Ben Lewis (actor)
Encyclopedia
Ben Lewis is an English
-born Australian musical theatre actor, currently portraying the Phantom in the Melbourne
production of Andrew Lloyd Webber
's Love Never Dies.
to a theatrical family. His father Michael Lewis is an opera singer, his mother Patricia (née Price) was also an opera singer and is now a singing teacher, and his brother Alexander is a tenor who is currently studying at New York’s Metropolitan Opera
.
During Lewis's childhood, he and his family spent time in both England
and Sydney
. His parents began the tradition of holding fundraising concerts at the primary school he attended. Richard Bonynge
generally conducted and the performers were from the Australian Opera. The concerts continue to this day and a prize named after Lewis’s parents is awarded to one of the music students.
, Lewis's first casting was as "Dandy Dan" in a school production of Bugsy Malone
. On opening night, the lead role became ill with appendicitis
and Lewis stepped in to cover the role.
After high school, Lewis started an Arts Degree at Sydney University before enrolling in the Australian Theatre for Young People and winning a scholarship to study vocal technique at The Royal Academy in London. It was at the Academy that Lewis learnt the Estill Method of Voice Training, developed by Jo Estill
. Upon returning to Australia, Lewis applied to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
, or WAAPA with his brother Alexander. Both were successful.
It was during his time at WAAPA that Lewis met his wife, Melle Stewart, who was also at the Academy. Melle graduated first, followed by Lewis in 2004. The leading Australian performer Tony Sheldon
was a visiting Director during Lewis’s time at WAAPA and Lewis credits Sheldon for helping him to complete the rest of his studies.
In 2006, Lewis was part of original the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (musical) when it made its Australian debut in Sydney. Following this, in 2007 he joined the cast of the Australian production of Spamalot at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne.
When the casting call for Love Never Dies began, Lewis’s wife encouraged him to audition. He auditioned for both Raoul and the Phantom but after the second call-back, Simon Phillips (Director) already had Lewis in mind for the lead role.
Other theatre productions Lewis has been involved with include Metro Street
, Urinetown
, A Little Night Music
(with veteran Australian performer Sigrid Thornton
) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Lewis has also appeared on Australian television in the popular series McLeod's Daughters
.
The Australian production of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies
commenced in May 2011 and Lewis made his debut in a lead role playing the protagonist, The Phantom
. The current cast is set to be immortalised on film with the performance scheduled to be filmed on 12 – 15 September 2011 for the official DVD release.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born Australian musical theatre actor, currently portraying the Phantom in the Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
production of Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
's Love Never Dies.
Early life
Lewis was born in Hampstead, LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to a theatrical family. His father Michael Lewis is an opera singer, his mother Patricia (née Price) was also an opera singer and is now a singing teacher, and his brother Alexander is a tenor who is currently studying at New York’s Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
.
During Lewis's childhood, he and his family spent time in both England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. His parents began the tradition of holding fundraising concerts at the primary school he attended. Richard Bonynge
Richard Bonynge
Richard Alan Bonynge, AO, CBE is an Australian conductor and pianist.Bonynge was born in Sydney and educated at Sydney Boys High School before studying piano at the Royal College of Music in London. He gave up his music scholarship, continuing his private piano studies, and became a coach for...
generally conducted and the performers were from the Australian Opera. The concerts continue to this day and a prize named after Lewis’s parents is awarded to one of the music students.
Career
In EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Lewis's first casting was as "Dandy Dan" in a school production of Bugsy Malone
Bugsy Malone
Bugsy Malone is a 1976 musical film, very loosely based on events in New York City in the Prohibition era, specifically the exploits of gangsters like Al Capone and Bugs Moran, as dramatized in cinema...
. On opening night, the lead role became ill with appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
and Lewis stepped in to cover the role.
After high school, Lewis started an Arts Degree at Sydney University before enrolling in the Australian Theatre for Young People and winning a scholarship to study vocal technique at The Royal Academy in London. It was at the Academy that Lewis learnt the Estill Method of Voice Training, developed by Jo Estill
Jo Estill
Josephine Antoinette Estill known as Jo Estill was an American singer, singing voice specialist and voice researcher...
. Upon returning to Australia, Lewis applied to study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts
The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts , Edith Cowan University was established in 1980 to provide performing arts tuition comparable to the highest calibre of national and international training benchmarks to be able to meet industry needs around the globe.The school is located in the...
, or WAAPA with his brother Alexander. Both were successful.
It was during his time at WAAPA that Lewis met his wife, Melle Stewart, who was also at the Academy. Melle graduated first, followed by Lewis in 2004. The leading Australian performer Tony Sheldon
Tony Sheldon
Tony Sheldon is an Australian actor/singer best known for his work in theatre; he is also a writer.- Career :...
was a visiting Director during Lewis’s time at WAAPA and Lewis credits Sheldon for helping him to complete the rest of his studies.
In 2006, Lewis was part of original the cast of Priscilla Queen of the Desert (musical) when it made its Australian debut in Sydney. Following this, in 2007 he joined the cast of the Australian production of Spamalot at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Melbourne.
When the casting call for Love Never Dies began, Lewis’s wife encouraged him to audition. He auditioned for both Raoul and the Phantom but after the second call-back, Simon Phillips (Director) already had Lewis in mind for the lead role.
Other theatre productions Lewis has been involved with include Metro Street
Metro Street
Metro Street is an original Australian musical with book, music and lyrics by Matthew Robinson. It was awarded the Pratt Prize for Musical Theatre in 2004, and went through many workshops and readings, including at The Adelaide Cabaret Festival in 2006, before its world premiere season with the...
, Urinetown
Urinetown
Urinetown: The Musical is a satirical comedy musical, with music by Mark Hollmann, lyrics by Hollmann and Greg Kotis, and book by Kotis. It satirizes the legal system, capitalism, social irresponsibility, populism, bureaucracy, corporate mismanagement, and municipal politics...
, A Little Night Music
A Little Night Music
A Little Night Music is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Its title is a literal English translation of the German name for Mozart's Serenade...
(with veteran Australian performer Sigrid Thornton
Sigrid Thornton
Sigrid Thornton is an Australian multi-award winning actress.-Early years:Thornton was born in Canberra, the daughter of Merle, a teacher of women's studies and writer, and Neil Thornton, an academic. She spent most of her formative years growing up and attending school at St. Peter's Lutheran...
) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Lewis has also appeared on Australian television in the popular series McLeod's Daughters
McLeod's Daughters
McLeod's Daughters is a Logie award-winning Australian drama series that aired on the Nine Network from 2001 to 2009. It tells the story of two sisters, Claire and Tess McLeod, who are reunited after they inherit the family farm...
.
The Australian production of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies
Love Never Dies
Love Never Dies may refer to:*Love Never Dies , an American silent drama directed by King Vidor*Love Never Dies , an Argentine romantic drama directed and written by Luis César Amadori...
commenced in May 2011 and Lewis made his debut in a lead role playing the protagonist, The Phantom
The Phantom of the Opera
Le Fantôme de l'Opéra is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serialisation in "Le Gaulois" from September 23, 1909 to January 8, 1910...
. The current cast is set to be immortalised on film with the performance scheduled to be filmed on 12 – 15 September 2011 for the official DVD release.
External links
- http://www.loveneverdies.com.au/