Ben Butler
Ben Butler (Nol/Lambert/RJ Benvolio/Samson/Guard 1/Heavy 1)
Shakespeare in Love
FEBRUARY 11 — MARCH 20
What excites you about Shakespeare in Love and the role you are playing?
The most exciting part about Shakespeare in Love for me is all of the easter eggs and nods to Shakespeare's works. I am a major Shakespeare nerd and to get to do any show Shakespeare related is a treasure. In this production I will be portraying Nol/Lambert/Benvolio. Aside from the Shakespeare fun I just enjoy getting to work with and spend time around such a talented cast and the wonderful theatre community.
What’s your process like in preparing for a show like this, and how does that process change (if at all) from other shows?
Getting deep into the Shakespearean dialogue is really the big difference. The language is like a character in itself and provides so much depth and analysis that working with the language and lines creates an entirely new level of performance.
What’s your biggest challenge about taking on this role?
The biggest challenge is the aesthetic of being a show within a show within a show. There are so many layers and levels that you need to be sure that what you are doing or what is motivating you fits not just for the character of Benvolio but for Nol portraying Benvolio in the moment that he is.
How did you get started performing?
I grew up in the Denver theatre community. My father directed shows at Bonfils Theater. My sister performed and ran tech crew all over the city at cornerstones of the history of Denver theatre. Watching shows at Shadow and Curious Theatre companies connected me in my own right and led me to pursue my degree in theatre from Adams State. Acting and performing is in my DNA and regardless of how many times I might have tried to step away or think I was out of the loop I always find my way back and am grateful to find a community always ready to embrace me and let me be part of the magic.
Why do you still perform?
I just love it. I love the cast environment, I love the bonding, the long hours, the anxiety, the feeling from an engaged audience. I know that I am not my entire self unless I am making time to be involved with acting, performance, and the arts.
What’s your dream role, and what do you feel you would bring to it?
Like every actor, I have a bucket list of roles that I would love to play. In my Shakespearean vein. I want to be able to play Othello in a production of Othello and Aaron from Titus Andronicus. I also think that the Prince in a full production of Romeo & Juliet would be a lot of fun at this stage of my life. Other dream roles include Darren Lemming from Take Me Out, Dysart from Equus, and King Hedley II from August Wilson's King Hedley II. The thing is not many of these shows are commonly produced shows and require a certain amount of faith and belief from a company to put in their season.
What’s a fun fact people may not know about you?
I think little known facts about me all depend on the circle that you are asking. My theatre friends might not know that I am a head football coach (Manual High School) and still actively play competitive flag football most weekends of the year (shoutout Denver Lighting), and my football friends might not know that I act and get to do shows like this one. But what I want everyone to know right now is that I am taking a group of Manual High School students to Broadway in March of 2022, and we are still looking for support and donations to make that possible, which can be found at:
https://www.thefriendsofmanual.org/the-arts.html
Follow Ben Butler:
Instagram: @coach.butler92
