Ben back to teach students
Music theatre star at Downlands
A PAST Toowoomba student, who is making it big in the musical theatre world, has returned to his old school to guide future stars.
Ben Gillespie graduated from Downlands College in 2008 and has since paved a successful career after attending the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
Mr Gillespie was in Toowoomba this week to help out current Downlands students as they prepare for their own musical, Crazy About You.
“I am here to do a workshop and just talk to the kids at Downlands College about music theatre and what it’s like out there in the industry and the challenges that you can face,” he said.
Mr Gillespie said his teachers, including Miranda Myers and Trina Timms who still work at the school, always pushed him to believe in himself.
He is no stranger to Downlands school musical and had roles in Disco Inferno, The Wiz and Footloose and is currently performing in Aladdin.
“Well, I am working professionally in a musical at the moment and understudying the lead character. So for me, that is a success in itself,” he said.
“To be working at all in this industry is sometimes challenging but very rewarding if you can get it.
“It’s about commitment and it’s about hard work and the hard work doesn’t stop.”
Mr Gillespie will be back in Toowoomba on June 9 and 10 for music theatre workshops at Dance Central and the Empire Theatre. To attend email bnhperforming@gmail.com.
The Downlands school musical, Crazy About You, will be performed from May 10-12.