PRESS AND REVIEWS
Praise For ALABASTER
|
Andrew J. Friedenthal
"...it is Liz Beckham, as June, who steals the show. Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, Beckham manages to be both tough-as-nails and extremely fragile at the same time, throwing off jokes as easily as she does desperately dark revelations about the extent of her internal wounds. While all four actresses are excellent, Beckham provides an extraordinary performance that elevates the whole production." SightLines "Deftly played by Liz Beckham, June is a survivor of a horrific disaster that leaves her scarred from head to toe, struggling to cope and heal. But playwright Cephaly gifts us with a smart country woman full of depth, grit, and a willingness to pushback." Austin Chronicle "As June, Liz Beckham is an exposed wire, sparking with white-hot emotions that change in an instant – a flash of hurt followed by a glare of suspicion, resentment followed by ache or pride or even joy. She internalizes June's pain so thoroughly that even at her most guarded or cynical or matter-of-fact, we can glimpse it in her eyes, sense it under her skin, threatening to erupt through the scars like outsized veins bulging on the surface...The actor holds nothing back, giving us an emotional state so raw it's scary. From it, we grasp the enormity of June's loss and what she's lived in – still lives in – and what her hard shell – cold, combative, distrustful – is all about." |
Praise for THE DUCHESS OF MALFI
|
Austin Chronicle Feature:
Trey Gutierrez's Top 10 Moments That Left Audiences Speechless in 2019 "LIZ BECKHAM IN THE DUCHESS OF MALFI (Hidden Room Theatre) - This sensational performance, brutally cut short by an executioner's garrote, is something I couldn't stand watching again. Bravo." Austin Chronicle "Setting a strong foundation [for the play's dramatic base] is actor Liz Beckham, who plays the demanding role of the Duchess with a graceful urgency. As a performer, she seems to vividly feel each line. When she falls into a forbidden love with Antonio, Beckham displays an eagerness that captures the universal excitement of a new affair. Simultaneously, she encapsulates the heroine's headstrong nature so admirably that you may find yourself cursing Webster for killing off the character so early in the narrative." Central Texas Live Theatre #1 "[Beckham's Duchess is] as sincere and devoted as the duchess's brothers are evil...surprisingly petite despite the enormity of her presence..." Central Texas Live Theatre #2 "Liz Beckham cuts a petite figure but her character is very strong, and she never seems engulfed by her brocades and crown; she commands her raiment. Her voice work is flowing and smooth and often comes to a sharp edge for emphasis at the ends of utterances. ... One could listen to Beckham’s speeches for hours. " BroadwayWorld Austin " The cast is stellar...Liz Beckham and Brock England as the illicit lovers are beautiful in their relationship, their passion for each other is perfectly played." |
Praise for SPRITES (Fantastic Fest Selection 2018)
|
Short of the Week
...SPRITES bowled me over with its intelligent direction and absorbing character dynamics. Furthermore, the stripped back set design, the lack of special effects or fancy editing, and the performance-led approach felt like it was a piece that could work just as well on a theatrical stage, as it does on our computer screens...The performances were superb too. In fact, the characters were so well rounded and convincing, I was sure the two female leads, played by Liz Beckham and Lee Eddy, were in a relationship. Fast Company It’s a realistic depiction of how easily we become used to technologies that seem ridiculous (and ridiculously unnecessary) when first introduced. |
Praise for THE ROVER
|
Austin 360 Feature:
10 Favorite Austin Theater Moments from 2019 1. The Rover: Speaking of surprisingly thrilling productions with a giant cast, I never expected to be so moved and energized by Aphra Behn’s 1677 Restoration comedy “The Rover,” but Beth Burns and her talented crew at Hidden Room Theatre knew what they were doing. The actors literally burst onto the stage with energy and vigor that didn’t let up. Hidden Room’s productions are the ultimate in no-frills theater, relying entirely on intimate performances (and just a little bit of live music), and with “The Rover” they showed that the right mix of savvy, smart, engaging performers can make even a 350-year-old comedy soar. Sightlines "Cast in relief during scenes with Angellica Bianca (Liz Beckham), a hard-nosed courtesan well aware of her own worth, Garlock and Beckham excel in the playful and later dangerous exchanges they share. For her own part, Beckham dominates every second she holds the stage, delivering humor, desire, betrayal, and a haunting rendition of “Love My Way.”" Austin 360 "What makes Hidden Room’s production of The Rover so exciting is the embrace