Wedding Play

"A superb cast - Cooper and Sprunger are excellent, with Sprunger especially effective as an angry out-of-work actor."

Beverly Friend – Pioneer Local

"The ensemble’s performances are uniformly strong and sharp; standout performances include - Benjamin Sprunger as [the] disgruntled ex."

Lisa Buscani – NewCity Chicago

"The cast - exhibits the traction of rock-climbers, retaining knife-edged precision - and fearlessly charging over the fourth wall.  A pleasure to watch."

Mary Shen Barnidge – Windy City Times

"Deftly acted - spot on in both the writing and acting."

Hedy Weiss – Chicago Sun-Times

"Benjamin Sprunger as Tom [is] excellent."

Albert Williams – Chicago Reader

 

 

Say You Love Satan

"Benjamin Sprunger's ultra decent, sweet-faced Jerrod is every deserving boyfriend times ten."

Larry Bommer – Chicago Free Press

"The adroit acting and rich script are beautifully staged."

Kate Rockwood – Centerstage Chicago

"Director Scott Ferguson compiles a terrific cast.  The ensemble and production are flawless."

Venus Zarris – Gay Chicago

 

 

Tight Quarters

"The thieves provide true comic relief ­ with Ali Spuck's Inez, Benjamin Sprunger's Freddie, and Gregory Franklin's Rochfort all being endearingly inept."

David Mermelstein - LA Weekly

"As the fumbling jewel thieves chasing a valuable necklace, Ali Spuck, Benjamin Sprunger and Rick Stockwell are just too nutty for words."

Pat Taylor - Tolucan Times

"Sprunger and Stockwell excel in buffoonery."

Wenzel Jones - Back Stage West

Take Me Out

"One of the most provocative and polished productions of the season. Director Rosen has assembled an amazing ensemble."

Rick Reed - Windy City Times

"Critic's Choice. The ensemble makes a fireworks display out of Greenberg¹s smart, fiery language while managing to keep all the characters - sympathetic."

Jennifer Vanasco - Chicago Reader

"The rest of the team is a collection of ethnic stereotypes with broadly comic profiles [including] the boyish, not-too-bright, probably gay Jason (Benjamin Sprunger). A rip-roaring Chicago premiere."

Hedy Weiss - Chicago Sun Times

"The entire cast is excellent. And the actors handle the multiple locker room nude scenes as comfortably as if they were performing Our Town."

Christopher Piatt - Time Out Chicago

 

Jesus' Kid Brother

Download "Crucifixion" from this production by clicking here.
(Plays on winamp, windows media player and quicktime.)

"Ambitious, amazingly energetic rock tuner. A powerhouse performance juggernaut. Also impressive [is] Benjamin Sprunger's straight-arrow rendering of cruel-to-the-max Roman centurion, Stu."

Julio Martinez - Variety

"Critic's Pick. Beautifully crafted. Uproariously funny. Scarcely a second to come up for air between laughs. Benjamin Sprunger is hunky and hilarious."

Les Spindle - Back Stage West

"Critic's Choice. Exceptional assemblage of talent. An ineluctable cult hit. Standouts include Benjamin Sprunger's posturing centurion."

David C. Nichols - Los Angeles Times

"A rollicking, rhythmical ride that is fresh, frisky and flavorful. The score simply rocks. Benjamin Sprunger defines Roman god. On the fun scale of one to ten - a twenty!"

Don Grigware - NoHoLA News Magazine

"An exciting new rock musical comedy - destined to be a big hit. The performances are all excellent, the singers powerful and the visuals and gags are non-stop!"

Pat Taylor - Tolucan Times

"Leaves you breathless with laughter and a sense of amazement at this talented group of theatre up-and-comers. Fun, upbeat and delicious. Tomorrow's big Broadway hit. A special mention goes to Benjamin Sprunger who play[s] Stu, a bad guy with great appeal whose ability to make us laugh and dislike him at the same time is admirable."

Norma Zager - Beverly Hills Courier

"The best musical in LA. An energetic ensemble [of] 18 terrific singers and dancers."

Cynthia Citron - Beverly Hills Outlook

"The cast is uniformly excellent. A winning piece of comedy. A damn funny night at the theatre."

Sharon Perlmutter - Talkin¹ Broadway

 

A Clockwork Orange

"Sparks and company head in new directions as they combine Hong Kong action movies, the English music hall and the circus into surreal eye candy. - A lot of good work."

