Simply hearing the name Ben Vereen uttered invokes the magic and allure of Broadway. He has Tony Awards, Drama Desk, Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations. From Broadway roles in Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and Pippin, to films like All That Jazz, Sweet Charity, and Funny Lady, Vereen has ruled the industry. Therefore, it is no surprise that he can command any audience with charm and pizzazz.
In a tour de force for the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council, Mr. Vereen has agreed to be an artist-in-residence in the Highlands. While here, he will conduct a masterclass in acting that the Council hopes to live-stream into classrooms at Radford University, Washington & Lee, JMU and Christopher Newport College. A dinner will be held in his honor where he will speak about the importance of the arts in today’s society, followed by a screening of the movie ALL THAT JAZZ.
Visit the Art Council’s website – purchase tickets https: //www.alleghanyarts4all.com/
Nov. 10 7:30 PM Curfman Hall Covington VA – Ticket Price $38
https://vimeo.com/63706934
More about Ben Vereen below via http://www.benvereen.info/about:
Ben Vereen’s legendary performances transcend time and are woven into the fabric of this country’s artistic legacy. Ben’s performanceson stage, screen and television continue to inspire and influence artistsof all ages. Ben’s artistic quality has always been fueled by a passionto channel the arts for a better world.
His journey has taken him to the Broadway stage where he starred in Pippin which garnered him both the prestigious Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for “Best Actor in a Musical”. He has also starred in Wicked, Hair, Fosse, I’m Not Rappaport, Jesus Christ Superstar, Grind, Jelly’s Last Jam, The Prodigal Son, Sweet Charity, Golden Boy, Gurton’s Apocalyptic Needle, No Place to be Somebody, Chicago, The Exonerated and A Christmas Carol. Ben is currently developing a new show for Broadway that will open next season. Ben continues to tour the world with his one-man show, Steppin’ Out With Ben Vereen which receives rave reviews internationally. In this platform, Ben was the first simultaneous winner of the “Entertainer of the Year,” “Rising Star,” and “Song and Dance Star” awards from the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA). He also earned a coveted spot in the Casino Legends Hall of Fame.
On the big screen, Ben can be seen in the movies Sweet Charity, Funny Lady, All That Jazz, Idlewild, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, The Zoo Gang, Buy & Cell, I’ll Take you There, The Painting, And Then Came Love, Tapioca and Mama, I Want to Sing. He did voice overs for the animated movies Khumba and Once Upon a Forrest. Ben most recently co-starred with Chris Rock in Paramount Studios’ feature film TOP FIVE and with Richard Gere in the film TIME OUT OF MIND, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
This spring, Ben will star as Dr. Scott in the made for television movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show by Twentieth Century Fox. His memorable television roles that have stood the test of time include Chicken Georgein ROOTS and Louis Armstrong in Louis Armstrong – Chicago Style. Other television credits include How I Met Your Mother, Grey’s Anatomy (Prism Award), Hot in Cleveland, NCIS, House of Payne, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, OZ,Star Trek – The Next Generation, The Jamie Fox Show, And Accidental Friendship (NAACP IMAGE AWARD) Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Silk Stalkings, Webster, and J.J. Starbuck and Booker, Anne Rice’s Feast of All Saints, Intruders They Are Among Us (Emmy nomination), Faerie Tale Theatre’s Puss N’ Boots with Gregory Hines, The Jesse Owens Story, Ellis Island (Golden Globe Nomination), Lost in London, Salute to Liberty Special. Tenspeed and Brownshoe, The Muppet Show, The Carol Burnett Show, Pippen: His Life and Times, The Love Boat, 21 and Wake Up, SCTV, The Magic of David Copperfield, Jenny’s Song, The Nanny, Touched by an Angel, Lois and Clark, Promised Land, and You Write the Songs. His television special Ben Vereen: His Roots received Seven Emmy Awards. Not forgetting his younger audiences, Ben released a number of well-received children’s Sing-Along musical video. He also provided voice-overs for the show Wonder Pets for Nickelodeon was featured in Faerie Tale Theatre’s Puss and Boots, Mother Goose Rock “n” Rhyme, The Kid Who Loved Christmas and played Mayor Ben in Halmark’s Zoobilee Zoo.
While not performing, Ben continues to give his time to organizations such as BalletFlorida’s Board of Directors, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Association, Celebrities for a Drug Free America and Community Mental Health Council. Ben volunteered with the American Red Cross during 9/11, an event that changed his life and the world forever. Ben led ongoing diabetes awareness campaign called “S.T.A.N.D.” in partnership with Sanofi-Aventis pharmaceuticals. He continues to speak out for diabetes for Novo Nordisk, whose purpose is to irradicate dibetes in our lifetimes. For his humanitarian contributions, he has received a number of awards including Israel’s Cultural and Humanitarian Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award, and a Victory Award. He has received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Arizona, Emerson College, St. Francis College, and Columbia College in Chicago. In 2001, Medgar Evers College created the Ben Vereen Scholarship for the Performing Arts, and in 2004, he received an Achievement in Excellence Award from his alma mater, the High School of the Performing Arts. Recently, Ben led the American Athletes into the LA Coliseum for The Special Olympics, followed by participating in Producer Nigel Lythgoe’s event in Beverly Hills introducing dance as a competition for the first time in the history of the Special Olympics. At the DIZZY FEET FOUNDATION GALA, Ben presented an award to George Chakiris and Russ Tamblyn the stars of WEST SIDE STORY.
