Ben's Blog

Go West! (and other news)

2011-05-27T11:12:00.006-04:00

Whew! The last month or so has been quite action-packed, so I figured an update was long overdue:

After wrapping up my BFA in Musical Theater at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, my friend and classmate Joe Moeller and I made the great pilgrimage, as most MT BFA holders do, to NYC. We showcased with the rest of the 2011 class on April 11th, and then real life suddenly started. Settling into the New York life, learning to navigate the subway system, hating on tourists, auditioning and meeting Lady Gaga in the street numbered among the activities of my first official week in NYC. I had waited so long for this life to began, and it finally has!

After a week or so of auditioning, I landed my first NYC gig.

I had the great fortune of being hired to work on a staged reading of a new musical called Go West! This brand-new musical follows the forming of the legendary disco group The Village People. (Yes, those Village People.) I played Henri Belolo, the Frenchman responsible for co-creating the iconic group. One of the most exciting aspects of the project was getting to meet, and work with, the real Henri (a producer on the project, pictured

on left.) With a score comprised of the Village People's greatest and lesser known hits, this workshop was some of the most fun I've had on stage. Go West! has so much heart and I cannot wait for everyone to have the chance to go on this disco-tastic journey.

What's next?

In just a few days I am set to start rehearsals for a production of Forever Plaid. Playing the role of Frankie, we will be performing weekends July 8th through the 23rd in lovely Sugar Loaf, NY at the Lycian Theater. I'm so excited to get started on this hilarious and poignant show.

So far, New York City has been nothing but a dream come true. I'm so excited to see what the next adventure will be! Stay tuned...

Experiments in Puppetry: Video Highlights

2011-01-23T14:26:00.010-05:00

As previously posted, I recently had the opportunity to put together my own evening of original puppet works. Entitled "Experiments in Puppetry", the show used a variety of types of puppetry and a mix of song and spoken word. The "experiments" ranged from humorous to heart warming and I am very pleased to share some video highlights from the performance.

One of the pieces I am most proud of is my interpretation of some pieces from Daniel MacIvor'sHumans. This table top piece was inspired by work I saw at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's 2010 Puppetry Conference which I attended this past summer.

The performance featured a very special guest. One of my personal hero's and a veteren children's performer.

My homage to the early work of Jim Henson, another hero of mine.

I also took an existing musical theater tune that I love to perform and "puppetized" it.

The finale of the show, and one of my favorite "experiment" was this performance of In the Mood. Joining us on stage was tapper Leeds Hill.

Experiments in Puppetry: A Cabaret

2010-11-28T16:00:00.004-05:00

Attending a Conservatory-Style University program comes with many perks, not the least of which is the incredible opportunity to create and workshop one's own work. I recently had the opportunity to fuse my musical theater training and puppetry work in a cabaret entitled "Experiments in Puppetry: A Cabaret".

Along with talented musical theater majors Leeds Hill, Matt Hill, Greg Kamp and Emily Schexnaydre, I created six pieces using varying types and styles of puppetry. From the humorous to the bizarre, this 30 min piece featured everything from table-top tapping, twisted show tunes and a child-eating bear. These experiments, I hope, will lead to new discoveries in the future.

"Experiments in Puppetry: A Cabaret" was Presented on November 22nd, 2010 at the College-Conservatory of Music and accompanied on piano by Anthony De Angelis. Stay tuned for video highlights.

Big River

2010-09-20T19:20:00.009-04:00

I was recently fortunate enough to perform in a wonderful production of Big River at The Carnegie in Covington, KY. This really imaginative production was directed by Ed Cohen and Dee Anne Bryll and features some of my very talented friends and classmates. Playing the part of “Tom Sawyer”, and a host of other residents along the Mississippi river, was a whole lot of fun. Check of some pictures from the production and some promotional video of the cast!

