Photo of man in headband and stripped pants kneeling on ground with tree in background.
PhD Student
Theatre

261 UCB
Theatre Graduate Office
University Theatre Building, Room C1B86

Fall 2023 Office Hours: T/Th 2-3pm

Ben is a PhD candidate at 澳门开奖结果2023开奖记录. He graduated from CU with his MA in Theatre & Performance Studies in 2022 and has been a busy beaver ever since. Ben's research is situated at the intersection of improvisational pedagogy, queer futurity, and climate communications. While at CU, Ben has taught courses on Improvisation, American Musical Theatre History, Creative Climate Communications, Theatre & Society, and has TA鈥檇 for various others throughout Theatre & Performance and Environmental Studies.听

In addition to being a very serious graduate student, Ben also works as a theatrical director in the Boulder community having directed shows at Fairview High School, Parlando School of Musical Arts, and 澳门开奖结果2023开奖记录.

Ben traveled to Lisbon, Portugal on a fully funded research trip. Through Shift Cost Action and Nova University, Ben met and worked with like-minded artists, scholars, and dreamers to imagine urban sustainability in the Lisbon metropolitan area.听

A few other highlights from graduate school include: co-producing an international climate comedy show on CU鈥檚 campus, co-leading a social justice oriented improvisational workshop at the American Educational Research Association鈥檚 2023 annual conference, directing the closing ceremony for the 鈥淩ight Here Right Now Global UN Climate Summit鈥 hosted by 澳门开奖结果2023开奖记录, traveling to London to lead an original workshop series centered around climate embodiment and improvisation, serving as artistic director for听Climate Cabaret 鈥撎a theatrical collaboration between 澳门开奖结果2023开奖记录 Dept. of Theatre & Dance and Climate Change Theatre Action in New York City, working with young people through听Side by Side听鈥 an interspecies collaboration with 鈥淚nside the Greenhouse鈥.听

Ben graduated with his BFA from Minnesota State University, Mankato. Ben lived and worked as a professional actor for several years in New York City. New York credits include: Off-Broadway: Harry in When Harry Met Nancy (New York New Works Festival), Voice of Mayor Humdinger in Paw Patrol (Event Box). Other credits: Tom Doerr in Stonewall (Benchmark Theatre), Tito/Beppo in A Comedy of Tenors (Okoboji Summer Theatre), The Narrator in The Soldier's Tale (Boulder Philharmonic), The Genie in Aladdin: A Musical Spectacular (Disney Cruise Line), Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, Henry Etches in Titanic (Arizona Broadway Theatre), Zach in A Chorus Line, Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret, Fred in A Christmas Carol (The Palace Theatre), Father in Ragtime (Interlakes Summer Theatre) Ernst Ludwig in Cabaret (Sierra Repertory Theatre), The Cat in the Hat in Seussical the Musical (Highland Summer Theatre). Touring Theatre: Punchin in A Commedia Cinderella (Sierra Repertory Theatre, Northern California), Shaggy in Scooby-Doo and the Mystery of the Pyramid, Maddie in Care Bears (Event Box in Saudi Arabia).

Ben is filled with more questions than answers these days...which feels just about right for grad school.听