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2009 FILM PREMIER! VOICES OF A NEVER-ENDING DAWN (NOTE: Hold down your Ctrl/Control key and click links below to open a new tab.) NEW!!! See Ben in the 5-minute film preview at: http://www.polarbeardocumentary.com/preview.html PBS TV Nov 8th Premiere-The Oakland Press: http://content.nextcat.com/Content/content/bentopping/content/257817/Film-Voices-OaklandPress01Nov09?contentType=application/octet-stream See film photos at: www.imdb.com/name/nm3333623 Newspaper article at: www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2009/05/24/entertainment/doc4a143862a5e6a442981724.txt Film's official website: www.polarbeardocumentary.com/screen_actors.html Orange County (OC) Register, West Coast premiere: www.ocregister.com/entertainment/-212718--.html?pic=1 FILM OVERVIEW: I'm thrilled to announced completion of award-winning Hollywood Director/Producer Pamela Peak's World War I PBS documentary "Voices of a Never-Ending Dawn" in which I portray Corporal John Toornman. The film follows a handful of resourceful Michigan troops dubbed "The Polar Bears", where we see friendships form and sacrifices made as they face horrific hardships after being sent unprepared into the frigid Russian winter to guard a non-existent supply line, only to be forgotten after the end of the war. LOS ANGELES AREA SCREENING: The west coast premier takes place at: Chapman University -- SOLD OUT! Marion Knott Studios, Folino Theater 283 N. Cypress Street, Orange, CA 92866 September 30, 2009 - Open to Public/Free Event. . . . 7:00 PM To RSVP: Call 714-997-6766, or access http://fs18.formsite.com/dcfma/screening/index.html MI SCREENINGS: Boyne City Auditorium 1035 Boyne Avenue, Boyne City, MI 49712 August 29, 2009 - Open to General Public -- SOLD OUT! . . . 6:30 PM - Director's Cut Screening plus Q&A Session with Producer/Director Pamela Peak and Film Actors. The State Theatre (Bay City) 913 Washington Ave, Bay City, MI 48708 (Bay City-Saginaw Premiere) June 6, 2009 - Open to General Public: . . . 6:00 PM - $5.00 Regular Admission, $4.00 Veterans. Description: This screening includes a question and answer session with producer/director Pamela Peak, military historian Stan Bozich, and Saginaw actor Alex Alexandrou who plays herioc Bay City soldier Sgt. Silver K. Parrish. White Chapel Memorial Park-Temple of Memories 621 W. Long Lake Rd., Troy, MI 48098, 248-362-7693 May 23, 2009 - Black Tie Evening Premier - SOLD OUT! May 25, 2009 - Public event: free/no tickets required: . . 11:00 AM - Polar Bear Remembrance Ceremony/Stealth bomber Flyer-Overs! -- SOLD OUT! . . 12:30 PM - Screening 1, Public Screening -- SOLD OUT! . . . 3:30 PM - Screening 2, Public Screening -- SOLD OUT! June 14, 2009 - Flag Day Screening: . . . 2:00 PM - American Legion & VFW Members. BEN’S ALTERNATIVE WEBSITES (NOTE: Hold down your Ctrl/Control key and click links below to open a new tab.) Ben’s Now Casting website: www.nowcasting.com/bentopping Ben’s Nextcat.com: www.nextcat.com/bentopping | ||
| Regional Theatre | ||
| 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 | (Soloist: Two Recitals) | Colorado Summer Festival of the Arts |
| Recital | (Vocal Soloist) | Detroit Opera House - Black Box Theatre |
| Recital | (Soloist: Two Seasons) | Ann Arbor Festival of Songs/Kerrytown Concert Hall |
| LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, + LA GIOCONDA | (Two Chorus productions) | Colorado Summer Festival of the Arts |
| BALLAD OF BABY DOE, + VA PENSIERO | (Two Chorus productions) | Detroit Opera House (symposium) - Mainstage |
| Film and Television | ||
| VOICES OF A NEVER-ENDING DAWN | Cpl. John Toornman | Pamela Peak Productions / P.B.S. |
| DYING TO MAKE A CHANGE | Trevor | Clifford Scott, Dir. (Indie Feature) |
| ONE DAY, ONE LIFE | Ben Howard | Derrick Mullins, Dir. (Indie Feature) |
| OUT OF DARKNESS(national series 2005-07) | Eddie Fetgetter | Alex Michaels / Prelude2Cinema |
| FOX 2 NEWS | (Guest) | FOX Television |
| MEGA QUIZ BOWL (2004-2008) | Contestant/Captain | TV / Comcast Productions |
| Musicals | ||
| INTO THE WOODS | Cinderella's Prince | Showbiz Starz Theater Co. |
| DO...PATENT LEATHER SHOES...REFLECT UP? | Father O'Reilly | Trenton Performing Arts |
| GUYS AND DOLLS | Society Max & Cuban Dancer | Trenton Performing Arts |
| 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. |
| 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, as 'Napoleon Dynamite' (interactive) | ||
