Jef Bek - Composer Multi-Instrumentalist

BIOGRAPHY:
Jef Bek Composer/Sound Designer/Musical Director

Jef Bek wrote the music, lyrics and book for EVEL KNIEVEL THE ROCK OPERA, which received an LA Weekly Award Nomination for Best Musical Production of 2007.

Jef is a native of Chicago where he was a founding member of John Cusack's New Crime Productions for 7 seasons. All of their shows were hits, enjoying rave reviews and numerous awards including; ALAGAZAM...AFTER THE DOG WARS written by Tim Robbins and Adam Simon, Ivan Goll's METHUSALEM (Jefferson Award Winner - Best Musical Direction), world premiere adaptations of Mikhail Bulgakov's HEART OF A DOG, and Hunter S. Thompson's FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS.

Jef composed and performed original music for the American Premier of Steppenwolf Theatre's A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. Other hit shows in Chicago include; Bertolt Brecht's THE RESISTIBLE RISE OF ARTURO UI (which Jef also directed) at Mary-Arrchie Theatre and Anais Nin's EROTICA/LITTLE BIRDS at the Organic Theatre. Jef was also Music Director for an organization called KIDZ WRITES, which went into the inner city of Chicago and created original theatrical productions based entirely on the writings of physically or mentally impaired children.

Jef moved to Los Angeles in 1995 and is a founding member of Zoo District Theatre Company. His credits with Zoo District include; Brecht's DRUMS IN THE NIGHT, company created originals THE DECENT, FACE OF EVIL, PATHE-X (Ovation Award Winner - Sound Design), and NOSFERATU (Ovation Award Winner - Sound Design and Winner of 2 Garland Awards - Best Original Musical Score and Sound Design), Tennessee Williams' THE TWO CHARACTER PLAY, Howard Barker's SCENES FROM AN EXECUTION (LA Weekly Award Winner - Best Original Music), Jeffery Dorchen's THE SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH OF SAM SHEPARD (Ovation Award Nominee - Sound Design), and an original adaptation of Bulgakov's THE MASTER AND MARGARITA (LA Weekly Award Winner and Garland Award Winner- Best Original Music).

Jef also worked with Sacred Fools Theatre on THE TRAGEDY OF MACBETH (Ovation Award Nominee - Sound Design) Jef played drums for the Broadway touring production of The Who's TOMMY. Jef also created and performed original music in Prague and Berlin for a production of QUILLS (“Theatre Event of the Year” –Prague Post).

Jef served as Sound Designer for UNDER THE BLUE SKY at The Geffen Playhouse, Directed by Gilbert Cates (14-time Academy Award Producer). In 2005, Jef taught interactive sound design at the University of Southern California.