Instalation Art Piece

2009-09-07T21:48:00.021-04:00

I wanted to share some photo's from the first even installation art project I've ever worked on. My work in any kind of art medium has been almost entirely in puppet building, so I was very excited to try my hand at something a little different. I'm not sure exactly what to call this piece, but it was built to help promote literacy at a local school. I built three characters from popular kids books and posed them around a tree that already existed in the school lobby. Scaredy Squirrel, Chester the Cat and Flat Stanley were the three characters that were selected. The scene is basically the three characters having just finished decorating the tree to welcome the kids back to school.
Here is what the tree in the lobby looked like before I got my hands on it. An interesting looking tree and a good base upon which to build. It's mounted on a cork board in the main entrance to the school.

The first thing I did with the tree was add leaves. I figured that might help make it look more tree-like for starters and I wanted to create a summer/early fall scene...not so much the dead of winter look. The background was originally made of felt cut-outs, an elementary school classic - I wanted to try and freshen it up. Here is a shot with added leaves and the start of a background. I used foamcore stapled to the cork board and then filled the joints with regular dry-wall filler. You can also see the beginnings of background painting.

The characters I built to sit in/around the tree were not built like any puppets I'd made before. I was inspired largely by character sculptures I've seen in theme parks and in the Disney store. For example the Big Bad Wolf and Three Little Pigs in this picture. My assumption is that the sculptures found in Disney stores are mass-produced and cast from molds in fiberglass. The characters I built were built in a slightly different way.

I started with blocks of Styrofoam and sculpted the various body parts to the characters. Next, I covered each Styrofoam figure with Creative Paperclay. It's a really cool product to work with because it can we worked quite thin over the Stryofoam with water and dries very light. It can be layered quite effectively and you can then sand and paint it quite easily. Here are shots of the Squirrel, Cat and Stanley's head during this process.

Once the figures were sculpted and dry, I proceeded to add other details. A furry tail on the squirrel, fur onto Chester and a very flat set of clothes on a very flat body on Stanley. I then added props and air brush details to finish them off in the workshop before loading them into the school.

Once all the parts were loaded into the school, I was very happy with how it turned out. I added some additional props (fence, ladder, flowers, airbrushing on the tree) during the load in and I feel that the details really brought the whole thing together. From all accounts the kids were very excited to see such a unique art piece in the school on the first day, and I understand that the staff at the school was also very happy. Here are some pictures of the finished piece.

Catch me on The Muppet Cast!

2009-08-18T00:12:00.007-04:00

This past weekend I was fortunate enough to spend two days working at the 2009 Puppets Up! festival. I worked alongside some great puppeteers on the 'balcony". (More Below)
I didn't have the chance to see quite as many of the shows at the festival as I would have liked, but there are a few things I got to see that were just fantastic.

My favorite performance at the festival was presented by a Quebecois troupe called "Les Sages Fous". They did a night time street performance called "Bizzarium Aquarium". It was an incredibly inventive show that revolved around a large boat. The two puppeteers proceeded to "dive" into the pavement and discover a whole world of underwater creatures. There were aspects of the performance that incorporated mime and clown and a variety of styles of puppetry. You can see photos of the show on their official website here. If you ever have the chance to see "Le Sages Fous" I would highly recommend it.

Most of my time at the festival was spent on the balcony. This balcony was essentially a scaffolding mounted on a street corner and dressed to look like a balcony. The puppeteers were hidden within the contraption, equipped with mics and puppets we would more-or-less heckle the passers-by. It was great fun to interact with and poke fun at festival attendees of all ages!

Here are some pictures that show what I'm talking about! Puppeteers Jessica Fitzpatrick and Allen Martin perform a camel and a goldfish puppet.

The whole balcony crew was 5 puppeteers strong so there were lots of fun combinations of characters to see on the balcony.