of its large scope by Burns and her talented cast and crew. Every single scene begins with a burst of energy (aided and abetted by a layering of ’80s British rock music and style)...creating a growing sense of momentum that carries along every scene whether the tone is hilarious slapstick or serious heartbreak. Hidden Room’s The Rover is a sexy, dangerous, deliciously thrilling epic of stagecraft and acting prowess that is not to be missed." CTX Live Theatre "With deep research and authentic practice Beth Burns's Hidden Room brings together many strands of theatrical art of the subject period in each of its productions. The Rover is no exception. The first spectacular images of the play are the brilliant costumes and stylings of the characters...The imagery of every design dimension is layered on the talented actors who are the core of the production. " |
Praise for HEISENBERG
|
Austin Chronicle
"Georgie is a curious woman: direct, aggressive, frantically kinetic, and a bit vulgar ... This could easily be problematic, but Liz Beckham expertly navigates the character with incredible skill and authenticity..." Austin 360 "Beckham’s manic externalization of every passing thought is the perfect counter to Guion’s quiet insularity, and when the two meet in the middle, the result is nothing short of magical. " Featured in Austin 360's Best of 2018 BroadwayWorld Austin "The success of the entire experience relies upon [Beckham]. Liz Beckham performs the role marvelously. As Georgie she is hauntingly alluring, even while all sound reason screams that she is not someone to become involved with." |
Praise for THE SECRETARY
|
CTX Live Theatre #1
"The performances are exceptional...The timing and voice work of both Amber Quick and Liz Beckham is satisfyingly threatening..." CTX Live Theatre #2 "Liz Beckham (as Lorrie’s cousin, Brandy) goes above and beyond the description we hear about hear in one scene: whatever you do, stay away from Brandy!..[Liz ] has captured dark humor in its purest form." Austin360 "This all-female cast is one of most talented assemblages of performers ever gathered on the Austin stage, with one knockout performance after another...Each of the women is given her time to shine by the script, showing us both the darker nuances of their characters as well as their more sympathetic sides, thus creating a true ensemble piece that rightfully puts its faith in the strengths of these actresses’ performances..." Austin Chronicle "With its incredibly strong all-female cast, hilarious exchanges, and down-home humor, The Secretary feels like Tuna, Texas, turned target practice." BroadwayWorld Austin "The cast is superb...Liz Beckham is wonderful...a conflicted ball of Kardashian-like need and entitlement on crutches." |
LUNGS Nominated for Four B Iden Payne Awards (click for full list of nominees)
|
Outstanding Production of a Drama
Outstanding Direction of a Drama - Lily Wolff Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama - Michael Joplin Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama - Liz Beckham |
2016-2017 Austin Critics Table Nominations Announced (click for full list of nominees)
|
CLYBOURNE PARK NOMINATED FOR 6 AWARDS
|
Praise for NEVA
|
BroadwayWorld Austin
"The diverse three-member ensemble brilliantly interprets Calderón's passionate and often humorous words. In the central role of Olga, Liz Beckham's intensity is captivating. Olga's angst-ridden tirades about the fear of public opinion and her own waning artistic ability are laced with absurdity and humor, but also paint the actress as inherently vulnerable. " Austin Chronicle
"Jenny Lavery's direction of Neva is quick and satisfying, and the three performances are excellent. Having seen Beckham perform twice now, I'm convinced that watching her make coffee in the morning would be worth the price of a ticket, so expressive are her reactions to every line and incident." Austin Arts Watch
"From her twitchy stance to her expressive face, [Beckham] brings out the laughs with most of her lines. Her physicality is mannered and controlled, with every movement being performed in service of the character and the comedy, and she sells her combination of narcissism and awkwardness with skill." |
Praise for LUNGS
|
#1 on Austin 360's Best of Live Theatre in Austin: A Critic's 2016 Picks:
