Jenna Anderson-
Gustavus Alumni Rush Benson ‘13 is making a path for himself in the theatre and dance industries. He is currently working on Grease at Chanhassen Dinner Theater, and taking a leave of absence to choreograph Children’s Theatre Company’s Frozen. “Disney’s Frozen sweeps into Minnesota as Children’s Theatre Company premieres its original production of the hit Broadway musical,” as described by CTC.
Benson is excited to work on a production of this size and see his visions for the show actualized on such a large scale. “Frozen is a very big show,” he said. “There’s lots of magic and stagecraft behind it.” Additionally, working on this show has continued to challenge Benson and push him out of his comfort zone. He has a great personal relationship with Director Tiffany Nichole Greene, and she has challenged him professionally at the same time. “It’s difficult in that I might think that something is done and she has other ideas to the matter, but I think because of that, because she’s looking for a higher degree of thought and excellence in the work, it’s going to be a better show.”
Current First-year at Gustavus, Jamy Randrup, describes her time at CTC as a child as something that encouraged her to continue with theatre. “I would say confidently that CTC really sparked my love for theatre,” she said. “We had real choreography for the first time in my life and I remember feeling so professional and important.”
After Frozen, Benson is returning to Chanhassen Dinner Theatre to pick up where he left off with the role of Kenickie. “I love the cast of people I get to work with. I feel very close to them and I enjoy every day going to work knowing that I’m going to laugh,” Benson said. The “cherry on top” of his Grease experience is that his wife and fellow Gustie Alumni, Renee Guittar ‘12, is in the show as well. “It’s a good role to be able to dig into with a group of people who love me and who I love and who support me,” Benson said.
Benson got his start in theatre and dance early in his life. “I’ve always had a genetic predisposition to it,” he said. His mother was a pianist and grew up singing and dancing, his dad was an actor for both stage and screen, and his older brother did music and theatre as well. “Those were the skills they gave us,” Benson said. “In the house, the environment was always full of music, and jokes, and doing voices and stage combat. All things theatrical and musical were part of the world.”
When he turned nine, his mom offered him 100 dollars for every level of ballet competed. “She found a clever way of getting me hooked early on, and by the time I caught the bug, she was like, ‘Alright, I’m done paying you!’ I caught the bug, so I continued to do it,” Benson said.
He made his way to Gustavus partly due to “the legacy of it all.” Benson is the 23rd member of his family to go to Gustavus. Another thing that drew Benson to Gustavus was the small town feel. “Being a city kid, I knew I was never gonna want to spend my life in a small town environment, but I wanted to know what that sort of cultural intimacy felt like,” he said.
Benson was a Theatre and Dance double major at Gustavus, and participated in every possible dance performance, as well as many shows in the theatre department. Benson described how the Theatre for Social Justice gave him an important lens through which to look at theatre. “How can I use that lens to inform all of the work that I do? You know, even Musical Theatre can say something and leave an impact. I don’t know that I would’ve seen it that way had I gone to another school that just focused on the commercial success of a show,” Benson said.
Benson ended up spending years in the Flying Foot Forum under Joe Chvala, who he never would have met without Michelle Rosinko deciding that the two would work well together and bringing him to Gustavus. Immediately afterward, Chvala offered Benson a spot in his company. “I began performing with them my Junior year at Gustavus and for many years after,” Benson said. “He really launched many parts of my artistic self, and that wouldn’t have happened without our late, great, Michelle Rosinko.”
Frozen runs from April 15th to June 15th at the Children’s Theatre Company in Minneapolis. Grease is performing now through October 8th at Chanhassen Dinner Theatre. “Come see Frozen, and after April 22nd I’ll be back in Grease” Benson said. “Shoot me a message on Instagram @shutuprush and I’d love to connect after the show!”