SAFETY GEEKS: SVI Episode 2 now online at Koldcast.TV!
“Benton Jennings was a principle in our pilot presentation and he is one of the funniest and most professional actors we have ever worked with in the entire process. When it goes, he is onboard for the long run.” ~ Dave & Tom of comedy series “Safety Geeks: SVI”
Jokes and Jibes with Jennings (check the 2nd clip on this wherein I played Hitler...the 1st time!)
Books
I guess I could write one...but who would buy it besides my Mom?
How about listening to me instead? Links to Voice-Over Demos:
Animation Voice-Over Demo:
http://www.videovoicebank.net/app/audio.jsp?url=http://video.voicebank.net/vb2pub/1629/cabinet/publicaudio/Animation/Men/Benton%20Jennings.mp3&title=Benton%20Jennings
Eastern Hills H S
Fort Worth, TX
Graduated: N/A
Student status: Alumni
Degree: High School Diploma
1950 to 2011
Texas Christian University
Ft Worth, TX
Graduated: N/A
Student status: Alumni
Degree: Bachelor's Degree
Major: Theatre Arts
Clubs: The Hop, The Stables, Fat Alberts
I am a scion of "Manos: The Hands Of Fate".
Yes, really.
My Father played the "Cop". See: IMDB - MANOS
Newsie News:
SAFETY GEEKS: SVI now running on Koldcast.TV !!!
Recently shot "BIG LOVE" for HBO, great scene with Bill Paxton (super nice guy! also from Fort Worth, of course!).
Recently shot "ELEVATOR GIRL", a Hallmark TV movie directed by Bradford May.
DEATH AND THE MAIDEN played Nov 1 thru Dec 20, 2008 at Sidewalk Studio Theatre in Burbank. .
For those familiar with the 3 person cast play, I was "the guy in the chair".
A psychological thriller
http://www.skypilottheatre.com
REVIEW: “Death and The Maiden,” with skillful direction by Dado, is a superb production..." - Beth Temkin, Tolucan Times
AUDIENCE REVIEW: "...an intense, tightly-woven production with solid performances by all three cast members. The entire play occurs in one room, but the story is gripping and builds so relentlessly that my hands were literally balled-up into fists for the last third of the play. Good production value and a small theatre also really helped to immerse me in the experience... BENTON JENNINGS’ portrayal of Dr. Miranda was outstanding, intelligently shifting the character in-and-out of the shadows, between the terrified and confused victim and the evil doctor who tortured Paulina – deftly keeping the audience guessing about his role in the former regime. Not for the squeamish or those who require a tidy, sewn-up ending, “Death and the Maiden” is a thought-provoking study into the limits of humanity in an ever-changing and often violent world. It requires more than competent actors, and this production had us talking outside the theatre for almost an hour after the show ended." - Margie R. (on Goldstar)
REVIEW: “...BENTON JENNINGS bravely and capably taking on one of the ugliest characters in modern theater history...a very talented cast...” ~ Mary Burkin, The Burbank Leader
I'm in the David Zucker comedy feature film, "AN AMERICAN CAROL".
NOW ON DVD AND iTUNES!
I portray Adolf Hitler.
Yes....Really. Again (first time was on "Passions").
Opposite Kelsey Grammer & Kevin Farley! “...a "Kumbaya"-singing Adolf Hitler (Benton Jennings) send-up are highlights...” ~ Gary Goldstein, LA Times
I wrote and directed the first Theatre For Young Audiences production for SkyPilot Theatre Company which played in North Hollywood, April - May 2008.
Info: www.skypilottheatre.com
I was thrown feet first into the deep end!
