| Ben Topping Actor
Ann Arbor, MI ACTOR: Film, TV, Stage * SINGER / TENOR: Classical & Musical Theatre * SPOKESPERSON
Welcome!
"Voices of a Never-Ending Dawn" (Film/PBS TV), The Detroit Opera House, The Michigan Shakespeare Festival, Second City, "Out of Darkness" (TV) -- these are only a few of my film, stage, and singing credits.
To view/print a formatted, abridged resume, please click on the link:
Ben's 8x10 Talent Resume.
Thank you,
Ben Topping
Equity Member Candidate (EMC)
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LINKS:
Click on the title below to access.
Ben’s Official Website
Ben’s NowCasting Website
Ben's IMDB.com film photos
News-Herald Newspaper (Ben's profile & film overview)
"Voices" Film's official website
Overview of "Voices" + film clip
Oakland Press-PBS TV November Premier
Orange County (OC) Register, West Coast premiere
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My Bucket List (in no particular order):
* Enjoy a performance career similar to that of Kristin Chenoweth.
* Meet/Work with David Foster.
* Meet/Sing with Andrea Bocelli.
* Meet/Work with Kristin Chenoweth.
* Originate the lead in a show/opera. If it is a musical, also do the recording, and get nominated for a Tony.
* Do a concert tour.
* Play Phantom in "Phantom of the Opera" (legit).
* Work with most of my former directors/friends again (stage/film).
* Play the role of a truly great duplistic bad guy--film or stage, musical or drama.
PROFESSIONAL INFO
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Other talents:
| Vocalist, Musical Theatre
Actor, Television
Actor, Commercials
Vocalist, Lead
Model, Print / Editorial | |
Special talents:
| CREDITS: Regional Theatre/Opera:
* THE TENDER LAND (staged scenes) - Martin (lead) - Detroit Opera House (symposium) mainstage.
* WEST SIDE STORY - Riff (Jet's Leader) - Colorado Summer Festival of the Arts.
* HAMLET (AEA/Equity) - Francisco, Player, Fencer - John Neville-Andrews, Dir/MI Shakespeare Co.
* A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM (AEA/Equity) - Philostrate - David Ivers, Dir./MI Shakespeare Co.
* GIANNI SCHICCHI (staged scenes) - Maestro Spinelloccio - Colorado Summer Festival of the Arts.
* GIANNI SCHICCHI (staged scenes) - Pinellino (undertaker) - Colorado Summer Festival of the Arts.
* LA RONDINE (opera scenes-The Swallow) - Perichaud - Colorado Summer Festival of the Arts.
* LA CENERENTOLA (opera-Cinderella) - Royal Steward (Featured Super) - Mark Streshinsky, Dir/Detroit Opera House mainstage.
* LA SONNAMBULA (opera-The Sleepwalker) - Count's Servant/Villager (Super) - Renata Scotto, Dir/Detroit Opera House mainstage.
* DEATH BY ARIA + SALUTE TO DISNEY - Recital Soloist - Colorado Summer Festival of the Arts.
* Recital - Vocal Soloist - Detroit Opera House - Black Box Theatre.
* Recital - Soloist (multiple seasons) - Ann Arbor Festival of Songs/Kerrytown Concert Hall.
* LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR + LA GIOCONDA - multiple Chorus productions - Colorado Summer Festival of the Arts.
* BALLAD OF BABY DOE + VA PENSIERO - multiple Chorus productions - Detroit Opera House symposium, mainstage.
CREDITS: Film and Television:
* VOICES OF A NEVER-ENDING DAWN - Cpl. John Toornman (co-star/principal) - Pamela Peak Productions/PBS.
* DYING TO MAKE A CHANGE - Trevor (supporting) - Clifford Scott, Dir/Indie Feature.
* ONE DAY, ONE LIFE - Ben Howard (supporting) - Derrick Mullins, Dir/Indie Feature.