1 - Lungs : "With powerful, nuanced, funny, heartbreaking performances by Liz Beckham and Michael Joplin, Lungs was spoke to me on a deep, direct, personal level . . . and I have thought about it frequently ever since. That is why it was by far my favorite production of the year, and I look forward to more work from Wolff, Beckham, Joplin, and Hyde Park Theatre in 2017." Featured in the Austin Chronicle's Robert Faires' Top 10 (+1) Theatre Riches of 2016: Lungs : "The tiny venue on 43rd has rarely felt more intimate than while eavesdropping on the couple in Duncan Macmillan's two-hander. With actors Michael Joplin and Liz Beckham literally in our midst (thanks, director Lily Wolff) and both being so emotionally open and vulnerable, we felt close to them in every way." Austin American-Statesman "...one of the most raw, intimate theatrical experiences I’ve ever encountered.[...]Beckham, as the smart, neurotic, guilt-ridden, vulnerable, iron-willed W, gives a tour-de-force performance. The script demands she hits somewhat higher highs and lower lows than Joplin, and she never hesitates to reach for those extremes of emotion in a genuine, supremely moving way." BroadwayWorld "Liz Beckham and Michael Joplin deliver phenomenal totally believable characters here. This play contains extremely difficult dialogue that they deliver fluidly and with great naturalness...Beckham, as W, has the hardest dialogue in the play, much of it incomplete thoughts and inner speech that is externalized. She handles this in a way that is staggering to experience; it all flows glibly, naturally and artfully and never once appears to be the impressive skill of the actor. She is also to be commended for making a character that could all too easily be shrill into someone endearing. These are both superlative performances." Austin Chronicle "Under Lily Wolff's direction, the two actors give remarkable, deeply honest performances, showing the complications of trying to exist ethically in this decade...A nod of appreciation to Hyde Park Theatre for gathering all the right people for this script and staging it at this time. Lungs is a smart, insightful play given a beautiful production from a truly talented group of artists." Austin Arts Watch "As I watched Lungs, there was a moment in which I felt something within me change. I was no longer only watching these people, I could feel them. Every thrust and riposte, every jab and right hook, every caress or whispered word, I could feel along with them. These performers, along with Wolf, and the well-chosen words of Macmillan, created an experience so emotionally honest, so intimate, that I couldn’t help but feel as if I was living in their world. It’s a rare experience, and one I won’t soon forget...Just be sure to pack some tissues." |
Nominated for the B. Iden Payne Award
|
Nominated for the 2016 B. Iden Payne Award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Drama for the roles of Betsy/Lindsey in CLYBOURNE PARK.
|
Praise for CLYBOURNE PARK
|
Robert Faires' Top 10 (+1) Theatre Riches of 2016
#3 - Clybourne Park : "The nuances of Bruce Norris' time-jumping conversation about race in America might've been blunted without this cast's sensitive acting and sterling ensemble work, directed by Nathan Jerkins. But every line and look brought home the wrenching difficulty of dealing with black-white relations, then and now." Best of Live Theatre in Austin: A Critic's 2016 Picks: #9 - Clybourne Park : "Clybourne Park was a funny, intellectual, confrontational meditation on some of American history’s most troubling legacies." BroadwayWorld : "This is a strong and notable cast...Especially Beckham, who was clearly having fun." CTX Live Theatre : "Liz Beckham, with similarly strong Shakespearian training and appearance, is sweetly disconnected and at times confused as his first-act wife the deaf Betsy. In the second act as pregnant co-purchaser Lindsey she's decisive and uninhibited." Austin 360 : "Penfold Theatre's Production...does a wonderful job exploring the nuances of Norris’ text, raising uneasy questions about the historical underpinnings of contemporary gentrification that speak potently to a city in the midst of such problems." |
Praise for Nahum Tate's KING LEAR
|
Austin Chronicle: Top 10 Arts-Related Program Activities of 2015
Austin Chronicle: Top 10 Theatre Riches of 2015 Austin360 - "[Goneril and Regan] use the heightened physicality to portray a grotesque obnoxiousness that charms even as it repels." BroadwayWorld Austin - "[an] absolutely brilliant piece of theatre history and a glorious achievement by a dedicated troupe of actors and academics." Austin Chronicle - "...a cast of actors working at the very top of their meticulous and compelling craft, performances as fine as the details on their to-die-for period costumes." CTX Live Theatre - "...a wonderfully satisfying theatrical production regardless of its exact degree of authenticity to any period." Austin Examiner - "It’s impeccably produced and researched, expertly acted, and driven with unique precision by director Beth Burns, and continues Hidden Room’s tradition of producing some of the best work in Austin." |
Winner of the 2015 B. Iden Payne Award
|
Awarded the 2015 B. Iden Payne Award for Best Featured Actress in A Comedy
for the role of Germaine in PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE |
PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE featured in Texas Monthly
|
Featured as one of six "Must-Attend" events in all of Texas.
