In Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Ben will portray Joseph. Ben is the son of Tony and Rachel Pitcher.
What musicals have you been in at NCHS and what characters/roles did you play?
I have been involved in four musicals preceding Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. These include The Wizard of Oz as a munchkin and flying monkey, The Sound of Music as Kurt, The Music Man as a River City kid, and Cinderella as Jean-Michel.
What was your favorite musical and why?
My choice for a favorite musical is close between Joseph and The Sound of Music. I would have to say that The Sound of Music wins my favor because I was able to perform that show live which is the most rewarding part of any musical. This musical also was extremely fun to be a part of as the plot and music were both perfect and the cast was very friendly.
What scene in Joseph is your favorite and why? (This does not have to be a scene you are in)
My favorite scene in Joseph is “One More Angel In Heaven” because I enjoy the music and the complete irony of this scene is humorous.
What are three things being in the musical have taught you? and how have you learned these?
Three things that musicals have taught me are that hard work and dedication pay off, there is benefit in learning from those above me, and that a positive attitude is always more productive than not. During the long practices spread out over many months, it is easy to become drained and wish you were at home or doing something with your friends. However, all of these long practices are necessary to produce an amazing show from nothing. Especially in my earlier musicals, I was always learning from the high school students who were part of the cast with me. They were very uplifting and constructive towards me and that support encouraged me to stay in musicals and made me a better actor and singer.
What are two pieces of advice you would give young people who want to start performing in musicals at NCHS?
Two pieces of advice that I would give are that if you want to get involved just be the best version of yourself you can be. No one has a limit on their potential as long as they strive toward perfection. Another would be that patience and dedication are crucial to enjoying yourself and putting on a great show.
What qualities do you see exemplified in the adults who help put on this show that you will take with you as you leave NCHS and how do they demonstrate these qualities?
Some of the qualities that the adults express include extreme patience. Dawn plays and replays the same song continuously until we fix a dance or scene, the directors try to translate their visions into something that can materialize on the stage, Jeremy constantly works on sound equipment and gets everything sorted out, and the light and set crew tirelessly work to make the show flawless. None of these could be done without patience and dedication to the show. I hope to take the quality of patience with me when I leave NCHS.
What will you miss the most once the final curtain closes on your NCHS musical career?
I will miss being able to perform for a crowd with my cast members. With the crazy events of this year, we were never able to perform for a live audience. The circumstances were terrible for my last musical but we still managed to film a performance. I will also miss practicing with fellow cast members, the crew members, directors, and pit members.
