Vereen was born Benjamin Augustus Middleton on October 10, 1946, in Miami, Florida. While still an infant, Vereen and his family relocated to the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. He was adopted by James Vereen, a paint-factory worker, and his wife, Pauline, who worked as a maid and theatre wardrobe mistress. He discovered he was adopted when he applied for a passport to join Sammy Davis, Jr. on a tour of "Golden Boy" to London when he was 25. He was raised Pentecostal.
During his pre-teen years, he exhibited an innate talent for drama and dance and often performed in local variety shows. At the age of 14, Vereen enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts, where he studied under world-renowned choreographers Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins. Upon his graduation, he struggled to find suitable stage work and was often forced to take odd jobs to supplement his income.
He was 18 years old when he made his New York stage bow off-off Broadway in The Prodigal Son at the Greenwich Mews Theater. By the following year, he was in Las Vegas, performing in Bob Fosse's production of Sweet Charity, a show with which he toured in 1967–68. He returned to New York City to play Claude in Hair in the Broadway production, before joining the national touring company.
[Part Two] Ben Vereen Talks Will Smith and Chris Rock: “Don’t Forget Their Genius”
In part of our conversation with legendary actor Ben Vereen, he opens up about his feelings on Will Smith and Chris Rock, urging people to not forget about their genius. Be sure to tune in TODAY for the entire conversation.
Connect With Us Online
SUBSCRIBE to get the latest: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealD...
Visit Us On Our Website: https://thereal.com/
Like/Follow The Real on FACEBOOK: https://bit.ly/3ao9ZKm
Follow The Real on TWITTER: https://bit.ly/32wDN36
Follow The Real on INSTAGRAM: https://bit.ly/3tBaaK3
#BenVereen #ChrisRock #WillSmith
published: 04 Apr 2022
Ben Vereen Didn't Know What The Tony Awards Were Until He Got Nominated
"It was from a guy named Tony!" Broadway legend Ben Vereen has kept his first Tony Awards nomination letter to this day, but reveals to Kelly that he didn't even know what they were at the time. While sharing more about his early days in Broadway and NYC, Ben also reflects on his defining role as Chicken George in "Roots," which inspired a personal trip to Gambia to witness the origins of the slave trade.
#KellyClarksonShow #BenVereen
Subscribe to The Kelly Clarkson Show: https://bit.ly/2OtOpf8
FOLLOW US
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyclarksonshow/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyClarksonTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellyClarksonShow/
For even more fun stuff, visit https://www.kellyclarksonshow.com/
The Kelly Clarkson Show is the uplifting daytime destination...
published: 09 Sep 2022
"Bye Bye Blackbird" | Ben Vereen | Fosse
Ben Vereen leads the company of Fosse in "Bye Bye Blackbird," which was originally choreographed by Bob Fosse for the television special Liza with a Z in 1972. The recording was filmed August 17-18, 2001 and originally aired on PBS Great Performances February 5, 2002.
published: 29 Jan 2022
Muppets - Ben Vereen - Mr Cellophane
I do not own the rights to the music or video. I just wanted to share it with you!
published: 15 Aug 2011
Magic To Do - Pippin - Ben Vereen
Ben Vereen and company sing "Magic To Do" from "Pippin."
This is an excerpt from the 1981 DVD "Pippin." View more numbers from this production on our website at http://www.thebestarts.com/pippin/
Browse our website at http://www.theBestArts.com for more great dance, music and musical theatre performances.
published: 10 Feb 2009
Ben Vereen - Mr. Bojangles - 1/17/1998 - Flint Center (Official)
Ben Vereen - Mr. Bojangles
Recorded Live: 1/17/1998 - Flint Center - Cupertino, CA
More Ben Vereen at Music Vault: http://www.musicvault.com
Subscribe to Music Vault on YouTube: http://goo.gl/DUzpUF
published: 25 Sep 2014
Ben Vereen Sings Broadway Hits | Good Night America (Aug 28th, 1974)
He had no formal training in either singing or acting, and as a matter of fact the first Broadway show he ever saw was one he was acting in. That was Sweet Charity (1969). Since then there has been Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) and now the hit musical Pippin (1972). We welcome Ben Vereen on the show to sing his latest hits and to ask him about how he got his start on Broadway.