* OUT OF DARKNESS(national series 2005-07) - Eddie Fetgetter (supporting) - Alex Michaels/Prelude2Cinema.
* FOX 2 NEWS - (Guest) - FOX Television.
* MEGA QUIZ BOWL (2004-2008) - Contestant/Captain - TV/Comcast Productions.
CREDITS: Musicals:
* INTO THE WOODS - Cinderella's Prince - Showbiz Starz Theater Co.
* DO BLACK PATENT LEATHER SHOES REALLY REFLECT UP? - Father O'Reilly - Trenton Performing Arts.
* GUYS AND DOLLS - Society Max & Cuban Dancer - Trenton Performing Arts.
CREDITS: Theatre
* TELLING TALES AGAIN SAM? (BIG BAD WOLF!) - Wolf - Trenton Performing Arts.
* ROBIN HOOD (interactive + stunts/swords) - Will Scarlett - Ring Of Steel @ Shiabruck Medieval Faire.
* MANSFIELD PARK - Yates - Trenton Performing Arts.
* RENAISSANCE FESTIVALS (interact/swords) - (multiple roles) - Ring Of Steel @ MI Renaissance Festival.
* ALCYONE CEYX (Greek Folktale) - God of Sleep - Mosaic Theatre Co.
* THE PINK GUITAR CAPER (interactive) - Billy Dalton - Sandy's Mystery Parties.
* CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY - Mr. Teevee - Showbiz Starz Theater Co.
* ROMEO AND JULIET - 1st Watchman - Showbiz Starz Theater Co.
CREDITS: Comedy and Stand up
* DUDE, WHERE'S MY SARS! (improv showcase) - Co-Star - Second City.
* Improvisational Showcase - Supporting - Second City.
* Improvisational Showcase - Co-Star - Stage Right Players.
* TV SHOPPING NETWORK (showcase) - 'William Hung' - Blue Lake Fine Arts Institute.
* Improvisational Show-Fundraiser - Co-Star/Co-Organizer - (for) Habitat for Humanity.
* Napoleon Dynamite Improv. - 'Napoleon Dynamite' (interactive).
CREDITS: Commercials
(Contact for updates/conflicts)
CREDITS: Modeling
* Holiday Magic in Royal Oak - Runway Fashion Model - Peggy Goodwin, The Goodwin Co.
* Friends of Belle Isle - Runway Fashion Model - Dorothy Buckman, Director.
* Eating for Life - Print Model - University Of Michigan.
* Spectacular Smile Photo Winner - Contest Winner - Heather's Photo Contests.
* Mr. Personality Photo Winner - Contest Winner - Heather's Photo Contests.
Training and Education:
* Performance/Vocal Music (ongoing) U of Michigan (UM); Conservatory/School of Music, Theatre & Dance (2008-2012).
* Singing Instruction (ongoing @ UM) Prof. Stephen West (previous: Dr. Linda Meehan & Dr. Christopher Roselli).
* Scene Study Stratford Festival of Canada (Detroit workshops).
* Vocal, Dramatic, Theatre Performance Candace de Lattre, Detroit Opera House workshops.
* Vocal, Dramatic, Theatre Performance Opera Theatre of the Rockies, Vocal Arts Symposium (intensive).
* Theater, Acting, Improv, Pantomine Michael Lomas: Second City/Stage Right Players.
* Alexander Technique (ongoing) Director Jane Heirich MA-Harvard; STAT, AmSAT (former NASTST).
* Theatrical Combat/Martial Arts/Swords The Ring of Steel 25+ workshops (Performance & Training Ctr).
* Audition/Cold Reads; Shakespeare Timm Richardson.
* Acting for the Camera (CD training) Linda Fionte-Zerne, Casting Director Miami, FL.
* Choral/Chamber Singing Professor Paul Rardin, Associate Director of Choirs, U-MI.
* Dance: Intro Ballet / Intro Latin Seth Miller, Great Techniques / Deliz Dance-Sport Studio.
