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.
Encore Performance of The Piano Teacher March 3rd
Another Chance To See...
The Piano Teacher
Written by Julia Cho
*free admission*
With Rosina Fernhoff, Bilgin Turker, and David BeckDirected by Antonio Merenda
Thursday, March 3rd, 2016 at 7:30pm
St. Malachy's Church
239 West 49th Street New York, NY 10019
(Between Broadway and Eighth Avenue)
PRESENTED BY
PLAYWRIGHTS, DIRECTORS AND ACTORS
AT THE ACTORS CHAPEL
PRODUCERS: MARIO MACALUSO & JOHN RONEY
CONSULTANT: JANET BREGER
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/RESIDENT PLAYWRIGHT: JO ANN TEDESCO
HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER: THOMAS ARKIN
================================
REVIEW ON THE PIANO TEACHER, PLAY WRITTEN BY JULIA CHO.
Last night I saw a wonderful play enacted by three of the rarest of "items" in theater today. Actors who are Real Artists. There are many talented performers but talent is infinitely more common than artistry. True Artists are the rare commodity so the idea of an entire cast and director actually all being true artists is utterly overwhelming. Allow me to make the logical distinctions between the two. Talent is a gift that's attention-getting that can entertain and even engage but only artists can illuminate the human condition and uplift the viewer transporting him to those mystical regions deep within himself. Art resonates within us and we find ourselves somewhat haunted by it. Talent makes us happy for a while but art gives us abiding joy which we never forget. We find ourselves returning mentally to the performance and play repeatedly.
The three actors are made for great plays and great roles. There's nothing miniscule about their work, it's all giant economy sized both in terms of heart and technique.
Alternately comic and tragic BILGIN TURKER adds a large dollop of versatility to the mix as she plays several very different characters with great dexterity and velvety ease. A real find, she possesses such an embarrassment of theatrical riches she puts most actors to shame. She inhabits different psyches so completely that the discerning theatergoer knows beyond a doubt that Bilgin can and should play a broad range of roles. She's a wonder to watch and she leaves us wanting to see more of her insights into the human condition. She reveals the sub-conscious and the actual heartbeat in each character. No small feat, that.
Spoiler alert. That DAVID BECK is one devious actor! So low-key and soft-spoken that we're lulled into a false complacency and the fallacy that we know exactly who he is and where he's going. Nay not so! David Beck is full of subterranean Sturm und Drang. When David starts revealing the fault-lines in his character we're dragged through emotional swamps and over rough mountains never to return to safety again. He makes such emotional twists and turns that we're on a roller-coaster ride awaiting our safe return... An amazing surprise.
And now ROSINA FERNHOFF, the likes of which most audiences have never had the pleasure of experiencing. Why? Because there just plain are not many Rosina Fernhoffs in the world let alone in the theater. That such talent has never had wide exposure is the world's loss because Rosina is a grand dame of great acting. Having witnessed her in the same evening morph from Queen Elizabeth the First to a Brooklyn drug addicted mother of three other addicts, to say she has range is an understatement. She was born to play the piano teacher and she rips off her own skin exposing her beating heart pushing her life blood through her veins. A lifetime of right living has sharpened her artistic tools to such a degree that her dramatic choices are golden. She illuminates a character who lives in denial and loves a broken man in spite of it. To say her performance is moving is an understatement.
All of the aforementioned is also a large tribute to the director, ANTONIO MERENDA, whose work was so seamless and unobtrusive as to almost disappear. The complete antithesis to the work of most modern directors who are hellbent on putting their marks on the plays they mutilate. The director's job is to fulfill the playwright's vision not to lift a leg on every project with unnecessary self-indulgent directorial effluvia. I don't want to see two inches of cheap colored Cool-Whip frosting on my Sacher torte. What a welcome relief to find a director who presents the play matching well-suited actors to the piece. Antonio opened an artistic window and let fresh balmy air into the all-too often stuffy theater. Bravo Antonio!
And not least of all the playwright without whom even the greatest actors cannot use their talents. If there had not been a Tennessee Williams or Budd Shulberg we would never have seen Brando at his best. Great actors cannot act the phone book or every project they acted in would be a prize worthy performance. Actors need good roles with excellent lines to exercise their talent. JULIA CHO has given us such a play worthy of this director and actors. All I can say is Amen!
- JO ANN TEDESCO
Artistic Director, Resident Playwright, and Member of The Actors Studio West Playwrights/Directors Unit.
(Written on February 12th, 2016 in NYC, USA)
An Autumn Update
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.
The birth of The Great Griffon! Official website and Facebook page
Dear Subscribers,
I am thrilled to launch my non-profit film company's official website! Please take a moment to check out our mission. We have some exciting projects coming up that I'll announce soon! Also, please "like" The Great Griffon on Facebook. With a logo like this, how can you resist "liking"?
Thank you for your support, and Happy Back-to-School to everyone!
Goodbye Horatio, hello Milarepa
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...
