Will Beech

Will Beech

Will Beech in 2014
Born William Beech
December 29, 1993
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Education Columbia University
Occupation Actor, singer
Years active 2008—present

Will Beech (also known as William Beech) (born December 29, 1993) is an American theatre actor and singer. From Washington, D.C., he is currently a student at Columbia University. He has performed in such shows as the Broadway-bound premiere of Ace: The New Musical Adventure, the revival of the Kander and Ebb musical The Happy Time, and Stephen Sondheim's Saturday Night, as well as the world premiere of Victor Lodato's drama The Bread of Winter at the historic H Street Playhouse.

Biography and Stage Appearances

Born in Washington, D.C., Beech went to Swanson Middle School in Arlington, Virginia and performed in community theatre at Encore Stage and Studio.[1] Beech later attended the Potomac School in McLean, Virginia.[2] He made his professional debut, credited as William Beech, in Signature Theatre's revival of The Happy Time as part of Signature's 2008 Kander and Ebb Festival.[3] After appearing as the ensemble boy in Signature's Broadway-bound production of Ace: The New Musical Adventure under the direction of Eric D. Schaeffer, Beech created the lead role of Gregory in Theater Alliance's 2009 world premiere production of The Bread of Winter, a dystopian drama by Victor Lodato, to critical acclaim.[4] The Washington Post called his performance "impressive" and said his "shellshocked demeanor and flashes of despairing fierceness give the abused Gregory a dangerous edge."[5]

Beech appeared in Signature Theatre's 2011 concert staging of Saturday Night, the first musical written by Stephen Sondheim, as Bobby.[6] In the concert staging of the musical, Beech sang "Exhibit A" and received positive reviews.[7] The Sondheim Review discussed Beech's performance as Bobby, described a connection between Beech and Sondheim:

“ Of particular note was William Beech as the cynically misogynistic Bobby, whose perpetual sneer seemed a part of his anatomy. It was striking to watch the baby-faced Bobby warn Gene against the horrors of marriage and even more striking to realize that Beech is only 17 years old and filling out college applications when not engaged on the stage. Think of it: a musical composed by a young man at the outset of his career, performed 56 years later by a young man at the outset of his career - an arc that could last a century or longer.[8] ”

In June 2012, Beech performed a solo cabaret show, An Evening with Will Beech, at the Signature Theatre.[9] He then played Robbie in the premiere of Norman Allen's play The House Halfway as part of the 2012 Source Festival.[10]

In August 2013, Beech will appear in the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma's 50th Anniversary production of the Roger Miller and William Hauptman musical Big River at the historic Civic Center Music Hall in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.[11]

He currently attends Columbia University as a member of the Class of 2016.[12]

In 2014, Beech was credited as working on the 68th Tony Awards. [13]

Will Beech in An Evening with Will Beech at Signature Theatre, in June 2012.

Work (selected)

References

  1. ↑ McCaffrey, Scott. Young Actors Finding Success, Having Fun in Signature Musical. Sun Gazette Newspapers. 23 Apr. 2008. Web. Accessed 3 May 2012.
  2. ↑ William Beech Theatre Credits Wisdom Digital Media. 2012. Web. Accessed 7 Jun. 2012.
  3. ↑ Jones, Kenneth. Sentimental Journey: Signature Revives Kander & Ebb's Happy Time April 1 Playbill, Inc. 1 Apr. 2008. Web. Accessed 29 Apr. 2012.
  4. ↑ Jones, Kenneth.Broadway-Bound Ace Musical Takes Wing in VA; Noll, Scott, Skinner, Paice, Stanek, Lacey Star Playbill, Inc. 03 Sep. 2008. Web. Accessed 18 Aug. 2012.
  5. ↑ Wren, Celia. 'Bread of Winter': Bleak but Filling. The Washington Post. 22 Apr. 2009. Web. Accessed 15 Apr. 2012.
  6. ↑ Jones, Kenneth. Saturday Night, With Geoff Packard, Susan Derry, Eleasha Gamble, Sings in DC Playbill, Inc. 29 Oct. 2011. Web. Accessed 08 May 2012.
  7. ↑ Poms, Doug. Saturday Night at Signature Theatre. Maryland Theatre Guide. 1 Nov. 2012. Web. Accessed 29 Apr. 2012.
  8. ↑ Treanor, Tim. Before Sondheim was Sondheim: Less is more in Signature Theatre's Saturday Night. The Sondheim Review. 1 Apr. 2012. Web. Accessed 24 Jun. 2012.
  9. ↑ William Beech Theatre Credits Wisdom Digital Media. 2012. Web. Accessed 7 Jun. 2012.
  10. ↑ McKnight, Steven. Source: The House Halfway DCTheatreScene.com. 15 Jun. 2012. Web. Accessed 6 Jul. 2012.
  11. ↑ Big River Cast Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. 2013. Web. Accessed 11 Jul. 2013.
  12. ↑ William Beech Theatre Credits Wisdom Digital Media. 2012. Web. Accessed 7 Jun. 2012.
  13. ↑ Credits Tony Awards. IBM. 2014. Web. Accessed 27 Jun. 2014.

External links

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