Good Night America: Season 1; # 10
Episode: Stars Of Broadway
Air Date: August 28th, 1974
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the ...
published: 30 Jun 2020
Ben Vereen & Roy Scheider - Bye Bye Love (The Everly Brothers cover) ʲᵃᵘˣ
published: 15 Sep 2020
Ben Vereen performing with Ann Margaret on The Rockettes Christmas Special
Ann-Margret & Ben Vereen perform on the Rockettes Christmas Special
In part of our conversation with legendary actor Ben Vereen, he opens up about his feelings on Will Smith and Chris Rock, urging people to not forget about thei...
In part of our conversation with legendary actor Ben Vereen, he opens up about his feelings on Will Smith and Chris Rock, urging people to not forget about their genius. Be sure to tune in TODAY for the entire conversation.
Connect With Us Online
SUBSCRIBE to get the latest: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealD...
Visit Us On Our Website: https://thereal.com/
Like/Follow The Real on FACEBOOK: https://bit.ly/3ao9ZKm
Follow The Real on TWITTER: https://bit.ly/32wDN36
Follow The Real on INSTAGRAM: https://bit.ly/3tBaaK3
#BenVereen #ChrisRock #WillSmith
In part of our conversation with legendary actor Ben Vereen, he opens up about his feelings on Will Smith and Chris Rock, urging people to not forget about their genius. Be sure to tune in TODAY for the entire conversation.
Connect With Us Online
SUBSCRIBE to get the latest: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealD...
Visit Us On Our Website: https://thereal.com/
Like/Follow The Real on FACEBOOK: https://bit.ly/3ao9ZKm
Follow The Real on TWITTER: https://bit.ly/32wDN36
Follow The Real on INSTAGRAM: https://bit.ly/3tBaaK3
#BenVereen #ChrisRock #WillSmith
"It was from a guy named Tony!" Broadway legend Ben Vereen has kept his first Tony Awards nomination letter to this day, but reveals to Kelly that he didn't eve...
"It was from a guy named Tony!" Broadway legend Ben Vereen has kept his first Tony Awards nomination letter to this day, but reveals to Kelly that he didn't even know what they were at the time. While sharing more about his early days in Broadway and NYC, Ben also reflects on his defining role as Chicken George in "Roots," which inspired a personal trip to Gambia to witness the origins of the slave trade.
#KellyClarksonShow #BenVereen
Subscribe to The Kelly Clarkson Show: https://bit.ly/2OtOpf8
FOLLOW US
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyclarksonshow/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyClarksonTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellyClarksonShow/
For even more fun stuff, visit https://www.kellyclarksonshow.com/
The Kelly Clarkson Show is the uplifting daytime destination for humor and connection featuring Emmy-winning talk show, Grammy-winning artist and America’s original idol, Kelly Clarkson.
"It was from a guy named Tony!" Broadway legend Ben Vereen has kept his first Tony Awards nomination letter to this day, but reveals to Kelly that he didn't even know what they were at the time. While sharing more about his early days in Broadway and NYC, Ben also reflects on his defining role as Chicken George in "Roots," which inspired a personal trip to Gambia to witness the origins of the slave trade.
#KellyClarksonShow #BenVereen
Subscribe to The Kelly Clarkson Show: https://bit.ly/2OtOpf8
FOLLOW US
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyclarksonshow/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyClarksonTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellyClarksonShow/
For even more fun stuff, visit https://www.kellyclarksonshow.com/
The Kelly Clarkson Show is the uplifting daytime destination for humor and connection featuring Emmy-winning talk show, Grammy-winning artist and America’s original idol, Kelly Clarkson.
Ben Vereen leads the company of Fosse in "Bye Bye Blackbird," which was originally choreographed by Bob Fosse for the television special Liza with a Z in 1972. ...
Ben Vereen leads the company of Fosse in "Bye Bye Blackbird," which was originally choreographed by Bob Fosse for the television special Liza with a Z in 1972. The recording was filmed August 17-18, 2001 and originally aired on PBS Great Performances February 5, 2002.