Amidst all the puppet action that was going on in Almonte last weekend I also had a moment to chat with Steve Swanson. Steve hosts an awesome podcast called The Muppet Cast. He does a really wonderful job covering all things Muppets and Puppet for that matter. He has covered the festival previous years and I was more then happy to bring him a report right from the heart of the action for the 2009 edition. You can find the interview in Episode #122 of the Muppetcast, downloadable here or on iTunes.

Enjoy!

Bobbie the Boat Shoot

2009-07-31T21:52:00.007-04:00

Wow, it has been almost a year since we shot this stuff, but I've come across some behind-the-scenes pictures from a shoot I did for the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary . It was a pilot project that aims at teaching children about the importance of boating and water safety. Bobbie the Safety Boat, the star of the project, is actually a large robotic character that interacts with people at various events and locations (boat shows, water fronts etc.) and also does presentations to kids about promoting water safety at school, scouts, etc. I got to perform Bobbie at a number of events and in these training videos a few years back and it was a lot of fun. (I'm featured more in video's 3 and 4.) He even has a water sprayer that can squirt water at people; best believe I had a good time with that.

What we were shooting was a series of PSA's that involve Bobbie, and some other puppet characters that I designed. The Bobbie puppet for the video's was build by Matt Fichner, and I built an additional 6 characters to round out the cast.

The 2-day shoot we did late last summer involved some PSAs I wrote for 5 of the characters to teach water safety. We shot them at a gorgeous lake-side location in Quebec. It was my first experience puppeteering in the water; it was a great learning experience. Jessica Fitzpatrick and I puppeteered assisted by my brother Nick. The finished PSAs have yet to see daylight, but I'll be sure and post them when they do. The best I can do for now is this clip that was put together to thank the folks who lent us their boat and dock.

Here are some shots from shooting in the water!

On a unrelated puppet note, Puppets Up! the international puppet festival is next weekend (Aug. 8th and 9th) in Almonte, ON. I'll be there with my puppets both days and I highly recommend you check it out if you are in the area. Information is here.

Creative Block

2008-10-09T15:58:00.000-04:00

Don't worry, I'm not about to rant about not being able to express myself creativly, or whine about not knowing how to express myself...it's the name of a TV show.

An interview I gave on a CBC show called "Creative Block". It airs on CBC's digital HD channel Bold. I just got to see it and I was very please with the way it turned out. I'd highly reccommend checking out this show, they've got some really interesting guests, both established and up-and-comming. The show strives to showcase the cream of the Canadian arts and entertainment community. This season alone we met Sarah Slean, Michael Bublé, Great Big Sea, Belly, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Buck 65, Two Hours Traffic,Lynn Miles and Kellylee Evans, to name a few.

Last season my good friend Steffi D was also featured on the show. Be sure and catch Steffi in the National Tour of Spring Awakening, all the reviews have been phenominal.

Here is the interview. (Yes, that is my face behind the "Play" Button) Enjoy!

Bobby Graden / New Full-Length Episodes

2008-05-05T21:39:00.000-04:00

Hey,

Kay, so as you may see I'm a little MIA. Well, now I'm back. Deal.

Here is the third, and final "promo video" for "Let's Put on a Show!" In this episode you will meet Bobby, best be ready to laugh.

OK Budda. (What's that from again?)

But, so the even bigger news is that in the next 48 hours, the first ever, full 'tube length, epic episode will air. We filmed it, its crazy, you'll love it. Editing it as we type, so stay tuned. Also keep in mind that Ben's Blog is your #1 source for all things "Let's Put on a Show!"! So stay tuned here for backstage pics, vids and more.

Also, watch this guy's vlog, so funny. Took me a while to find the truth about it all, snoop a little to find the true dish.

Let's Put on a Show - Chris Woods

2008-04-14T22:54:00.001-04:00

"This has the potential to be a nostalgic Dish!" - The Broadway Dish

"Totally intriguing new youtube series." - Andrew's Blog

"OMG BEN DUROCHER! You, boy, will always be perfection. I totes loved you on Triple Sensation!" Anonymous Youtube Poster

THE REVIEWS ARE IN!