The run for Picasso sold out every performance before opening weekend. |
Praise for TARTUFFE
|
Austin Chronicle's Top 10 of 2014: Top 10(+3) Reasons I Stayed In Love With Theatre in 2014:
Robert Faires says, "7) SERIOUSLY FUNNY FEMALE LEADS The year's biggest laughs came from shows in which women were the engines driving the hilarity, providing seamless fusions of comedic craft and acting artistry: Liz Beckham in Tartuffe (Mary Moody Northen Theatre)..." BroadwayWorld Austin : "Liz Beckham gives a strong performance ...particularly when she gets to showcase her gifts at physical comedy in the play's infamous table scene." |
HARVEY named one of the best plays of 2013 by Austin Lifestyle Magazine
|
CLICK HERE to see all the honorees!
"I don’t need to tell you what amazing actors Martin Burke and Lauren Lane are. They’ve been in the industry forever, and have left indelible marks of the Austin theatre scene. It’s hardly surprising, then, that when they join forces that it’s a wonder to behold. Burke brings plenty of heart to this performance as Eldwood P. Dodd, bringing an earnest energy to the role, almost daring us not to smile anytime he’s on stage. Add in Lauren Lane’s manic performance, particularly late in the play, and absolutely stunning design work by Michelle Ney on sets and Susan Branch Towne on costumes, and you can see why this one has been winning accolades across the board." |
Nominated for a B. Iden Payne Award
Nominated for a B. Iden Payne Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy
for the role of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice.
for the role of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride & Prejudice.
Praise for Harvey - Zach Scott's Topfer Stage
|
AUSTIN MONTHLY :"...standout performances include Liz Beckham as the sexy yet lonely sanitarium nurse Ruth..."
AUSTIN ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY : "Liz Beckham sparkles with her multifaceted performance as Nurse Kelley." BROADWAY WORLD AUSTIN - "HARVEY IS HOPPING!" AUSTIN LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE writes a rave! |
Praise from the Austin Chronicle - Top 10s of 2012 Issue
|
January 2013 - Featured in the Austin Chronicle's Top 10 (+1) Theatrical Joys of 2012!
CLICK HERE to see all the Austin Top 10s from 2012! |
Praise for Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice - Austin Shakespeare
|
"Extraordinary" BroadwayWorld Review : CLICK HERE
Pride & Prejudice on KUT's Arts Eclectic with Mike Lee : CLICK HERE Great review in the Austin American Statesman : CLICK HERE! Pride & Prejudice visits KOOP's Off Stage and On The Air : listen HERE. A glowing review from The Austin Chronicle: CLICK HERE |
Praise for Tom Stoppard's Arcadia - Austin Shakespeare
Liz Beckham - Outstanding Acting in A Leading Role 2011: Austin Critic's Table
Austin American Statesman: Austin Shakespeare's ARCADIA
Austin Chronicle: ARCADIA
Austin American Statesman: Austin Shakespeare's ARCADIA
Austin Chronicle: ARCADIA
Praise for Dividing the Estate - ZACH Theatre
KVUE Austin : Dividing the Estate Interview with Barbara Chisholm
Austin Live Theatre : Dividing the Estate
Austin 360: Dividing the Estate
Austin Live Theatre : Dividing the Estate
Austin 360: Dividing the Estate
Praise for To Kill A Mockingbird - Burning Coal Theatre Company
Best Lead Performance 2010: Independent Weekly : The Year In Triangle Theatre
Triangle Arts & Entertainment: To Kill a Mockingbird Is Fab-u-lous
Independent Weekly: A Southern Racial Drama in Raleigh
CVNC : Remount of Mockingbird Retains Original Verve
Triangle Arts & Entertainment: To Kill a Mockingbird Is Fab-u-lous
Independent Weekly: A Southern Racial Drama in Raleigh
CVNC : Remount of Mockingbird Retains Original Verve
Featured in BackStage on being cast by Neil Patrick Harris in Accomplice: Hollywood
