Billy Elliot the Forum

Ben has been cast in the new Showtime anthology series The First Lady, joining previously announced stars Viola Davis, Michelle Pfeiffer and Gillian Anderson.

"The First Lady, created by Aaron Cooley and produced by Lionsgate TV and Showtime, is a revelatory reframing of American leadership, told through the lens of the women at the heart of the White House. Season 1 focuses on Eleanor Roosevelt (Anderson), Betty Ford (Pfeiffer) and Michelle Obama (Davis)."

https://deadline.com/2021/03/the-first- ... 234711483/

Ben is featured in this short film by Reed Luplau, titled "Places, Please". It's a short film based on an artist therapy session for actors struggling with the loss of work due to COVID.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CRjt5iRI5hv/

https://www.placespleasefilm.com/the-cast.html

Ben joins the cast of HBO MAX's Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin. Congrats!

https://deadline.com/2021/09/pretty-lit ... 234825689/

Glenn Cook wrote this review of the new "West Side Story" movie.

'West Side Story': A happy ending
Seeing our son on the big screen in Spielberg's wonderful remake was a joy

https://glenncook.substack.com/p/west-s ... ppy-ending

Eden native a part of Academy Award-nominated movie West Side Story

https://greensboro.com/community/rockin ... 0b537.html

Ten years ago today Ben made his debut as Billy on the tour in Louisville, Ky. His dad, Glenn, revisits the essay he wrote at the time.

https://glenncook.substack.com/p/stage- ... able-debut

Ben is part of a new Netflix series HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS coming this summer.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CnkD6GxuWLh/

Here's more info about the series.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15509244/

Helen signs up for a wilderness survival course, a year after getting divorced. She discovers through this experience that sometimes, you have to get really lost in order to find yourself.

Ben is part of a brand new show, ILLINOIS, directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Justin Peck ("Carousel" on Broadway, Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" movie).

Illinois will have its world premiere at the Fisher Center (Bard College) June 23 - July 2, with the press opening taking place at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in January 2024.

https://fishercenter.bard.edu/events/illinois/
https://www.broadwayworld.com/central-n ... d-20230517

Ben continues with the new show, ILLINOISE (now with an E at the end), as it moves to Chicago this winter. It will play January 28–February 18, 2024 at
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.

https://playbill.com/article/cast-set-f ... -illinoise

https://www.chicagoshakes.com/

Here's a sneak peek at ILLINOISE, which opens this weekend for its run in Chicago. There are plenty of shots of Ben dancing.

https://playbill.com/article/video-get- ... Fringeship