Spotlight On: Benjamin Elling

Connecticut Theatre Company’s “Spotlight On…” series continues with a look into the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar. Get to know Benjamin Elling who is portraying Peter Simon in our production!

Introduce yourself to our audience.

Hi, all. I’m Ben. When I’m not here at rehearsals, I’m a chemistry professor at Wesleyan University. I’m also dad to a lovably mischievous mutt named Dale.

The score for Jesus Christ Superstar is notoriously taxing. What are your specific vocal warm-up routines or rest-day rituals to maintain your voice?

You’re not kidding! My vocal part spans from a G2 up to a A4. And I have to pop out some of those notes right after limping off the stage following many of choreographer Kim Saltzman’s
brutal dance routines (more on those in the next section). I’m doing my best to come to rehearsals after warming up in the car and supporting my voice by using good technique.  Performing a rock opera is no excuse to blow out your vocal cords!

This show is largely a non-stop, sung-through rock rollercoaster. How do you maintain the dramatic arc and emotional stamina from the overture to the curtain call?

The last time I took a dance class was more than a decade ago. So, although I’m excited to use some of my ballet technique again, I wasn’t prepared to need to work on my cardiovascular
endurance. I’ve tried to keep my body in tip top shape by getting to Middletown CrossFit a few times a week.

As for the dramatic aspect of my role, Peter really gets his time to shine in the second act, so after the intermission, I get to stop worrying about pointing my toes and get to lock in on telling
his story. Conveniently, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s beautiful score really does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to bringing the emotional weight to the story.

The musical has been thrilling audiences for over 50 years. What do you think makes this sung-through rock opera still feel contemporary and relevant to modern audiences?

My cheeky answer is that audiences probably have responded to this work for the last 50 years because the globe has been enraptured by the story it’s based on for the last two thousand
years! But in all honesty, I didn’t realize how important this show was to so many people before I auditioned. I’m an unapologetic ALW fan having grown up on Joseph and Cats, but I’ve never
seen a production of Jesus Christ Superstar. The rest of the cast might crucify me for admitting that as so many of them love this score so dearly.

Historically, this show has faced protests and intense debate regarding its content. Does that legacy of controversy cross the cast’s mind today, or has the cultural perception completely shifted?

I mean, NBC put on a live staged production of JCS on Easter Sunday, and I don’t recall any think pieces condemning it as blasphemy. Perhaps it’s simply a story about religious decline in
the US—Around 90% of the population identified as Christian in 1970, which is down to the mid 60s today. Or maybe it’s because Christian rock emerged as a genre not long after JCS
premiered on Broadway. Or maybe it’s because books like The DaVinci code became best-  sellers while further pushing the Overton Window when it comes to controversial Biblical
reinterpretations.

But maybe it’s just that everyone learned to be more chill about this sort of thing. The same controversial elements and religious inaccuracies are still in there and perhaps starker than ever. But so is the beautiful score. At its heart are the same themes of faith and doubt and sacrifice that have captivated us for millennia.

From the opening overture to the final curtain, the show rarely stops for a breath. What is the rehearsal environment like trying to maintain that high-octane energy?

There are a lot of us in this cast, so there’s truly never a dull moment. I hope that helps us out when we’re dragging through tech week. We need plenty of people to keep cheering each other
on!

How do you balance full-time jobs, school, or family commitments with an intense community theater rehearsal schedule?

Returning to theater has been just what I needed to restore some balance to my life. It can become all too easy to get bogged down in work. Knowing I have rehearsal at 6:30 has allowed
me to shut my laptop and go do something that’s just for me.

Community theater casts often become incredibly tight-knit very quickly. How did this specific cast build its chemistry and trust during rehearsals?

I knew at call backs this a talented, supportive group of people. Everyone is always ready to give someone a well-deserved round of applause. For us apostles, we’ve become a rather
close-knit group—after all, we need to be there for each other if we’re going to make it through all those dance numbers!

When local theatergoers leave the venue and head to their cars, what is the main conversation or feeling you hope they take home with them?