Ben Vereen leads the company of Fosse in "Bye Bye Blackbird," which was originally choreographed by Bob Fosse for the television special Liza with a Z in 1972. The recording was filmed August 17-18, 2001 and originally aired on PBS Great Performances February 5, 2002.
Ben Vereen and company sing "Magic To Do" from "Pippin."
This is an excerpt from the 1981 DVD "Pippin." View more numbers from this production on our websit...
Ben Vereen and company sing "Magic To Do" from "Pippin."
This is an excerpt from the 1981 DVD "Pippin." View more numbers from this production on our website at http://www.thebestarts.com/pippin/
Browse our website at http://www.theBestArts.com for more great dance, music and musical theatre performances.
Ben Vereen and company sing "Magic To Do" from "Pippin."
This is an excerpt from the 1981 DVD "Pippin." View more numbers from this production on our website at http://www.thebestarts.com/pippin/
Browse our website at http://www.theBestArts.com for more great dance, music and musical theatre performances.
Ben Vereen - Mr. Bojangles
Recorded Live: 1/17/1998 - Flint Center - Cupertino, CA
More Ben Vereen at Music Vault: http://www.musicvault.com
Subscribe to Music ...
Ben Vereen - Mr. Bojangles
Recorded Live: 1/17/1998 - Flint Center - Cupertino, CA
More Ben Vereen at Music Vault: http://www.musicvault.com
Subscribe to Music Vault on YouTube: http://goo.gl/DUzpUF
Ben Vereen - Mr. Bojangles
Recorded Live: 1/17/1998 - Flint Center - Cupertino, CA
More Ben Vereen at Music Vault: http://www.musicvault.com
Subscribe to Music Vault on YouTube: http://goo.gl/DUzpUF
He had no formal training in either singing or acting, and as a matter of fact the first Broadway show he ever saw was one he was acting in. That was Sweet Char...
He had no formal training in either singing or acting, and as a matter of fact the first Broadway show he ever saw was one he was acting in. That was Sweet Charity (1969). Since then there has been Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) and now the hit musical Pippin (1972). We welcome Ben Vereen on the show to sing his latest hits and to ask him about how he got his start on Broadway.
Good Night America: Season 1; # 10
Episode: Stars Of Broadway
Air Date: August 28th, 1974
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
"In addition, the Center for Media and Social Impact (CMSI) has adopted a set of best practices as it relates to the copyright doctrine of fair use when making online videos. Specifically, any reproduction, reposting, or quoting in order to memorialize, preserve, or rescue an experience, an event, or a cultural phenomenon is an acceptable use of copyrighted material under fair use."
#BenVereen
He had no formal training in either singing or acting, and as a matter of fact the first Broadway show he ever saw was one he was acting in. That was Sweet Charity (1969). Since then there has been Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) and now the hit musical Pippin (1972). We welcome Ben Vereen on the show to sing his latest hits and to ask him about how he got his start on Broadway.
Good Night America: Season 1; # 10
Episode: Stars Of Broadway
Air Date: August 28th, 1974
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
"In addition, the Center for Media and Social Impact (CMSI) has adopted a set of best practices as it relates to the copyright doctrine of fair use when making online videos. Specifically, any reproduction, reposting, or quoting in order to memorialize, preserve, or rescue an experience, an event, or a cultural phenomenon is an acceptable use of copyrighted material under fair use."
#BenVereen
In part of our conversation with legendary actor Ben Vereen, he opens up about his feelings on Will Smith and Chris Rock, urging people to not forget about their genius. Be sure to tune in TODAY for the entire conversation.
Connect With Us Online
SUBSCRIBE to get the latest: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheRealD...
Visit Us On Our Website: https://thereal.com/
Like/Follow The Real on FACEBOOK: https://bit.ly/3ao9ZKm
Follow The Real on TWITTER: https://bit.ly/32wDN36
Follow The Real on INSTAGRAM: https://bit.ly/3tBaaK3
#BenVereen #ChrisRock #WillSmith
"It was from a guy named Tony!" Broadway legend Ben Vereen has kept his first Tony Awards nomination letter to this day, but reveals to Kelly that he didn't even know what they were at the time. While sharing more about his early days in Broadway and NYC, Ben also reflects on his defining role as Chicken George in "Roots," which inspired a personal trip to Gambia to witness the origins of the slave trade.
