Romance is celebrated in “The Game of Love and Chance” opening Friday, February 17, at the Off-Broadstreet Theater in Hopewell. A classic comedy by Pierre Marivaux, the role of Dorante is portrayed by Austin Begley of Plainsboro. A tale of arranged marriages, disguises, and flirtations, it’s anyone’s guess to see how far the costumed leads confess who they really are.
Networking pays as Begley, a graduate of Rutgers University with a bachelor’s degree in theater arts, was introduced to Bob and Julie Thick, owners of the theater, through Joseph Farina, Begley’s high school acting teacher, and Richard Chibbaro, an actor with many OBT credits. “We love his energy and enthusiasm,” says Julie Thick. “He is not only a great performer but he seems to get along well with everyone.”
Born in New Brunswick and raised in Kendall Park and Burlington, Begley has a brother in the Navy, and a step sister — who was his former babysitter. His father works with Evonik Industries, a company specializing in printer ink. His mother, a jazz record collector, is an overseas buyer with Home Shopping Network.
Begley first stepped on stage in seventh grade. “I loved it so much,” he says. “It was a great outlet and there was nothing else I wanted to do.” He averaged one performance a year. “I prefer to be on the stage than behind the scenes,” says Begley, who had to run crew for two shows at Rutgers’ Mason Gross to fulfill requirements for his degree. Some of his favorite past roles include Walter in “Months on End,” Lysander in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the baker in “Into the Woods,” Cornelius Hackl in “The Matchmaker,” and Moonface Martin in “Anything Goes.”
During college he became active in a capella singing. “Music is my secondary hobby,” he says. He was also in an improv comedy troupe that performed at the Stress Factory in New Brunswick.
Begley landed a job in the mailroom at the state offices in Trenton through a friend of his father. He has since been promoted as a public affairs coordinator. During a two-year hiatus from the stage, Begley has been doing independent films, performing and recording an album with an all-male a capella group, Casual Harmony, and writing scripts.
He met his girlfriend, Annie Lutz, in an acting class at Rutgers. “We fell in love,” he says. “It is like a fairy tale.” Lutz worked with George Street’s education theater group for a year and is leaving later this week to play Dorothy in a national tour of “Wizard of Oz.”
Begley moved to Plainsboro in 2009 after his best friend recommended Ravens Crest as a good place to live. “It is nice and central to everything we need,” he says.
The Game of Love and Chance, Off-Broadstreet Theater, 5 South Greenwood Avenue, Hopewell. Friday, February 17, to Saturday, March 24. $29.50 to $31.50 includes dessert. 609-466-2766. www.off-broadstreet.com.
