Ben Vereen Leads Acting Master Class

Bay Street Theater will present an eight-part online Master Class in Acting led by Tony Award-winner Ben Vereen. Classes will meet Mondays from 7 to 10 p.m. starting April 25 and running through June 13 via Zoom. This is an exclusive opportunity to work with Tony Award-winning master, Ben Vereen, who will guide students through the craft of dramatic acting and musical theater.

“Authenticity” is the key word to describe Ben Vereen’s master class: to be, as opposed to becoming the character. Vereen not only brings his amazing talent as an actor and entertainer, but his knowledge of taking the content and bringing it into another dimension of interpretation. Within each three-hour class, he will work with students on either a portion of a song or a monologue of their choice, breaking down the form and language, before circling back with an individual sense of style and self-confidence. Following each person’s performance, Vereen will lead a question-and-answer session that involves the students. What happens in the room, stays in the room — to protect each student and to help all who participate to grow into the talented artists they are meant to be.

Vereen recently wrapped up the Chuck Lorre series “B Positive” on CBS, and earlier this spring, completed multiple episodes of “The Good Fight,” playing Frederick Douglass, also on CBS. He performed his concert act for the Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas in August, and has upcoming dates in Chicago, Las Vegas, and the Carolinas in 2022. Before Broadway reopened, he appeared on CBS “Watch Here,” performed in Times Square for the Juneteenth celebration and was featured in Town and Country. Vereen performed an abundance of virtual events during COVID in 2020 and most of all his deep passion for the homeless, led him into producing, directing and starring in a benefit for Care for the Homeless. His passion of the arts and education is ongoing and each year teaches classes online and in person.

Vereen won a Tony Award/Drama Desk for “Pippin,” starred in such musicals as “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Fosse,” “Hair,” “Jelly’s Last Jam,” “Chicago,” “Wicked” and “I’m Not Rappaport,” to name a few, and is remembered for films like “Sweet Charity,” “All That Jazz” and the Emmy-winning role of Chicken George in the iconic “Roots.”

Registration is open to teens age 13 and up and adults, and is $300 for all eight sessions or $600 for high schools and colleges registering up to 10 students. Drop-in rates are available for $50 per session. For more information, call 631-725-9500 or visit baystreet.org.