Star Trekker Beams Into Theater

Actor Walter Koenig, though known worldwide as Pavel Chekov from the original “Star Trek” series and the five feature films, believes it’s time to beam back to one of his first loves, live theater.

He and fellow “Star Trek” alumnus Mark Lenard star in Bernard Sabath’s “The Boys of Autumn,” which is playing at the Los Angeles Art Theatre in North Hollywood. “This play is a chance to expand my horizons, “ Koenig says, “and though there’s a certain element of fear because of the risk, it becomes a matter of need, to do something satisfying. And this ultimately outweighs the fear of the risk.”

The play deals with Tom Sawyer and Hunk Finn meeting 40 years later as adults with turmoil in their pasts. Koenig plays Tom, or “Thomas Gray” as he is known in the play. “What appealed to me initially about this play and the character when I first read it was the pain and Angst. But director Allan Hunt and I decided Tom could get by on his charm. The subtext is the pain, but what we see is a smiling con man. He’s very different than me; he’s very flamboyant, an old hoofer. There’s nothing modest or held-back about this character.

“I’ve coasted for so long, and it’s been easy with ‘Star Trek.’ However, these days, there are fewer years ahead than behind. This is a good time to start.”

After the “Boys of Autumn,” Koenig will switch hats and direct.

“Actually, while I’m doing ‘The Boys of Autumn,’ I’ll be putting together this other production, ‘Matrix,’ which I’ll be directing in September.” The play will open in Culver City with his wife, Judy Levitt, leading an ensemble of six women.

Koenig doesn’t want “Star Trek” to be the only thing on his epitaph.

“Before ‘Star Trek’ I had a lot of variety in the roles I played. But I let ‘Star Trek’ dictate my life, and I realize now that I’m not happy with the situation. ‘Star Trek’ seems to be ebbing, though I think we’re going to be doing a sixth picture. They’ll want it sometime next year, to coincide with the show’s 25th anniversary.”