| Commercials | ||
| (Contact for updates/conflicts) | ||
| 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 | Photo Contest Winner | Heather's Photo Contests |
| Mr. Personality-Photo Winner | Photo 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 | |
| Special Skills | ||
| 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: * Tenor (Note: Complete singing credits not listed on this website), * Sight reads music, * Experienced as featured solo artist and group member in multiple languages (English, Italian, German, Latin, Spanish, African dialects, more), Member: Previous: University of Michigan YE Chamber Singers. Production/Producing/Tech: * Experienced Producer, Director, DP, Camera work, Script Writing/Editing, Graphics/Editing of multiple student films and documentaries. 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 physicians 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. ___________________________________________ Summer 2010 Announcements: * Engineering Internship, Security-level Research and Development work on Homeland Security and NASA projects. Summer 2009 Announcements: * May 12: Speaker, UM-Downriver Alumni Scholarship/Recruitment Dinner. * May 23-25: Film, Voices of a Never-Ending Dawn, premiers at White Chapel Memorial in Troy, MI. (More MI screening dates and locations outlined above.) * July 17, 12:00pm/noon, Recital Vocal Soloist in the 16th annual Ann Arbor Festival of Songs (aka: Art Fair Song Fest) at Kerrytown Concert Hall during the Ann Arbor (MI) Art Fair, http://www.a2fos.org * July 29: Recital Vocal Soloist, Detroit Opera House (times TBD). * August 02: Staged opera scenes, as Martin in The Tender Land, Detroit Opera House (times TBD). * Sept. 2009 (Dates/Times-TBD): Film, Voices of a Never-Ending Dawn, Los Angeles Red Carpet premier. Summer 2008 Announcements: * Taking part in the Vocal Arts Symposium/Colorado Summer Festival of Arts (Opera/Musical Theatre), Colorado Springs, CO. Cast to perform in four operas, West Side Story, and two large recitals (detailed in credits-above). * Historically the youngest featured guest soloist, opened the 15th annual Ann Arbor Festival of Songs @ Kerrytown Concert Hall during the Ann Arbor (MI) Art Fair, a huge festival that draws close to half a million visitors over four days. http://www.a2fos.org http://blog.mlive.com/encorea2/2008/07/weekend_alternatives_to_the_ar.html http://www.annarborsummerfestival.org/index.php/aasf/pages/about_us Summer 2007 Announcements: * 1 of 77 selected world-wide to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)-Research Science Institute, and 1 of 8 (the only USA-based student) selected into the Nuclear Engineering Intern program (Boston, MA). * Accepted w/Merit Scholarship to University of Michigan (Ann Arbor)--Conservatory/School of Music, MPulse program (voice). * Michigan Renaissance Festival (Aug-Sept). * Continued Member/Performer: University of Michigan YE Chamber Singers. Summer 2006 Announcements: * Member/Performer: University of Michigan YE Chamber Singers. * Booked with Michigan Shakespeare Company! Scheduled in all performances of "Hamlet" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (July-August). For most current schedule, access: http://www.michshakefest.org/schedule.php * Michigan Renaissance Festival w/Ring of Steel. Summer 2005 Announcements: * Awarded full scholarship: Only 1 of 8 selected in USA to participate in University of Michigan Scholars PHYSICS program, * Playing 'WILL SCARLETT' in ROBIN HOOD (interactive + stunts, swords) with The Ring Of Steel @ Shiabruck Medieval Faire, * Performing with The Ring Of Steel @ Michigan Renaissance Festival. ___________________________________________ OUTSIDE lINKS: READ - Disclaimer: The links below are offered in good faith. However, there is no way that I have the means to investigate aspects of a company, its associates, its practices, true resources and/or legitimacy, or its persons. Therefore, all visitors/users must take responsibility and care to confirm beyond doubt the legitimacy/appropriate business practices of any company, services, persons, and/or affiliations offered or implied, and TheRightCast.com and/or I am not responsible, nor do we endorse any company or persons associated with the links, persons, or companies outlined on this website. 3000 Records (An Independent Record Company) Record Company Music Promotion Radio Promotion Get Twitter Followers Increase YouTube Views | ||