#KellyClarksonShow #BenVereen
Subscribe to The Kelly Clarkson Show: https://bit.ly/2OtOpf8
FOLLOW US
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyclarksonshow/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyClarksonTV
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellyClarksonShow/
For even more fun stuff, visit https://www.kellyclarksonshow.com/
The Kelly Clarkson Show is the uplifting daytime destination for humor and connection featuring Emmy-winning talk show, Grammy-winning artist and America’s original idol, Kelly Clarkson.
Ben Vereen leads the company of Fosse in "Bye Bye Blackbird," which was originally choreographed by Bob Fosse for the television special Liza with a Z in 1972. The recording was filmed August 17-18, 2001 and originally aired on PBS Great Performances February 5, 2002.
Ben Vereen and company sing "Magic To Do" from "Pippin."
This is an excerpt from the 1981 DVD "Pippin." View more numbers from this production on our website at http://www.thebestarts.com/pippin/
Browse our website at http://www.theBestArts.com for more great dance, music and musical theatre performances.
Ben Vereen - Mr. Bojangles
Recorded Live: 1/17/1998 - Flint Center - Cupertino, CA
More Ben Vereen at Music Vault: http://www.musicvault.com
Subscribe to Music Vault on YouTube: http://goo.gl/DUzpUF
He had no formal training in either singing or acting, and as a matter of fact the first Broadway show he ever saw was one he was acting in. That was Sweet Charity (1969). Since then there has been Jesus Christ Superstar (1970) and now the hit musical Pippin (1972). We welcome Ben Vereen on the show to sing his latest hits and to ask him about how he got his start on Broadway.
Good Night America: Season 1; # 10
Episode: Stars Of Broadway
Air Date: August 28th, 1974
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use."
"In addition, the Center for Media and Social Impact (CMSI) has adopted a set of best practices as it relates to the copyright doctrine of fair use when making online videos. Specifically, any reproduction, reposting, or quoting in order to memorialize, preserve, or rescue an experience, an event, or a cultural phenomenon is an acceptable use of copyrighted material under fair use."
#BenVereen
Vereen was born Benjamin Augustus Middleton on October 10, 1946, in Miami, Florida. While still an infant, Vereen and his family relocated to the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. He was adopted by James Vereen, a paint-factory worker, and his wife, Pauline, who worked as a maid and theatre wardrobe mistress. He discovered he was adopted when he applied for a passport to join Sammy Davis, Jr. on a tour of "Golden Boy" to London when he was 25. He was raised Pentecostal.
During his pre-teen years, he exhibited an innate talent for drama and dance and often performed in local variety shows. At the age of 14, Vereen enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts, where he studied under world-renowned choreographers Martha Graham, George Balanchine, and Jerome Robbins. Upon his graduation, he struggled to find suitable stage work and was often forced to take odd jobs to supplement his income.
He was 18 years old when he made his New York stage bow off-off Broadway in The Prodigal Son at the Greenwich Mews Theater. By the following year, he was in Las Vegas, performing in Bob Fosse's production of Sweet Charity, a show with which he toured in 1967–68. He returned to New York City to play Claude in Hair in the Broadway production, before joining the national touring company.
Getting to know you, getting to know all about you. Getting to like you, getting to hope you like me. Getting to know you, putting it my way, But nicely, You are precisely, My cup of tea. Getting to know you, Getting to feel free and easy When I am with you, Getting to know what to say Haven't you noticed Suddenly I'm bright and breezy Because of all the beautiful and new Things I'm learning about you Day by day. Sharing your spirit, Sharing your tears and your laughter Hoping it goes on, Hoping it lasts endlessly Getting to know you, putting it my way, But sweetly, You are completely, My friend you see. Telling you my dreams, Getting to feel that you're with me Making our own fun, Knowing we know how to play Now that I've met you Suddenly I'm mostly happy I've found a new pal, beautiful and true Yes I'm talking about you Friends Today