A new Sundance resident: Benjamin Velez
- casfreelancer
- Jan 20, 2017
- 2 min read
Brooklyn, New York-based Benjamin Velez has a new residence. An artistic residence, that is. The composer and lyricist will soon head to Wyoming for an annual Sundance retreat aimed to unleash creativity through the support of theatrical writing in its earliest stages. “I'm excited to be invited as an artist in residence at the Sundance Institute Retreat at UCROSS Foundation in Wyoming from January 23rd to February 10th!”, Velez announced upon receiving the good news. Taking place simultaneously with the Sundance Film Festival, the residency is slated for Jan. 23th through Feb. 10th. The program consists of "focused writing and creative time punctuated with organic, sporadic, collaborative time to reflect on process and the world at large," according to organizers. PASSION FOR MUSICALS As a composer and lyricist, Velez specialty is musicals, specifically the theatre kind. “I love writing musicals because I love telling stories,” he says. “No matter who you are or where you come from, when you step into a dark theater and the orchestra starts to play, you suspend your disbelief and give in to a world where anything is possible.” He makes a distinction between mass media musical works and live theatre. “Unlike film and television, musicals are inherently further from reality, which in turn allows them to comment more freely upon it,” he adds. Velez says his goal is “to entertain and move audiences by telling stories with compelling characters that really speak to people.” And that is regardless of where those characters come from. “It doesn’t matter if those characters are Martians or magicians, everyone can relate to characters who are committed to pursuing their dreams, however daft and dangerous they may be.” BACKGROUND A native form Miami, Velez graduated from Columbia University, where he studied film and wrote the annual “Varsity Show,” a century-old school tradition. He has been busy ever since. The composer has been a member of the BMI workshop since 2010 and earned the the Jerry Harrington Award from the BMI Foundation in 2012. His original musical “Afterland” has been workshopped at the Yale Institute for Musical Theater and had a reading at the York Theater in 2016. His music has been featured at popular musical competitions and venues such as the New York Music Festival and the York Theater, where he had a residency last year. WITH JOHN LEGUIZAMO Velez is now developing an original musical, “Pain in the Aztec,” with John Leguizamo and David Kamp that is set to be workshopped in NYC soon. –CESAR ARREDONDO