HAMLET at the Mirror Repertory Theater
Dear Subscribers,
As I write this, I'm gazing out at the rolling hills and peaceful lake of Greensboro, Vermont, population 800. I am honored and humbled to be in this very special town for another summer season with the Mirror Repertory Theater, this time playing Horatio in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, directed by Sabra Jones. The cast also features Nicole Ansari Cox as Queen Gertrude and Associate Artistic Director Charles McAteer as the Danish Prince.
To be a part of the greatest play ever written in a place of paradise...well, it doesn't get much better than that!
For more information on The Mirror Repertory and its rich history, go here.
If you happen to be in the area and would like to see Hamlet, Get tickets here.
The Exalted, now available to watch online
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
Tom Waits Cabaret and more For Francis news
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
New management with Uzan International Artists
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
New management with Uzan International Artists
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 boasts 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
For Francis wins another award; another screening in New York April 10th
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!
Thank you to everyone who came out to see "Animals Out of Paper"
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!
The reviews are in....and we have a hit! Only 7 more performances!
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.
"Beck is charming as Andy, eliciting all of his naturally nervous qualities in actions as sweeping as confronting his idol or as tiny as donning or removing his jacket; he really seems to treat it as though he believes it doesn't want to touch him, which adds a sad pathos to a man you can't help but like."
-Matthew Murray, Talkin' Broadway Full Review
"...If all that spells "nerd", it's true, but Beck manages to combine bashful gaucherie and yearning and self-knowledge without ever seeming weak, effeminate, or just foolish. It's a beautifully modulated performance.
"Beck shows Andy's hurt and manfulness as he tries to recover from his disappointment, but the quiet tragedy of Animals Out of Paper is that , like the folds that cannot be erased in origami, the creases in one's past prove just as complicated and indelible on the human soul."
-Edward Karam, Offoffonline Full Review
"It is difficult to overpraise the cast...At the curtain call, just for a second, I looked at Beck and thought who is this guy? He'd created such a completely other physical persona for Andy that I almost didn't know him."
-Kathleen Campion, The Front Row Center Full Review
"One of the strongest elements of this production is its stellar cast...David Beck as Andy works for every ounce of sympathy and endearment. He is very grounding throughout the play....When you have a cast of talented actors and a smart script, all you really need is an audience. I recommend that you provide that element to this production. It’s well worth it."
-Richard Hinojosa, nytheaternow.com Full Review
"Joining the cast is the adorably nerdy and completely smitten calculus teacher-com-Origami enthusiast Andy (David Beck) who never fails to make you laugh as he barges into Ilana's life to collect membership dues for American Origami."
-Caleb Ryan, theatrescene.net Full Review
"As the optimistic math teacher Andy, David Beck brings a delightfully manic tone, sometime toeing the line of exceedingly eager...Andy is a literal open book - he keeps a book in which he counts his blessings and openly shares some of the secrets contained therein with Ilana and Suresh. Beck delivers the pronouncements from this book of blessings with ceaseless earnestness."
-Rachel Weinberg, Broadwayworld Full Review
"Beck is endearing as a man hypnotized with a woman just beyond his reach."
-Bianca Garcia, Stage Buddy Full Review
Press Release of Rajiv Joseph's "Animals Out of Paper" Limited Run Feb. 4-28
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!
Table reading of "Wake Me Up" by Amy Wheeler at the LARK
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!
"Animals Out of Paper" is coming to New York in February
Dear Subscribers,
I am pleased to announce my partnership with Nairoby Otero (YOLO! Productions) in producing and acting in Animals Out of Paper by Rajiv Joseph. (Mr. Joseph was the Pulitzer Prize finalist for Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo starring Robin Williams.) This is a beautiful but relatively unknown play by a major force in the American theater. It is funny, sweet, witty, even melancholy at times...a real slice of life and a total immersion into three quirky, lovable characters. We are overjoyed to have the personal support of the playwright himself and are on our way to producing 16 performances in February!
What makes this production so special is that it will be site specific: the majority of the play takes place in an origami artist's studio, therefore we have found a charming, open space on the Upper West Side at West Park Church. We are incorporating live music and captivating origami art cascading from the high ceiling that will enhance this already exquisite piece of theatre.
To transform the unusual space, we have assembled an incomparable design team led by our director Merri Milwe. (I worked with her years ago on the critically acclaimed On a Bench at 59E59 Theatres, and am thrilled to be working with her again.) We have a top notch press agent in David Gersten, who has a slew of Broadway and off-Broadway credits. Indeed, all the folds of this very intricate origami piece are in perfect alignment to make this production an enormous success.
Theatre, as you know, is not without cost, so if you are interested in donating to this special production, please let me know and I will get back to you shortly.
As always, I appreciate your interest in following my career. See you on opening night!
Thank you,
David Beck
P.S. For those of you who don't know, For Francis won The Audience Choice Award for Best Short Film at the CNKY Film Festival! Congratulations to Starr Films and all the donors for making it happen. Onward!
Like Animals Out of Paper on Facebook
New pics by bigbadllama
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.
"For Francis" is an official selection of the CNKY FF!
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!
Thank you to everyone who attended our screening last night...
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. :)