Joined the cast of the new musical "LOST IN HOLLYWOODLAND" when the chap playing Edwin had to leave. The show opened April 12, 2008.
http://www.lostinhollywoodland.com/
“Powerful, thought-provoking and disturbing... All of the actors are first-rate but BENTON JENNINGS is the standout -- possibly the best theatrical performance I've seen all year. See "Taking Sides" while you can -- it'll stick with you for a long, long time. Benton is an endlessly versatile performer. I have seen him bring down the house doing sketch comedy, and break an audience's heart with his wrenching dramatic role in "Taking Sides," as a German conductor accused of collaborating with the Nazis during World War II. I'm beginning to think there's not much he can't do. He's a great, great actor." "
- Frank Thompson; author, screenwriter, producer
“If you saw Benton Jennings in TAKING SIDES, you saw an amazing performance. Those of us there on Saturday evening were absolutely blown away. What a major theatrical treat! There were other wonderful performances as well, but Benton was incredible.”
- Joan Messinger, Talent Agent, Pinnacle
“...gut-wrenching performances by an extraordinary cast... BENTON JENNINGS gives a multi-layered portrayal of the great conductor, 1st appearing as a dignified and proud figure, and at the end, in a tremendously moving speech, has a complete emotional breakdown of his character in a stunning, unforgettable performance.”
~ Beth Temkin, reviewer
“BENTON JENNINGS was fantastic, as was the play and the rest of the cast. It deserves a much wider audience and a much longer run...hopefully, it will happen! We were blown away.”
-- Michael Andreas, composer, & Julie Fleischer, producer
“Every time I see BENTON JENNINGS perform, I am more in awe. Not only do I admire his acting skills, his interpretations are thoughtful and thought provoking.”
-- Alison Mize, Casting Director
..talented, energetic cast have done L. A. a service by bringing this gripping play to life."
- John Rubinstein (Tony Award actor & The Wizard in L.A.'s "Wicked")
On the medical drama "Heartland" on TNT I played a distraught father who is, well, "racially handicapped". All my scenes were with the lovely Kari Matchett.
You can see some snippets from the scenes on: http://www.nextcat.com/bentonjennings
I was recently in the run of "Requiem For A Heavyweight", the Peabody Award winning play by Rod Serling, produced by SkyPilot Theatre Company.
Due to an illness I stepped into the LEAD ROLE of Maish Resnick (the fighter's Manager) for 3 performances (before that I was "Doc" - the guy what forces the boxer into retirement)
I was asked barely 5 days before..and we didn't have understudies...about 70 pages of dialog to learn in less than 5 days. Woo hoo!
Here's some "official" reviews: “..The washed up boxer is ruled unfit for the ring by a stadium doctor (an excellent Benton Jennings)- Amy Bowker, The Tolucan Times
LA Weekly gave the show a "Go" rating (i.e., "Go See") www.laweekly.com/stage/theater/theater-reviews/16535/?page=3
LA TIMES -- "Requiem for a Heavyweight" is the "Death of a Salesman" of the prizefighting world, as powerful today as when the Rod Serling teleplay first aired in 1956....the production, tautly directed by Eric Johnson, is sending theatergoers out the doors with telltale wetness on their cheeks." — Daryl H. Miller
Review for “HellCab” at SkyPilot: “Benton Jennings shows tremendous range as he moves in and out of the cab, alternating among characters that are weird, threatening, buffoonish, or Middle America..”
--Jim Crogan, reviewer
Two films I am in showed at Cannes recently: "How Henri Came To Stay", in 2007, I took the role of the paraplegic British ex-officer which David Suchet had to back out of due to scheduling. (It's a murder mystery set in 1948 London.) The film also was selected into the "KCET Fine Cut Film Festival Best In Show" award.
"San Saba" starring Angus Macfayden showed 2008. In this film noir-ish tale I play a scumbag executive whom private detective Angus blackmails for information.
Who I'd like to meet: Jack Benny (Oops! Too late!)
Benton, thank you so much for accepting me. As an actor, I really enjoyed your page. Alas, I get plenty of industrials and commercials that never seem to run in my area, but when the big stuff comes to town, I have thus far been unsuccessful. I like the variety of roles you seem to get. And someday I will bug you and ask some gushing questions about Kari. I think she's the best and absolutely radiant.
Thanks for finding me here on Myspace. I found you on YouTube and returned the favor. There's a cool video gallery at: http://www.actorschecklist.com/video/ for you to check out. See you soon.
