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Who is Ben Friesen?

Education and Training:

BA in Communication Studies and Theatre with a Spanish Minor - Trinity Christian College

Fall 2021 NMTI Cohort at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center - National Theater Institute

More about the National Theater Institute:

  • Eugene O'Neill Theater Center

    I loved my time at the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center! Scroll through for some highlights from my semester there.

  • NTI Fall '21 Cohort

    I got to know and work with some really lovely fellow young artists during my time as part of the National Music Theater cohort in the fall of 2021!

  • So Many Great Labs!

    Each week, we put on a huge chunk of a show in about 48 hours, including Phantom, Cabaret, and Hadestown! Playing Orpheus was my favorite.

  • I Love Writing and Composing!

    While at NTI, I wrote an opening number for an original musical that became a hit across campus and was later performed by some of my friends!

  • So Many Great Teachers!

    To list a few: Scott Murphy, Malik Work, Jessi Hill, Ginny Andersen, Erin O’Leary, Forrest McClendon, David Dorfman, David Adam Moore, Vita Tzykiun

Check Out NTI's programs here!

Recent Professional Productions

  • Roles: Ghost of Christmas Future, Dick Wilkins, Caroler, Fiddler

    • Operated a 40lb stalkabout apparatus that made me 10ft tall

    • While wearing said apparatus, also flew 15ft above the stage while blinded by fabric

    • Sang and danced to choral arrangements of Christmas hymns

    • Provided live accompaniment with my violin, including a fiddle duet I helped arrange

  • Roles: Pinocchio, Duloc Dancer, Knight, Rat Tapper

    • Had the opportunity to wear the National Tour costumes

    • Grew my nose on command twice in Act I alone

    • Tap danced with a tail and weighty rats on each foot

    • Developed the octaves-above-my-own voice without a single music rehearsal

  • Roles: Spongebob (u/s), Electric Skate 1, Old Man Jenkins, Sardine, Sea Anemone

    • Sang and danced on plywood while wearing roller skates

    • Sang and danced outdoors in 100-degree heat while wearing a sweater and wig

    • Learned to tut while singing gospel, dancing, and occasionally playing the tambourine

    • Quick-changed into a 10-piece costume in less than a minute before a big tap number

  • Roles: Bill (Sure Thing), Swift (Words, Words, Words)

    • Performed each one-act after just two rehearsals and one day of tech

    • Quickly memorized slight variations of the same first date relived repeatedly

    • Delivered a Shakespearean monologue and had a mental breakdown… as a monkey

    • Utilized a series of trampolines to jump a solid 8 feet in the air without padding

  • Role: Christopher Boone

    • Quickly adjusted to a convincing RP/London British dialect

    • Delivered a monologue while walking on my hands

    • Utilizing Frantic Assembly techniques, flew around the stage supported by my castmates

    • Carefully portrayed neurodivergency honestly while avoiding stereotype

  • Role: Scarecrow

    • Due to the Nashville-ization of our production, used a Southern dialect akin to Piedmont

    • Provided violin accompaniment, including fiddling between my own sung phrases

    • Entrusted to teach all choreography to our replacement Tinman during his put-in rehearsal

    • Learned the Charleston and danced the Jitterbug while wearing burlap

  • Roles: Otto (u/s), Lt. Richter (u/s), Swing, Workman, Jewish Woman

    • Learned both Dutch and German dialects for this role (though with a British base)

    • Swung in for Otto without a put-in rehearsal when the actor got Covid

    • Performed as Otto for over a week alongside Nan Gurley, John Schuck, and Carrie Tillis

    • Continued as Otto during the SAG-AFTRA filming—movie was released in August 2023

Youth Theatre Work

BAM Theatre - Hinsdale, IL: Assistant Director: Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Frozen, The Jungle Book

Crane River Theatre - Kearney, NE: Music Director: Madagascar Jr., Co-Director: Descendants

Nashville Children’s Theatre - Nashville, TN: Teaching Artist; Assistant Director: TBD Musical 2024

Film Experience:

The Hiding Place (2023): Otto Schwarzhuber

Second City’s Harold Ramis Film School: Numerous short films

Skills

Instruments

Expert violinist with fiddling experience

Years of orchestra and private lessons for violin

Intermediate guitar, piano, ukulele

My musician’s ear helps me pick up instruments quickly

Vocal Training

Classical training with contemporary application

Years of private voice lessons and choral experience

Natural tendency towards dialects, plus onstage training

Near fluency in the Spanish language

Dance and Movement

Intermediate tap, including professional experience

Beginner/Intermediate experience across many other styles

Multiple award-winning athletic background

Training in theatrical movement styles (Alexander, Laban, etc.)