Artist Spotlight: Ben Roseberry
The Center: What got you interested about joining Disney's The Lion King?
Ben: I had never done puppetry before and I wanted to be involved with that. I had never done a big scale musical on this sort of scale or worked for Disney. I had never worked for Julie Taymor, I had always admired the show - I thought it was wonderful and never thought that there was a part in it for me. When my agent arranged for me to audition for the performance, I started thinking "oh yeah I really can do this… and now I’ve been with the Lion King for 3 months. It’s really cool."
The Center: You also understudy for Zazu and Timon – can you go into detail about what goes into mastering puppetry for the three characters you play?
Ben: It takes getting used to, that’s the number one thing that it takes. You have to work the puppet, you can’t let the puppet work you so eventually your body gets used to it. It’s different with every puppet. With Ed (the Hyena) I’m on all fours, I’m on my hands and my legs and switch to use my right arm to walk and my head to speak or to laugh. With Zazu, it’s all in the upper torso. It’s a lot more intricate, there’s a lever that makes the eyes move and a lever that makes the beak move and the wings move and it’s very complicated. Now, I’m in the middle or learning Timon and that’s a whole new thing, I mean it’s a kind of thing where you just really have to keep practicing and eventually just trust that it will come. It’s all about precision with every single one of these puppets, there’s always more work that you can do to make it more precise. |
BEN ROSEBERRY (Ed/Understudy Timon & Zazu).Tours: RENT. Off-Broadway: Fugitive Songs (original cast), Emma. Regional: The Mysteries of Harris Burdick (Barrington Stage), Max Under - stood (The O'Neill NMTC), The Dogs of Pripyat (Weston Play house). Graduate of Webster Univer - sity’s Conservatory of Theatre Arts. He wishes to thank his family, Binder casting, the entire team at Professional Artists, and his beautiful wife Sarah. Proud member of AEA. |
The Center: What would a typical day of an actor in Disney's The Lion King look like from start to finish from your perspective?
Ben: My typical day usually starts about noon. I’ll have between 2-4 hours, usually have rehearsal, I’ll go home with a bit of a break to go and make dinner and then I’ll go back to the show, get into costume and makeup and then I go perform – it’s kind of cool. And then when I’m done with that, I go home and get ready and wait for a whole new day to begin.
The Center: About how long on average does it take to apply your stage makeup for TLK?
Ben: For Ed it takes about 10-15 minutes, more like 15, I’ve got it down to a science now. Now for someone like Zazu or Timon it take a little bit longer because it’s more intricate so for those characters it will take about 35 minutes. But they have their makeup put on by a makeup artist, and the hyenas do our own make up.
The Center: What has been your most memorable experience while working on The Lion King?
Ben: So far, my opening night – I’m also one of the legs of the elephants in the opening act – being able to walk down the aisle and see people’s faces knowing that you’re changing people’s lives and that one moment is really amazing and getting to on in front of my wife, my friends, and eventually I’ll be performing in front of my family. I’d say it’s my opening night.
Ben: Having the opportunity to perform in a new city every month and the whole touring aspect of it is great.
The Center: While you’ve been in Anchorage, what have you been doing in your free time?
Ben: I’ve been reading, watching TV, we’ve been exploring a bunch of the different brewhouses – I’m a big fan of microbrews and there seem to be a lot in Alaska, which makes me happy. We rented a car and went down to Whittier and traveled on the 26 Glacier Cruise. The cruise was a great and sometimes you need downtime, so last Monday we went and saw a movie since we sometimes just need more “people time” as we like to call it.
The Center: What’s been your favorite thing to do since you’ve been in Alaska?
Ben: The cruise. Getting to see nature and seeing glaciers puts you in touch with yourself and humanity.
The Center: What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?
Ben: My audition, they asked me to do a 12 minute improve where I told a story through laughter for Ed. I could only use laughter and I blanked out for a bit.
The Center: Favorite word or phrase?
Ben: I love you – I think that it says it all and people don’t say it often enough and I love to say it all of the time, especially to my family and my wife.
 The Center: Super power?
Ben: Power of flight – you could take care of your own transportation and just go.
The Center: Hobbies?
Ben: Love to write music, I play piano at clubs – I’ve been inspired by Billy Joel and Elton John. My number one hobbies are playing piano, writing music, and singing. Other than that I love to read, I like to watch a good scary movie, I love to go on walks with my wife. |
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Hakuna Matata: Program Stuffer Thank You
Pictured from left to right: Lorraine Smith, Dorothy Revell, Janet Stiles, Charlotte Gill, and Sara Benson
A special thank you to all who volunteered to stuff programs during the run of Disney’s THE LION KING! Center Staff, the ladies from First Presbyterian, and Ushering in the Arts members gathered together to insert additions to thousands of LION KING programs daily. This was a “Hakuna Matata” experience!
