Ben Lowen

Name: Ben Lowen

Grade: 12

Role(s): Snow White, Cinderella, Dwarf, Demon

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages to having a smaller cast compared to other years?

“I think that having a smaller cast this year has really helped us to really make the show polished and really strong. And I think having a smaller cast has really helped us all come together, both onstage and offstage. And I think because we’re doing a comedy, of course, for the Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon, it’s really made us a lot funnier.”

2. What makes you fit your role(s) so well?

“The roles that I have, that Ashley Kooistra, our director this year, assigned to all of us—I think they’re all really well assigned. I think that everyone fits into their mold for each of their characters really well. And I think it helps the show flow so well. Specifically, I am Snow White; I’m Cinderella; I am a dwarf; I am a demon. I think it plays a lot into character, and just coming off the tails of Improv for a lot of us in the show, being able to both do a comedy but also do something where we have the chance to really make our characters our own has helped a lot.”

3. What have been some difficulties in your roles at rehearsals?

“You know, I think I’ve had a really great chance because a lot of the shows that I’ve done through FHC have been, if not dramas, have not necessarily been comedies, but, I think, being able to do a sort of different show than I’ve usually been able to do at the theater here has been really enriching, even though it has been somewhat difficult to kind of find a new path with my acting.”

4. What is your favorite part of being involved in the play/theatre program?

“I think my favorite part of being involved in the theater program here is just how tight knit and how loving of a family the theater is here. And obviously that goes for any theater, but FHC specifically, smaller or bigger shows, there’s always such a supportive cast, a supportive crew, and wonderful staff that is helping us to create these shows that we can put on for everyone. Especially right now during a pandemic, just having a smaller cast and group of people that really love what they’re doing, I think that is absolutely wonderful.”

5. What is your personal favorite Brother’s Grimm Story?

“I think my favorite part of being involved in the theater program here is just how tight knit and how loving of a family the theater is here. And obviously that goes for any theater, but FHC specifically, smaller or bigger shows, there’s always such a supportive cast, a supportive crew, and wonderful staff that is helping us to create these shows that we can put on for everyone. Especially right now during a pandemic, just having a smaller cast and group of people that really love what they’re doing, I think that is absolutely wonderful. My personal favorite Brothers Grimm story has probably got to be Straw, Coal, and Bean. You’ll hear about it a bit during the show if you’re able to come to see it in person or able to stream it or watch it on DVD. It’s pretty amazing. And I think some of our other cast members are going to have a bit to say about that one too, maybe, during the show. You just might have to come see it.”

6. In what ways has the experience influenced your high school career?

“I think that this specific show has helped influence my high school career. I think it’s just made me a more adaptable person, obviously to change with the pandemic, but also, as I said earlier, with just being able to do a different type of show.”

7. What has been the most surprising thing to you about this year’s show?

“The most surprising thing about this year’s show has got to just be the freedom in it. Last year we did The Crucible, which obviously is an incredibly well known, often done show. And there was obviously an amazing script, but also a very tight and very strong mold for what the show is supposed to be. But with this show, there’s so much room for interpretation and for change that we can make both to lines and to characters. And I think the artistic and creative freedom that’s allowed for me and for everyone in the cast has been a really wonderful experience.”

8. What should audiences be excited about?

“I think audiences can be excited, of course, first of all, just being able to see the show at all. I think it’s really amazing that we’re able to put this on and that we’ve been able to get through our whole rehearsal and our tech process without any issues almost at all. I think that’s been amazing. I think it’ll be wonderful to put this show on for people live. I think it’ll be wonderful that we’re able to record it and hopefully stream it to audiences. I think audiences should also be excited that this show is, I think right now more than ever, just something that you can escape into. It has been for us actors, and I believe crew members, and I think it will be for your audience as well. So I’m just really excited to put this on and help people kind of take a step back and just have fun for a night.”