Let's Put on s Show is one of the most exciting musical-theatre-related series on the 'tube since this, and I'm loving it. The second teaser is out, and available for viewing below. AND a little birdie tells me there will be another brand new teaser out this weekend.

If your not already, become a fan of this show on facebook. AND subscribe to the vids on youtube, it's TOTES worth it.

AND don't forget to mark May 4th on your calender, that is the day the first full-length episode will debut!

"totes." - Andrew's Blog

More Youtube, I know...I know...

2008-04-07T17:16:00.000-04:00

But this is epic! Whoever thought this was a good idea is not familiar with Musical Theatre like us North Americans are...I don't know why this exists, and why there are SO many versions of these performances, but regardless they exists for the greater good. What do you think?

"Thinking so easy."

I feel like this needs to come to ABC. A reality show searching for the next Sailor Moon! We could have an all-star panel of judges Tony winner Susan Stroman, new Broadway sensation Clay Aiken, Director of HSM on screen and on ice Kenny Ortega and for good measure how about...Miss America, Kirsten Haglund. Every week contestants sing Japanese pop songs, then they play this game to see who gets cut. I'd buy it.

Let's Put on a Show!

2008-04-06T15:36:00.000-04:00

Soooooooooo, it has been quite a little while since I've blogged...BUT do not fear! I've got a big piece of exciting news. Production has started on a brand-new, hilarious, campy, fierce, dishy web series created by myself and some of my close friends here at school. It's called "Let's Put on a Show", and I think the video below should fill you in on the details. Full-length episodes are on their way, but for now you'll have to settle for this teaser. I know I can't wait to see where this goes....

Watch it, comment it, love it.

It's just...I was just so caught up...IN THE MOMENT

2008-03-24T00:27:00.001-04:00

I wanted to take a moment to let you all know about an amazing movie I recently saw. Now please don't think I'm plugging this movie because I'm in it, because I'm not. (Not plugging it because I'm in it that is, I actually am in it, albeit the role I play is nothing integral, but...I digress.)

First, a little background:

Every year across Canada hundreds of High School students compete in The Canadian Improv Games. (Please click link for further details, here it is again in case you missed it.) The CIG are the only high school team "sport" in Canada that boasts a National tournament. Not even Hockey is played nationally in High Schools! I guess Canadians are just better at making shit up, most hockey players are Russian anyways, right? Schools compete first on a local level, then on a provincial level, and then the whole year culminates in a one-week national tournament in Ottawa.

It just so happens that I got to play on the team at my high school last year, my senior year. And it just so happens that In the Moment followed our team last year. And it just so happens that we made it all the way to Nationals! AND it just so happens that you can watch the trailer below.

Click To Play

I know, I know, you want to know how/when you can see this movie! (Mostly because of that kiss I'm sure...) Well I've got 2 options for you:

1. Email sandra.chwialkowska@gmail.com, you can buy a copy using Paypal, cheque or money order. One copy is 20$.

2. Be in Ottawa on April 12th at 2pm. There will be a screening at Club Saw downtown. While your there you can catch Nationals! Email sandra.chwialkowska@gmail.com for more info about the screening.

BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

There are many reasons to want to see this film. On top of the fact that I'm in it for about a total of 10 mins, you get to see some of the most talented high school kids in the country making up some of the best shit you'll ever see. There are celebrities! Sandra Oh, a CIG alum. and famous for her role on Grey's Anatomy, is featured in the film. But above all, you will see the power that anyone, and I mean ANYONE, can get from working towards a dream with the ambition and support of 7 teammates and a coach, and the power theatre in general can, and should have on people.

Please see this film.

On another note, my former high school just won the Ottawa tournament, meaning they are on their way to nationals yet again!

