilarating, and always rewarding. I'll be reciting lyrics, singing (!), playing guitar, playing a variety of percussive instruments, and maybe I'll play a tune on the piano. :) Here's to getting out of our comfort zones!
In other news, For Francis continues to make its way through the festivals. Last week, it played at the Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner (the French loved us, as we knew they would!), and this weekend, we are an Official Selection of the LGBT Connecticut Film Festival in Hartford CT. For Francis is also an Official Selection of the Manhattan Film Festival on June 12th, which is a red carpet event, so I look forward to wearing my boat shoes. Special thanks to all those who came out to the screening in April and voted for our film....we won, and qualified as an Official Selection of the Downtown Film Festival June 15th!
There's a great deal more to tell you--so many exciting things are happening--but it will have to wait for another post!
Thank you, as always, for your support.
Enjoy this last beautiful weekend of May!
David G Beck
Dear Subscribers,
I am thrilled to announce that I have recently begun working with manager Kristen Ernst at Uzan International Artists. Kristen heads the new film, television, and straight theatre division of UIA, as well as the commercial department. UIA also represents world class opera singers and conductors. I couldn't be more excited to develop my career with UIA and to be in the company of such sophisticated talent! www.uzanartists.com
This past weekend, For Francis (the short film I wrote, acted in, and co-produced last year) was honored with the Student Voices For Peace Most Inspiring Story Award at the Peace On Earth Film Festival in Chicago, Illinois. The festival included films from around the globe that "raise awareness of peace, nonviolence, social justice, and an eco-balanced world".
Also, For Francis will screen at the 11th NYC Downtown Short Film Festival on April 10th! This screening is where the audience votes for the best film. If you live in the New York area, we need your help in voting for For Francis. If we get enough votes, we will qualify for the final round, which will be held in June. Help make it happen on Friday April 10th @ 8 PM. Tickets are $10. Reserve them here
For Francis will also be screening at the Athens International Film and Video Festival Friday April 3rd at 9 PM, and in Cannes as part of the Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner in May. As you can see, For Francis is on a roll!
On the closing night of our critically acclaimed run, we were privileged to have our playwright, Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph, in the audience. Below is a picture with Rajiv (center), the cast, and our director Merri Milwe (left). Producing and acting in this beautiful play has been quite a journey, and it was an "honest to goodness blessing" (as my character Andy would say) to have received such high praise from the writer himself. Onward!
Below are some quotes from the reviews about my performance as Andy Froling, but the play as a whole has been highly praised thus far! Click on the full reviews to read more.
-Matthew Murray, Talkin' Broadway Full Review
-Edward Karam, Offoffonline Full Review
-Kathleen Campion, The Front Row Center Full Review
-Richard Hinojosa, nytheaternow.com Full Review
-Caleb Ryan, theatrescene.net Full Review
-Bianca Garcia, Stage Buddy Full Review
Our production is featured on broadwayworld.com! Check out the press release and buy your tickets while you can. One week into the rehearsal process, I am having an absolute ball working on such compelling material with this fine group of artists. Reserve your tickets at smarttix.com. Special thanks to Lendon Flanagan for the publicity photo. See you on opening night!
This past week, I had the good fortune of being asked by Lisa Rothe to read in a new play called "Wake Me Up" by Amy Wheeler. It is an absolutely fascinating story drawn from the playwright's own personal experience. I played Caleb, a high functioning adolescent with autism: about eight years old emotionally, but views himself as a grown man. It was a ball diving in to such a challenging role, especially in such good company, playing with renowned actresses Deirdre Lovejoy (The Wire) and Mary Bacon. It is an intriguing story, and I look forward to seeing how the script develops.
This is the second time Lisa asked me to participate in the Lark Play Development Center, and both times I have found the experience wholly gratifying. For an actor, there is nothing quite like being in the room and actively listening and responding to a playwright's words for the first time. I always imagine what it must have been like for Shakespeare's company of actors reading "The quality of mercy is not strained...." or "Conscience doth make cowards of us all" for the very first time! The sheer rush of ecstasy!
In other news, the Animals Out of Paper cast and design team are all in place! We found a tremendously gifted young actor, Maneesh Sasikumar, to play Suresh, and my co-producer Nairoby Otero is pleased to inform the world that the entire design team is comprised of women. That wasn't intentional...they are just the right people for the job. Tickets will go on sale in the beginning of January!
Thanks to Tony Webster (AKA bigbadllama) for a great photo session. So happy to have headshots with a beard now! No more teenage roles for me! Headshots coming soon, but in the meantime, enjoy this classic B&W pic.
Starr Films and I are excited to announce that "For Francis" will be screening in Cincinnati, Ohio November 16th-18th at the Know Theatre of Cincinnati. If you are in the Cincinnati area, we would love to see you! We will keep you abreast of more screenings across the country in the coming months!
and for the great questions at the Q&A! The cast, Viktor, Susan, and I really enjoyed sharing this short film with all of you...and we know this is just the beginning of this journey with "The Exalted". We have exciting plans which we will announce in the near future! Stay tuned. :)
