Cyndi Loza

For a theatrical performance, Matthew Peck has always been willing to go beyond what is asked of him.

As a freshman at Glenbard West High School, Peck turned down a bald cap and shaved his head instead to play a role as an old man in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”

“Matt is one of the most memorable theater students I’ve ever had,” said Mike Fox, Glenbard West’s theater director. “He gave his all to every single production he’s ever been in.”

The Glen Ellyn native, now 23 and living in Chicago, is starring in “Point Break LIVE!”, an absurdist stage adaptation of the Hollywood blockbuster “Point Break.” The show will open at 9:30 p.m. Friday March 19 for an open-ended run at the La Costa Theatre in Chicago.

The stage production largely follows the plot of the movie about a gang of bank-robbing surfers, “but it’s done in a way that is purposely over-the-top,” Peck said. “We just certainly embrace the ridiculous aspects of the movie and bring them out even more so on stage.”

“Point Break LIVE!” tells the story of Johnny Utah, a former college-football star turned FBI agent in pursuit of a pack of bank-robbing, skydiving surfers. In the stage adaptation, the lead role of Utah is played by a volunteer from the audience.

Peck takes on Patrick Swayze’s original role of Bodhi, the adrenaline-driven leader of the gang of surfers.

“It’s weird because (Peck) doesn’t really look like Swayze, but there was something Swayze-esque about him,” said Eve Hars, producer and director of the play. “Mostly, it was he had a commanding stage presence, and it’s funny because he’s a really quiet guy when you meet him, but he just gets on stage and he just owns it.”

Peck admits he’s a very calm, laid-back person offstage.

“It’s fun to take on a role like Bodhi and try to bring out as much energy and enthusiasm and, in some cases, just sheer volume, and at the same time, take a step back at the end of rehearsal (and) just be me,” Peck said.

He’s quick to express gratitude for the support of his family and friends, who Peck said always supported him in his career goals.

“I’m thankful to have all of them to keep pushing me along,” Peck said. “Every time I doubted myself, those friends who for one reason or another weren’t along the same path … they still were supportive of me, even though I was sort of the only one left flying solo on this crazy dream job.”