* Musicianship I and II (courses) Timothy Sullivan, University of Michigan (two years).
* Advanced Elec Media/TV (Camera/Dir/Tech) Dennis Hamilton.
* Singing Coach (ongoing-private) Jean Schneider, BA, MM; U-MI.
ANNOUNCEMENTS 2008-09:
A Top recruit to Harvard, Yale, Johns Hopkins, University of Southern California, Northwestern, University of Michigan, and more (Engineering AND School/Conservatory of Music for Vocal Performance).
Special Skills:
* Voice/Singing: (see below) * Piano, Keyboards, Trumpet, Coronet, Bugle, * Concert, Pep, and Marching Band Experience, * Physical Comedy, * Public Speaking, * Humorous\Character voices (awards), * Green Screen Experience, * Excellent\Quick Memorization, * Script and Character Analysis * Theatrical Combat\Sword experience, * Deadline Oriented\Reliable.
Voice/Singing:
* Tenor (Note: Singing credits not listed on this website-Please contact for Vocal Resume.) * Sight reads music, * Experienced as featured vocal soloist and group/choral member in multiple languages (English, Italian, German, Latin, Spanish, African dialects, more); Previous Member: University of Michigan YE Chamber Singers.
Production/Producing/Tech:
* Experienced (with formal training as) Producer, Director, DP, Camera work, Script Writing/Editing, Graphics/Editing of multiple student films and documentaries (with an award). Experienced Production Assistant (PA) and lighting on Indepenent Professional film sets.
Sports:
* Fencing (USFA), * Tennis (USTA), * Basketball, * Baseball (Trained with ret. American League pro-pitcher, Jeff Kaiser), * In-Line & Ice Skating\Hockey, * Rifle Shooting, * Archery, * Canoeing, Hiking, Camping, * Table Tennis, * Bowling (leagues\Capt.) * Glider Experience (full-size motorless plane-5000+ feet), * Bicycling, * Horseback Riding, * Rappelling.
Misc Information:
* Selected 1 of 77 Worldwide for the Research Science Institute at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT-RSI).
* Developed a new procedure at MIT Nuclear Engineering in the homogenizing process of solid particles and optimized the conductor to increase efficiency 2.5 fold, which helped double capacity in nuclear waste canisters. Cited by name in multiple research reports.
* Worked directly with Rommel Sagana, MD, Pulmonary and Critical Care, as part of a five-member Biomedical Engineering student team that designed a pre-symptomatic genetic screening test (on a microchip) for risk factors of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD). The test is projected to increase quality of life of those with high risk for COPD by 10.5 QALY at a small cost of $12.50/QALY and be easily accessible in physician’s offices in the future.
* 2007-2008 National Merit Scholar Finalist.
* 2007-2008 National Presidential Scholar candidate.
* 2007-2008 Siemens Westinghouse Science and Technology Competition: National Semifinalist.
* 2004 National Music Directors' Award (individual recipient),
* University of Michigan YE Chamber Singer,
* Boy Scouts of America\Order of the Arrow,
* Boy Scouts of America\Eagle Scout,
* Thomas Edison "Grand Award Winner" in Science & Engineering,
* Discovery Channel National Young Scientist of the Year candidate,
* MOTVA (Michigan Opera Theatre Volunteer Association) - active member,
* Fine with Heights,
* Can grow sideburns & facial hair,
* Flexible with cutting\coloring hair,
* Passport: Current, can Travel. | |
Gender:
| Male | |
Age Range:
| 17
-
25
years of age
| |
Eye Color:
| Blue | |
Hair Color:
| Dark Brown | |
Height:
| 6 ft.
3 in.
| |
Weight:
| 186 lbs.
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Languages Spoken:
| Spanish, English | |
Ethnicity:
| White/Caucasian | |
Experience:
| 6 to 10 years |
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| Ben Topping's
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