Aspiring playwright James Beck moves to the stage's front
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By Greg Butler
Now that Atlanta native and aspiring playwright James Beck has been up here in Chicago a few years, he's starting to find
opportunities in theater beyond what he knows in theater, and that's just fine by him.
Beck appears in the Theo Ubique Theatre Company's production of "The Devil's Disciple," which opens at 8 p.m. Thursday,
Sept. 19, at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago.
"I came to Chicago to pursue my playwriting," Beck said. "I knew that there were a lot of opportunities up here, and I wanted
to take advantage of that."
Beck's first completed play, "The Onion Man," is an abstract of a family set in the South. The son has a dream about the
Onion Man, a sort of updated bogeyman. When the father finds out about the dream, he reveals that he's had the same dream
all his life.
From there, the family goes on to find out what Beck calls "the secret of the Onion Man." You'll have to pay your admission
like everyone else to find out what that secret is, though.
Ironically, people are paying admission to see Beck himself perform these days. Seeking to further his knowledge of theater,
Beck recently began working from the other side of the stage.
"My education was not in theater," Beck said. "I've had training at several schools, but I've never actually gone to a college to
learn. I just started acting this year, and I've gotten off to a pretty good start so far."
In "The Devil's Disciple," Beck plays Christy, a man whose father has just died.
"The role has been very interesting," Beck said laughing. "Christy's just kind of out of it, oblivious to everything that's going on
around him. He is the humor element in the play. He's fun, but he's not the brightest."
Beck said the rehearsals have been going well thus far.
"We've been in rehearsals about one month now, and things are really coming together well," Beck said. "The cast has a
bunch of great people in it. Everyone knows what they're doing. It's been a great experience all around."
Beck said that the play is timely, with all the patriotism being felt around the country with the anniversary of Sept. 11.
"This play grapples with the idea of patriotism," Beck said. "It's dramatic and interesting. I think it should do well at the box
office, and it deserves to. The cast has put a lot into this production."
Beyond this production, Beck said he wants to pursue another acting opportunity wherever he can find it. His experience with
Theo Ubique Theatre Company led him to say he wouldn't mind staying there for another production as well.
On the playwriting side, Beck said he has a lot of projects in his head, and it's just a matter of sitting down to write them. He's
also beginning to send out his work to theater companies, hoping to come to a n agreement with a theater to produce one of
his plays.
One thing's for sure: Whatever he does, Beck isn't going anywhere else to do it.
"I fell in love with Chicago," Beck said. "This is my home now."
"The Devil's Disciple" runs at 8 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays from Sept. 19-Oct. 20 at the
Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago.
Tickets are $18-$22 and can be purchased by calling 312-902-1500.