Daryl H. Miller - Los Angeles Times

"Recommended. Pick of the week. The leads are as thrilling as John Grantham's fight choreography and the unmitigated beauty of Burgess' passion, here furiously unleashed."

Steven Leigh Morris - LA Weekly

"[Dever] is aided by a talented ensemble of 17 performers who play multiple roles. - Also impressive is the flawless fight choreography."

Jenelle Riley - Back Stage West

"Sparks' efforts are more than complemented by a capable ensemble. - Alex's gang is depicted with appropriate menace by Erik Liberman, Conrad Cimarra and Benjamin Sprunger."

Julio Martinez - Los Angeles Daily News

"A thrilling theatrical adventure. - Sparks helms a generally exemplary ensemble - with Stephen Reynolds, Kent Minault, Benjamin Sprunger, Bryan Thompson and Alice Vaughn among the standouts."

Les Spindle - Frontiers

"The theatrical thrill of the year. - Sparks' limitless skill, vision, and artistic flair, catapults his actors and audiences to heights unknown! Excellent too, as the other "droogs" are Erik Liberman, Conrad Cimarra and Benjamin Sprunger. The fast and physical agilty of the [trio] is unforgettable! A captivating, riveting evening of theatre!"

Pat Taylor - Tolucan Times

"[The] choreography alone of the Greenway Arts Alliance's eighteen actors playing almost a hundred roles, is worth the price of a ticket. - It comes off brilliantly because of a fantastic cast."

Hank Rosenfeld - NoHoLA News Magazine

"The extraordinary cast is magnificent with impeccable performances. This is our critic's pick of the week… and of the year!"

Gerri Garner - American Radio Network

"Packed with some of the best actors assembled on one stage."

Charlene S. Fowler - Burbank Times

 

One Neck

"Things go from bad to worse when the uninvited yet charming Lucian (well acted by Benjamin Sprunger) shows up. - Engrossing and gross, One Neck is well acted and worth seeing - it's about the most graphic, gory and bloody theatre production out there!"

Harrison Held - NoHoLA News Magazine

"Very macabre - not for the feeble! - A great cast - A good, gripping production. Just bring a strong stomach!"

Accessibly Live Off-Line

Do I Hear a Waltz?

Download "We're Gonna Be All Right" from this production by clicking here.
(Plays on winamp, windows media player and quicktime.)

"Director David Lee elicits flawless performances from a stellar cast. - As a young American couple, Benjamin Sprunger and Annie Wersching delight."

Les Spindle - Back Stage West

“Magical, mystical and miraculous - a beauty. Benjamin Sprunger and Annie Wersching are the American couple who, like Leona, are caught up in a threatening culture clash. They also get to sing the funny, biting We’re Gonna Be Alright."

Jay Reiner - The Hollywood Reporter

"Benjamin Sprunger and Annie Wersching all but stop the show, early in the second act, with Sondheim’s most typically biting We’re Gonna Be Alright."

KNX Newsradio LA

“(M)uch of the show’s success can be laid at the feet of a remarkable ensemble of performers. Benjamin Sprunger and Annie Wersching create the attractive younger couple, testing the limits of tolerance in each other and finding their own definition."

Frances Baum Nicholson - Pasadena Star News

"This impressive cast provides plenty of moments that transcend the show’s limitations. - Benjamin Sprunger and Annie Wersching are the picture of early 60’s angst as Eddie and Jennifer, a young couple who can already hear the faint rumblings of the impending sexual and social revolution."

Paul Hodgins - The Orange County Register

 

Whitman

Download my "Vigil Strange" solo
from this production by clicking here.
(Plays on winamp, windows media player and quicktime.)

"Highly Recommended. - This - production is an act of artistic transubstantiation - intense and arresting - the result is a stunning tapestry."

Hedy Weiss - Chicago Sun Times

"What's on stage is appealing indeed, and well presented by an attractive ensemble."

Jonathan Abarbanel - Windy City Times

"About Face Theatre should be commended for its valiant effort in staging a new musical that not only spiritually pays homage to one of America's most notable writers but also experiments with the genre of musical theatre. -- The material is placed on eight highly skilled performers."

Tim Sauers - Gay Chicago Magazine

Schoolgirl Figure

"[MacLeod's] writing hilariously meets the subject head on, and the sensational cast under David Petrarca's full tilt direction does the rest. - Benjamin Sprunger is delightful as The Bradley. - Four stars."

