BEAUTY POSSESSED is a historical fiction romance novel, based on the actual events of showgirl Evelyn Nesbit's life, leading up to what was coined the "Murder of the Century" by the press, the crime reported "to the ends of the civilized globe." On June 25th, 1906, Stanford White, New York City's leading architect and man about town was shot to death while attending a musical performance at Madison Square Garden's rooftop theater, a building of his own design and construction. Harry K. Thaw, eccentric heir to a Pittsburgh railroad fortune, had pulled the trigger, marking the final act in a struggle between the two men over Thaw's young wife, the model and showgirl Evelyn Nesbit. By her sixteenth birthday, in 1900, Evelyn was known by millions for her underage sexuality, sparking an entirely new industry of news and gossip and signaling the beginning of America's growing obsession with beauty, glamour, celebrity and sex. Pleas for clemency by wealthy supporters for Thaw touched off an extended debate over widespread acceptance of a double standard - one for rich Americans and another for everyone else. Money, power, sex, drugs, jealousy, betrayal, murder, art and Broadway are the ingredients of this true story, as relevant today as it was in 1906.
About the Author: Ben Lokey is a member of The Screen Actors Guild (SAG), The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Actor's Equity Association (AEA), and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). Ben has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in dance and choreography, and a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Directing, from the University of Utah. For 20 years Ben lived in Los Angeles working in the film and television industry with such stars as John Travolta, Ben Vereen, Francis Coppola, George Burns, Cher, George Lucas, Danny Kaye, Martin Landau, Lucille Ball, Brooke Shields and Sylvester Stallone. While in New York, Ben studied acting at the H.B. Studios, under Herbert Berghoff. In Los Angeles, he studied at the Actor's Studio, and with Martin Landau and Jeff Corey. Ben began his professional career as a principal dancer with Ballet West and a soloist with the Pennsylvania Ballet. He went on to star in "A Chorus Line" on Broadway, and danced with Ann Margret in Las Vegas. He starred in the film "Breaking" and performed in the films "Staying Alive" and "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". He danced with Michael Jackson in his videos "Thriller" and "Captain EO", and with Olivia Newton John in her video "Lets Get Physical". Ben has choreographed, directed and performed in film, television, video, commercials, opera, ballet and theatre. He choreographed the New Zealand national touring production of the hit musical CHICAGO, as well as performing the role of Amos in that production. Ben directed and choreographed a production of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, in Salt Lake City, Utah, as well as performing the famous Gene Kelly role in that production. Ben directed and choreographed two new productions for the world famous Casino De Monte Carlo, on the French Riviera, co-produced and performed in a production of Tennessee Williams NIGHT OF THE IGUANA, for the Mississippi Repertory Theatre Company, and produced, directed and performed in MY WAY, a tribute to Frank Sinatra, at Casino Magic. And he directed and choreographed THE RAT PACK IS BACK, a tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean, presently running in Las Vegas and touring nationally. Ben began writing at the suggestion of film director/writer Francis Coppola.