In February of 2011, Ben released his CD Steppin’ Out Live with Ben Vereen and staged a triumphant return to Broadway with his concert “BEN VEREEN ON BROADWAY AT TOWN HALL”. On January 30th, 2012, Ben was inducted in to The Theatre Hall of Fame. He performed for 100,000 people at the Washington Monument on July 4th and in August, Ben was inducted into The Dance Hall of Fame. Ben also received the Broadwayworld.com 2012 Cabaret Award BEST CELEBRITY MALE VOCALIST for his dazzling 2 week run at the New York City’s latest music venue 54 Below. In May of 2013, Ben received his honorary degree from the LaGuardia School of Performing Arts.
This spring, Ben will star as Dr. Scott in the made for television movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show by Twentieth Century Fox. His memorable television roles that have stood the test of time include Chicken Georgein ROOTS and Louis Armstrong in Louis Armstrong – Chicago Style. Other television credits include How I Met Your Mother, Grey’s Anatomy (Prism Award), Hot in Cleveland, NCIS, House of Payne, Law and Order: Criminal Intent, OZ,Star Trek – The Next Generation, The Jamie Fox Show, And Accidental Friendship (NAACP IMAGE AWARD) Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Silk Stalkings, Webster, and J.J. Starbuck and Booker, Anne Rice’s Feast of All Saints, Intruders They Are Among Us (Emmy nomination), Faerie Tale Theatre’s Puss N’ Boots with Gregory Hines, The Jesse Owens Story, Ellis Island (Golden Globe Nomination), Lost in London, Salute to Liberty Special. Tenspeed and Brownshoe, The Muppet Show, The Carol Burnett Show, Pippen: His Life and Times, The Love Boat, 21 and Wake Up, SCTV, The Magic of David Copperfield, Jenny’s Song, The Nanny, Touched by an Angel, Lois and Clark, Promised Land, and You Write the Songs. His television special Ben Vereen: His Roots received Seven Emmy Awards. Not forgetting his younger audiences, Ben released a number of well-received children’s Sing-Along musical video. He also provided voice-overs for the show Wonder Pets for Nickelodeon was featured in Faerie Tale Theatre’s Puss and Boots, Mother Goose Rock “n” Rhyme, The Kid Who Loved Christmas and played Mayor Ben in Halmark’s Zoobilee Zoo.
While not performing, Ben continues to give his time to organizations such as BalletFlorida’s Board of Directors, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Association, Celebrities for a Drug Free America and Community Mental Health Council. Ben volunteered with the American Red Cross during 9/11, an event that changed his life and the world forever. Ben led ongoing diabetes awareness campaign called “S.T.A.N.D.” in partnership with Sanofi-Aventis pharmaceuticals. He continues to speak out for diabetes for Novo Nordisk, whose purpose is to irradicate dibetes in our lifetimes. For his humanitarian contributions, he has received a number of awards including Israel’s Cultural and Humanitarian Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, an Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award, and a Victory Award. He has received Honorary Doctorates from the University of Arizona, Emerson College, St. Francis College, and Columbia College in Chicago. In 2001, Medgar Evers College created the Ben Vereen Scholarship for the Performing Arts, and in 2004, he received an Achievement in Excellence Award from his alma mater, the High School of the Performing Arts. Recently, Ben led the American Athletes into the LA Coliseum for The Special Olympics, followed by participating in Producer Nigel Lythgoe’s event in Beverly Hills introducing dance as a competition for the first time in the history of the Special Olympics. At the DIZZY FEET FOUNDATION GALA, Ben presented an award to George Chakiris and Russ Tamblyn the stars of WEST SIDE STORY.
In February of 2011, Ben released his CD Steppin’ Out Live with Ben Vereen and staged a triumphant return to Broadway with his concert “BEN VEREEN ON BROADWAY AT TOWN HALL”. On January 30th, 2012, Ben was inducted in to The Theatre Hall of Fame. He performed for 100,000 people at the Washington Monument on July 4th and in August, Ben was inducted into The Dance Hall of Fame. Ben also received the Broadwayworld.com 2012 Cabaret Award BEST CELEBRITY MALE VOCALIST for his dazzling 2 week run at the New York City’s latest music venue 54 Below. In May of 2013, Ben received his honorary degree from the LaGuardia School of Performing Arts.
Ben had the honor to share the stage and sing with the fabulous Eartha Kitt’s for her 80th birthday at Carnegie Hall. A major highlight of Ben’s career continues to be performing for the Armed Forces whose men and women are serving to protect our shores. In 2009, he performed at the Inaugural Ball with Peter Yarow and Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary. He then entertained at the reopening of the Ford Theatre in Washington, D.C., which was also attended by President and Mrs. Obama. This fall, the Friar’s Club will be honoring Ben Vereen for his lifetime achievements in the arts.
AWARDS
Theater
1973 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical: Pippin [winner]
1973 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Performance: Pippin [winner]
1972 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Jesus Christ Superstar [nominee]
1972 Theatre World Award: Jesus Christ Superstar [winner]
Television
1985 Golden Globe: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television – Nominee
1976 Golden Globe: New Star of the Year – Actor – Nominee
1977 Emmy: Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music – Nominee
1977 Emmy: Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series – Nominee
1992 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Special – Nominee
HONORS
2011 – inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame.[7]
2012 – inducted into the National Museum of Dance
2012 – inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame.
2013 – First recipient of the Walk of Fame Award from the LaGuardia School of Performing Arts
2014 – named Cabaret Award BEST CELEBRITY MALE VOCALIST
Ben had the honor to share the stage and sing with the fabulous Eartha Kitt’s for her 80th birthday at Carnegie Hall. A major highlight of Ben’s career continues to be performing for the Armed Forces whose men and women are serving to protect our shores. In 2009, he performed at the Inaugural Ball with Peter Yarow and Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary. He then entertained at the reopening of the Ford Theatre in Washington, D.C., which was also attended by President and Mrs. Obama. This fall, the Friar’s Club will be honoring Ben Vereen for his lifetime achievements in the arts.
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