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Benson gives experience to Appalachian students,
giving back
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by Jana Nordstrand
Staff Writer |
His blue eyes could
knock a girl over with a feather.
Wearing a black-hooded zip-up sweatshirt with
the tiny golden Appalachian State University logo printed on the
front, Robert Benson easily blends in. However, his life and career
in the entertainment industry stand out to the many students he
is teaching and the faculty and staff with whom he works.
Benson is most famously known for his work as
the voice of the Beast for the only animated film nominated for
an Academy Award, “Beauty and the Beast.”
Benson’s career has been consistently successful
in many aspects: music, writing, directing and acting for theater,
film and television.
In recent years, Benson has directed six episodes
of “Friends,” has had a recurring role in “American
Dreams” and directed the final episodes of “8 Simple Rules,”
in which John Ritter gave his last memorable performances.
Benson left the chaos of Los Angeles to become
Appalachian State University’s newest artist in residence in
the theater department. Benson teaches Acting for the Camera and
Screenwriting this semester.
From a life among the rich and famous to the
small mountain town of Boone, many are probably wondering what brought
Benson to Appalachian.
It all began with a relationship that was cultivated
nearly 15 years ago with Dr. Francis T. Borkowski.
In 1988, Benson relocated from Los Angeles to
Columbia, S.C. to film his movie, “Modern Love.” During
this time, he worked as a Visiting Professor at the University of
South Carolina, where Borkowski had just left as the Provost. He
and his wife, Kay Borkowski, became close with Benson and his wife,
Karla Devito.
Two years later, Benson left USC and moved back
to Los Angeles to begin work on “Beauty and the Beast.”
During this time he taught graduate students
in the Film and Theater department at University of California at
Los Angeles. In 1993 the University of Utah asked Benson to teach
there, and he did for nine years.
Following a short period at the University of
Nebraska, Benson heard from his long time friend Borkowski.
Benson then began making several trips to Appalachian
to teach workshops to see for himself what Appalachian held in store
for him.
“Because Frank and Kay Borkowski were here,
I came here,” Benson said. “Being around the Borkowskis
and seeing how much Frank loved this place, I knew he truly wanted
what was best for the students. This is a place where they truly
care about the students.”
On his last visit to Appalachian before moving
here, Benson brought his family. He knew the area was remote, but
having experience living in remote places before, it only took him
convincing his family to make his decision final.
“My wife and I fell in love with the area
and my kids just took to it. When I am here I feel very at home.
It is when I go back to LA that I get culture shock.” When
speaking of his wife and children, Benson’s greatest love in
life becomes apparent.
“Artistically, writing and teaching are
my greatest passions. As far as life is concerned, it is only one
thing, and that is my family.”
Benson met Devito when they were both starring
in the Broadway production “The Pirates of Penzance” and
later they had two children.
Lyric, their 20-year-old daughter, spent her
first two years of college as a student of screenwriting at New
York University, but is now an Appalachian student majoring in Philosophy
and Religion.
Their 11-year-old son Zephyr plays football and
Benson beams as he talks about Zephyr’s big upcoming game.
Aside from his family, Benson considers his musical,
“Open Heart,” that opens in the spring of 2004, to be
one of his greatest accomplishments and a milestone in his career.
The musical, written by Benson for Devito, who
stars in the show, will present the two with a new adventure.
When rehearsals begin in February, the couple
plans to take up residency in New York City and live on an Off Broadway
salary.
“It is going to be like being very young
again. There are days when we used to sleep on the floor and not
think about it. Now when I sleep on the floor, it takes me 10 minutes
to get back up. So, it will be very interesting.”
Benson’s plans for the future rest within
the success or failure of “Open Heart.”
His plans for spring semester may include an
intensive workshop centered on voiceovers for animated films, and
he hopes to involve Hayes School of Music in the process.
Benson hopes to somehow involve Appalachian students
in “Open Heart” through the mentoring program at the Cherry
Lane Theater, where the musical will be performed.
“There is nothing like being in something
from the beginning and watching something grow and then possibly
watching it fail,” Benson said. “You learn much more from
failure than you do from success.”
Benson said he feels that now is his opportunity
to give back, and has a steady track record for helping his former
students make their way into the entertainment industry.
In the short time that he has been at Appalachian,
he has had an impact on the students.
“Robby is a great person in general and
it is incredible to have the opportunity to learn from someone with
as much experience as he has. We know he wants to see us succeed,”
Daryl Walker, a senior theater arts major, said.
Benson is humble about his career, about his
attitude on life, and about the opportunities he is bringing to
Appalachian students.
“It is my time to give back all that has
been given to me,” Benson said. |
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