Dan Zeff - Copley News Service

"This is all meant to be funny; and, thanks to some razor-sharp performances - there are some big laughs along the way."

Richard Christiansen - Chicago Tribune

"David Petrarca's cast - are exceptional."

Nick Green - Chicago Reader

"Benjamin Sprunger (The Bradley and all male roles) shows a great deal of range. His grieving boyfriend is comically perplexed, while his designer store manager has a funny sense of business aplomb."

Al Boswell - Post-Tribune

"Schoolgirl is still a fun, wicked little play; the harsh satire is tempered by intelligence, and it's all carried along by some terrific performances."

Ben Winters - New City

"Deliciously dark and mouth-wateringly witty satire. The sitcom-like plot of these girls competing for The Bradley - their equivalent of the Oscar - delivers like a comedy sketch similar to one of those developed by Second City or Saturday Night Live, with its purpose to spark many belly aching cackles. - Petrarca has assembled a lively cast - you laugh. You laugh hard. You wish that you could push the rewind button and play it again and again. Delightful performances."

Tim Sauers - Gay Chicago Magazine

"MacLeod's play is expertly realized by David Petrarca, who fills his cast with bright young talents."

Jack Helbig - Daily Herold

"I laughed until I winced."

Richard Roeper - Chicago Sun Times

 


Photo © By Liz Lauren

To Live as Variously as Possible
1999 After Dark Award

"I don't know about you, but I walk into the theatre with the hope of experiencing something I never have before. - Maybe - an exciting or enticing new work; the debut of an actor who gives me faith in the theatre of tomorrow; a collection of actors working so intricately together that there's no doubt [they've] been together all their lives. And sometimes I walk into a theatre as one man and come out feeling changed. I've grown. I know something I didn't in the morning. I've seen life through different eyes, and my personal world has been broadened. These moments have been few and far between, but it happened with 'To Live...' -- Then director [Jay] Skelton assembles an impeccable quintet of actors - and the combination of words and performances left me breathless. The flawless and fascinating work - captivates from the first word and holds on to the very last. Certainly one of the year's best, 'To Live...' is also one of the finest works I've ever seen. 4 stars"

Jeff Rossen - Gay Chicago Magazine

"To Live... is a poetic homage that succeeds on the strengths of the superb cast and the fascinating material."

Gregg Shapiro - Outlines

"If you've ever been caught up by a play or movie or TV show that you couldn't get out of your mind and that you just had to tell your friends about, then you have some idea of the enthusiasm that has gone into TimeLine Theatre Company's production of 'To Live.' -- Buoyed by the overriding zest of Skelton's script, [the cast] fondly [does] justice to O'Hara."

Richard Christiansen - Chicago Tribune

"Highly Recommended. - 'To Live...' is a piece that bristles with all the joy, energy, wit and pain that marked this ever-fresh poet. - TimeLine Theatre Company animate this beautiful 80-minute whirlwind - with astonishing clairvoyance. - A splendid accomplishment."

Andrew Patner - Chicago Sun Times

Just Say No

"High energy, generally amusing performances by actors who play their roles to the hilt and beyond. - Amy Farrington and Benjamin Sprunger are attractive and likable as Trudi and Gilbert - comic ingénues in the classic mold."

Albert Williams - Chicago Reader

 

Bloodline:
The Oedipus/Antigone Story
winner of two 1998 After Dark Awards

"The cavernous performance area allows for very complex and dimensional stage pictures and chorus movement that is often thrilling in its scale and dexterity. -- The main reason to see this show is the ensemble-driven directorial conception.

Chris Jones - Chicago Tribune

"Highly Recommended. Settle uses the Viaduct space to stunning effect -- deploying her fine 10-person chorus as a threatening army or a frightened citizenry."

Hedy Weiss - Chicago Sun Times

"Moving with quicksilver efficiency, the disciplined 22-member ensemble turn the theater's vast, pebble-strewn arena into a killing field -- The cast delivers Sophocles' philosophical choruses with frenetic urgency."

Lawrence Bommer - MSN Sidewalk Chicago

Edward II
1998 Joseph Jefferson Award

"Performed in the sanctuary of the Holy Covenant Church, the production is often as highly stylized as religious ritual, from the frequent and symbolic use of candles to the often beautiful musical interludes, extending even to the thrilling, well-choreographed sword fights. The king is frequently accompanied by a pair of fawning young men, strongly played by David Baca and Benjamin Sprunger."

Bryon Upton - Windy City Times