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Marketing with The Center
The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts attracts over 240, 000 visitors to the building and 3.5 million hits to the website each year – those are just a few of the many reasons why we’ve created new marketing opportunities. Three exciting packages are being introduced: MyAlaskaCenter.com, Digital Ticketing, and Thermal Ticketing.
The Center Marketing team has begun targeting the downtown corridor for prospective clients, but we are welcoming the opportunity to partner with any local businesses in Alaska. We’re offering incredibly low rates to help expose your business to thousands of savvy arts consumers. Subscribe to the entire year of the MyAlaskaCenter Package and/or the Digital Ticketing Package and you'll receive a 10% discount. You don’t want to miss out! For further details about Marketing with The Center, please visit our website or contact Amanda Hutchins, Community Relations Coordinator, at 263-2923 or ahutchins@alaskapac.org.
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Contribute to the Center
 More than 330 organizations, including the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, qualified for the new Permanent Fund Dividend Charitable Contributions Program this year. It provides a safe and secure way to make a donation, and it's available to all Alaskans who file on-line. When you go on-line to sign up for your dividend, you will see the option called "The Gift of Giving." Click and follow the instructions to make a donation.
You're likely to find an organization you already support, and you can use this way to make an additional gift. Or you may find a new organization whose mission is important to you, and you can donate to that organization.
You may give all or part of your dividend, whatever is appropriate for you and your family. We simply encourage you to give.
To get more information about the program visit www.pickclickgive.org. Thank you for your support!
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The Center Sponsored Events
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Air Force Band of the Pacific
December 14 and 15, 2009
Get into the holiday spirit with the Air Force Band of the Pacific's Concert, SOUNDS OF THE SEASON 2009. This family event features bands, Alaska Brass and Top Cover. There's also rumored to be an appearance by a special guest from the North Pole. Join in the holiday fun on December 14 and 15 at 7pm in the Discovery Theatre. Admission is FREE!
GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY THE ATWOOD FOUNDATION. |
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Town Square Ice Rink
December 2009 to March 2010
The Anchorage Downtown Partnership will continue this winter tradition in Town Square Park again this year! Bring your family downtown and enjoy this wonderful outdoor activity, with music, lights and a little ice! Admission is FREE!
Click here for more information.
SPONSORED BY THE ANCHORAGE DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP. |
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TubaChristmas
Sunday, December 6, 2009
TubaChristmas was conceived in 1974 as a tribute to the late artist/teacher William J. Bell, born on Christmas Day, 1902. Today, TubaChristmas is presented in 200 cities throughout the United States, Canada and Switzerland. Admission is FREE!
Seating is limited but there is plenty of room to stand.
SPONSORED BY THE ALASKA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. |
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Arts Gone Wild
Saturday, January 9, 2010
This Big, Wild Family Fun Adventure Course takes participants through arts-based activity booths all over the Performing Arts Center. Join us on Saturday, January 9 from 11am - 3pm. If you are interested in participating as an event or booth sponsor, please contact The Center at 263-2900. Admission is FREE!
GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY CONOCOPHILLIPS
HOSTED BY THE ALASKA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS AND ITS 8 RESIDENT COMPANIES: Alaska Dance Theatre, Alaska Junior Theater, Alaska Theatre of Youth, Anchorage Concert Association, Anchorage Concert Chorus, Anchorage Symphony Orchestra and Whistling Swan Productions. |
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Write, Direct and Produce Your Own Vaudeville Act
February 17, 2010
Write, Direct & Produce your own Vaudeville Act about your hometown! This contest is inspired by ACA's presentation of "Chicago", coming to the Atwood Concert Hall, February 23-28, 2010. Admission is FREE!
CO-SPONSORED BY THE ANCHORAGE CONCERT ASSOCIATION AND THE ALASKA CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS. |
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Join the Patron Lounge!
The Carr-Family Patron Lounge is a special place…have you ever visited? Please consider joining The Center with a contribution at the Patron Level ($500 per year) and enjoy the Patron Lounge every time you come to an Atwood Concert Hall event. The Lounge is open one hour prior to curtain and at intermission. You and your guests can enjoy a full bar, light snacks, visiting with friends, and your very own coat check! To learn more about all of The Center’s giving opportunities please visit MyAlaskaCenter.com.
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