Some Things are Meant to Be

2008-03-21T17:59:00.000-04:00

I don't know who they are, what they are, or why they are. But I do know that I love them.

Their just so glamarous.

Journey to the Past

2008-03-15T13:53:00.001-04:00

I know, I know, I've been stingy on my posting in the last while, get over it. I recently received an email from a friend, who happens to have won $150,000 last fall on CBC television, John-Michael Scapin. He found this vid on the tube that features a number of teachers who you may, or may not, recognize from Triple Sensation. Hardcore fans of the show will notice that some of the exercises that the teachers use were also seen on TS. I think this is a fun little find, if you've got 30 minuets, then watch all 7 parts. Take note: in part 6 Jeffery gets the cast to warm up with O Canada, we did that in Master Class on July 1st this summer. Enjoy!

Audition Advice

2008-02-29T20:50:00.001-05:00

So I know auditions for most schools are all done and rejection letters have been sent out, but I just saw this video that has some really great advice and I wanted to share with you all, that applies to almost any kind of audition. Marla says things exactly as they need to be said. Thanks Marla, I wish I had seen this before I had my audition!

That was really good.

Brilliant Advertising

2008-02-25T17:18:00.000-05:00

Recently I found myself helping some classmates by volunteering at the Auto Expo in town.

What amazed me the most was the advertising tactics used by companies to make you want to look at their cars. For example Honda had their car flanked with men marching on a spinning turntable, it was very chick, very French Revolution. Toyota, however, won the battle.

They had a whole television studio re-created in the convention centre. They had TVs, a Green Screen and even an obnoxious, VERY enthusiastic guy who would not stop talking about the "Moving Forward Studio's", all a script Toyota paid him to say.

The premise is that people are told they can do an actual on the spot screen test to be the new Toyota spokesperson. All they have to do is sign a waiver, get in front of the camera and read some cue cards. You even get your own DVD copy, that you can, AND SHOULD, put on Facebook, Youtube and Myspace. Funny...that sounds like free-advertising Toyota, starring people I ACTUALLY KNOW!? What better reason is there to sit through, and pay attention to a commercial? And did they pay me to advertise their product? Nope.

Well as it turns out we made one, Joe, Mia, Julie and I took some liberties and drizzled this performance with a little camp. I of course rushed home and put it on facebook, myspace, youtube and now my blog. Enjoy.

It would seem I am not the only one eager to put this on the tube...

This girl should have picked a shorter commercial... (More time in the glass line...eh?)

and...

This guy is the best I found. He has such passion and is such a great communicator...A back-up camera indeed. (click, click)

Congratulations Toyota, these are some of the most brilliant commercials ever.

My name is BEN.

2008-02-21T17:17:00.000-05:00

Start Rant:

I don't know about you, but for the past few years I've come to know IMDB as a reliable, accurate online resource where I can waste time learning things about actors via their online resume's. For example who knew that Lily Tomlin was the voice of Ms. Frizzle on The Magic School Bus? Or that Idina Menzel was on the Beowulf soundtrack. Which I TOTALLY bought...

BUT, my point in all this is that recently I discovered that IMDB has some also less-then-accurate information...

For example it says that Carol Channing was born in Washington in 1921, but we all know that she was actually born on another planet in 1843, making her 165, not 87, that is a big discrepancy folks!

Oh and here is the kicker: I looked myself up, and was pleasantly surprised when I had a listing for Triple Sensation, but upon further investigation I discovered that under "Garth Drabinsky - Himself", I am listed as "Ben Durocher - HERSELF". That's right folks, HERSELF. I mean this would be understandable if my name were more ambiguous like Aaron, or Chris or KD...but BEN? Come now, not acceptable.

End rant.

On another note, my STARmeter is up 764% since last week...I whish I knew what i did...

