Off Broadway Run of Doris Day: My Secret Love

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.

For tickets, click here.

RED at The Schoolhouse Theatre

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!

Fleishman is in Trouble on FX/Hulu is out!

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.

Featured Story on the RISK! Podcast

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!

Co-Star on new FX Series Fleishman is in Trouble

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).

The thrill and uncertainty of live theatre!

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!

A Touch of the Poet at the Irish Rep

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.

Valentine's Day Cabaret

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.

Two short plays: JUST LUST // EDDY and EDNA

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.

Zoom Matinee Reading of RED by John Logan

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.

Staged Reading at The Players and Piano Cabaret at Don't Tell Mama

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.

See me as Valère in Molière's Tartuffe

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!

Orlando in Shakespeare's As You Like It

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.

Gwendolen in a gender-flipped version of The Importance of Being Earnest

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.”

SLICE Pizza Delivery App Commercial is now online and on TV!

See if you can spot me!

New York Times Review of TO AMERICA

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

Virtual Reading of The Battle Not Begun - Boston Globe's Critic Pick!

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

Backup Plan is now on Amazon Prime

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.)

Link to watch Backup Plan

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

PRESS RELEASE: Starring in "In a Dark Dark House" by Neil LaBute December 6-21 in New York

Knife Edge Productions is pleased to announce their next production, Neil LaBute's In a Dark Dark House. The play runs December 6 - 21 with opening night slated for December 10 at A.R.T/New York Theatres. In a Dark Dark House is directed by the company's Resident Theatre Director, Sam Helfrich.

This production will mark the first time the play has been mounted in New York since the original production premiered off-Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in 2007. In 2008, the Almeida Theatre in London produced the play where director Michael Attenborough worked with LaBute to create a different version of the play. The revised version made its West Coast premiere at The Matrix Theatre Company in Los Angeles in 2014. Knife Edge Productions will present the rewritten version.

Drew, who has been court-confined for observation at a psychiatry facility, calls his older brother Terry, to corroborate his claim of childhood sexual abuse, releasing barely-hidden animosities between the two. In a Dark Dark House tells a tale of sexual and emotional abuse and two estranged brothers who attempt to overcome it and understand the legacy of abuse, both inside and outside their family home.

The cast features David Beck (For Francis/Festival de Cannes), Neil Holland (starred opposite Tony Award Winners Reed Birney and Sutton Foster in the film Mired), and Krystal Tavarez (The House of Brenarda Alba/Stella Adler Studio).

The creative team includes scenic design by Afsoon Pajoufar, lighting design by Reza Behjat, costume design by Nancy Leary, sound design by Daniel Cohen, stage management by Andrea Miller, assistant stage manager Max Jabara. In a Dark Dark House is produced by Sam Helfrich, Neil Holland and Knife Edge Productions, Heather Arnson serves as production manager.

Tickets go on sale in mid-November at www.knifeedgeproductions.com. Performances take place at A.R.T/New York Theatres, the Gural, 502 West 53rd Street (corner of 10th avenue.), New York, NY 10019. Subways: A/C/E to 50th Street, A/B/C/D/1 to 59th Street. Running time: 90 minutes.

Performance schedule:

Friday, December 6 at 8 pm

Saturday, December 7 at 8 pm

Sunday, December 8 at 2 pm & 7 pm

Tuesday, December 10 at 7 pm (Opening night)

Wednesday, December 11 at 8 pm

Thursday, December 12 at 8 pm

Friday, December 13 at 8 pm

Saturday, December 14 at 8 pm

Sunday, December 15 at 7 pm

Tuesday, December 17 at 8 pm

Wednesday, December 18 at 8 pm

Thursday, December 19 at 8 pm

Friday, December 20 at 8 pm

Saturday, December 21 at 8 pm

"Backup Plan" continues its successful festival run throughout the U.S....and coming soon to Europe!

Dear Friends,

Happy September! Just wanted to give you an update on my short film “Backup Plan”. We are enjoying a wonderful festival run, and I’m currently researching grants, screenplay contests, and investors in order to secure funding for the feature film version!

So far, “Backup Plan” has played or will play:

Wicked Queer: Boston LGBTQ Film Festival (World Premiere)

qFlix Philadelphia (Best Short Film)

Astoria Film Festival (Best Actress/Best Drama Short)

NY International Short Film Festival

SOHO Film Festival

Long Island Film Expo

North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Kapow Intergalactic Film Festival (Hollywood premiere, September 16th @ 7:30pm)

Sight + Sound Film Festival (Oxnard, California, September 21st @ 6pm)

Out on Film Atlanta (September 29th)

Reel Pride Fresno LGBT Film Festival (late October…date TBA)

Gender Reel Film Festival in St. Paul, Minnesota @ Metropolitan State University (October…date TBA)

Perlen Queer Film Festival Hanover, Germany (late October…date TBA)

Semi-Finalist Stage 32 Short Film Contest

If you would like more information on any of these festivals, please contact me at david@thegreatgriffon.com

Thank you, as always, for your support!