Season Two

2008-02-04T16:13:00.000-05:00

(To be read with energy and vigor):

It's official, Triple Sensation, the show I was on this fall, will be back for a second season. Producer Garth Drabinsky and the same Marquee Panel from Season one are back, and fiercer then ever*! And this year there are audition stops in even more Canadian cities. (Including Ottawa, which by-the-way was not on the roster last year, but is the city Jamie Hodgins and I are from...coincidence? I think not.)
I cannot recommend auditioning enough to any performer. My experience with the show was nothing but positive and I can only assume that the second season will maintain the integrity and dedication to art that the first season had. I was treated with respect, and I felt the producers of the show were very fair and accurate in their depiction of all contestants. And you get to have a kick-ass time on TV.
But if auditioning is not your thing, then I recommend you all watch the show, cause it's a family-friendly Sunday-night of performing arts on CBC, and who doesn’t LOVE a night like that?

Time to awaken the spring in T-dot. Peace Y'all!

The Happiest Place On Earth, EH?

2008-02-02T01:15:00.000-05:00

So, I happen to have the misfortune of falling ill with the flu this week. But this means that I got to spend some quality time with myself on the internet! Anyways I soon found myself taking care of my weekly Disney fix by looking at video's from Disneyland, the "happiest place on earth"; this one took the cake. Somehow I hope she's just bad at making jokes, but from what I know the skippers on the Jungle Cruise are strictly forbidden to stray from the script and I don't think these lines sound Walt-approved...(Watch to the end, it's worth it.)

"Yea, believe me, Mom's so proud!"

Take 1:53, this is worth it.

2008-01-28T09:56:00.000-05:00

So I was poking around Youtube today, as I so often do, and I happened to stumble across an account called "macsmith55" and he just happens to ave some of the most hilarious Wicked-Related Fan Vids I have ever seen. (And I have seen a lot of hilarious Wicked-Related Fan Vids...)
This one has to be the highlight for me however, the lip-syncing skills these ladies sport would make Brittany crazy(er). From the costumes, to the incredible ensemble work, these ladies pull out all the stops.
Highlights include:
1.The gal playing Elphaba, you can tell exactly how she feels about Glinda, watch very close for the almost too-real-to-handle push around 1:20.
2. The way the actress playing Glinda works the camera, especially on the word "strong".
3. The ensemble played by a life size, cardboard cut-out of what looks like David Boreanaz, brought to life by what looks like their mother.

It would not suprise me at all if these ladies dedicate their lives to "Wicked", "Buffy", (then "Angel"), and for a breif time in 2004, "Brklyn". Currently they are learning all the original choreo from a taped copy of the MTV broadcast of "Legally Blonde".

GOLD.

Hilarious Photo Shoot

2008-01-22T19:37:00.000-05:00

So my friend Greg found this crazy spot that features a graveyard of giant, old signs from restaurants. I figured a hilarious photo shoot was necessary, so some of my other friends and I took these wicked shots:

Absolutely, it is art.

I never thought to eat at Arby's before, but apparently it is delicious....and that sign is HUGE.

Never seen this place before, must be an American thing....

John was inspired to work on his tan....

This board matches my skin tone well. Too bad this isn't a real Howard Johnson's, I could go for ice cream right now.

Cheers!

Post #1.

2008-01-13T01:07:00.000-05:00

Hey!
So this would be my first (official) Blog post! This is exciting. Since you have made your way here, I assume you have some idea who I am, and what I'm all about. If not, please feel free to take a look around, and see all of the other thing (yes thing) on my blog. Since I'm not sure what exactly you are looking for, I'm going to assume that it's a laugh. I can only hope that, like me, you enjoy a good 'ol hilarious video from the 'tube. This one is a perfect example of why some shows should be left in the hands of professionals...Enjoy.

Triple Sensation

2008-01-03T02:10:00.000-05:00

As you may know, I was recently on a CBC television show called Triple Sensation, see official site here. This is a montage of some of my "on air" time. Enjoy!
(And please stay tuned for my REAL blogging to start.)