BENJAMIN LEVESQUE
24 North Main Street
Assonet, MA, 02702
508-415-9065
Ben@MissingLinkPuppets.Com
EDUCATION
West Virginia University College of Creative Arts Pursuing a degree in Puppetry, Creative Dramatics & Theatre for Youth, Morgantown WV, 26506.
Expected Date of Graduation: May 2010.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Puppeteer: Mark Riley, Melody James, Renaldo Rodriguez and Others
Duties included puppeteering and eudcating children about physical and mental disabilities in over 100 elementary schools in the Greater Fall River area.
Kids on the Block Puppets of Greater Fall River, 405 Pleasant Street, Fall River, Ma 02721, (508) 679-0001
May 2007-August 2009
Dishwasher
The Waterstreet Cafe, 36 Water Street, Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA 02724, (508) 672-8748
May 2009-August 2009
Cast Member
The Disney Store, 2 Galleria Mall Drive, Taunton, Ma 02780, (508) 821-4621
May 2007-August 2007
Assistant Pre-School teacher
Duties included educating students to prepare to enter kindergarten, as well as conceptualizing and performing many puppet shows to supplement the curriculum.
Tiny Tot Child Care and Learning Center, 38 Narrows Road, Assonet, Ma 02702, (508) 644-3101
June 2006-August 2006
Utility/Dishwasher
Independence Harbor Wedding and Banquet Facility, 10 Narrows Road, Assonet, MA 02702, (508) 644-2225
April 2004-2006
Karate Instructor
Schiff's Karate School, 1 Chace Rd, East Freetown, MA 02717, (508) 763-9000
November 2005-2006
ACTIVITES- WVU Theatre Student Organization (3 years) Treasurer (1 year)
- Co-Owner/Founder of professional puppet company, Missing Link Puppet Company, Writing and Performing many shows for both live performances and videos www.MissingLinkPuppets.com
- WVU Puppet Mobile Touring Shows (4 years)
- WVU Main Stage Theatre Productions (4 years)
- West Virginia Community Arts Drama Program Instructor (3 years)
- Member of international puppet organization, UNIMA (2 years)
- Member of national puppet organization, Puppeteers of America (3 years)
- Village Kids Theatre Group Involvement as both student and instructor (6 years)
- St. Johns University Parish Choir (3 years)
HONORS
- 4.0 GPA
- 2010 WVU Outstanding Senior and Order of August Member
- WVU Creative arts Scholarship
- WVU Academic Excellence Level 1 HERF Scholarship.
- Presidents List for 4.0 GPA (7 consecutive Semesters)
- National Society for Collegiate Scholars
- Pope Pius X Award for Services to St. Bernards Catholic Church's Village Kids Theatre Group
- Uechi Karate Black Belt 2005, International Uechi Karate Federation
- Salutatorian of Class of 2006, Apponequet Regional High School
THEATRE EXPERIENCE
- Guest Lecturer for National Professional Puppet Organization, Puppeteers of America, Mid-Atlantic/North Eastern Regional Festival in the professional workshop “Puppets and Actors Share the Stage.”
DIRECTING/INSTRUCTING
- Instructor, WVU Community Theatre Prep Program 2010 Production of The Jungle Book
- Director/Writer, WVU Puppet Mobile production of The Christmas Star. (Fall 2009)
- Director, Directing Workshop Wash and Dry by Shel Silversein (Fall 2009)
- Director/Instructor, The Village Kids Theatre Company 2009 production of SNOOPY!!! The Musical.
- Director/Writer, The Caper of Candy Flats, performed for the WVU Ruby Memorial Hospital Children's Ward. Missing Link Puppet Company. (Spring 2009)
- Instructor, WVU Community Theatre Prep Program 2009 Production of Alice in Wonder
- Puppet Director, WVU Main Stage Production of The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht (Spring 2008)
- Instructor, WVU Community Theatre Prep Program 2009 Production of Alice in Wonder.
- Instructor, WVU Community Theatre Prep Program 2008 Production of The Little Mermaid.
- Director/Writer/Instructor, The Village Kids Theatre Company 2005 production of One Small Voice.
- Director/Writer/Instructor, The Village Kids Theatre Company 2003 Production of Santons Perfomed for the international creche society.
PERFORMANCE CREDITS
- Sydney Star, WVU Puppet Mobile, The Christmas Star touring show at Greenbrier Resort and University President's Christmas Party (Fall 2009)
- The Sassquatch, Missing Link Puppets Co, The Caper of Candy Flats. WVU Children's Hospital
- Toyman in The Mirrorman by Brian Way Children's Theatre Touring Production in WV and to the Pittsburgh, PA Children's Museum. (Fall 2008/Spring 2009)
- Mark Riley, Melody James, Renaldo Rodriguez and others, Kids on the Block of Greater Fall River (2007-2009)
- Master Puppeteer, WVU Puppet Mobile, Wee View Re-View Touring Show at Greenbrier Resort and for West Virginia’s First Lady’s Arts and Culture Series (Spring 2008)
- Master Puppeteer, WVU Puppet Mobile, The King and Queen Jellybean Show touring show at Greenbrier Resort, West Virginia, and Northern Kentucky (Spring 2007)
- Puppeteer/Special Effects, WVU Main Stage Production and Tamarak Tour, The Ice Wolf (Fall 2006/Spring 2007)
- Uncle Max, Apponequet Player's 2006 Production of Rogers and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music.
- Sancho Panza Apponequet Player's 2005 Production of Man of La Mancha
- Orin Scrivello, The Village Kid's Theatre Company's 2004 Production of Little Shop of Horrors
DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION ETC.
- Puppet Design/Construction on more than 15 different WVU Puppet Mobile Shows. (2006-2009)
- Puppet Design/Construction for more multiple shows with Missing Link Puppet Company (2007-2009)
- Puppet Design/Construction The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht WVU Mainstage Production (Spring 2008)
- Properties Master Another Part of the Forest, WVU Main Stage Production (Fall 2007)
- Production Electrician Mary Rose, WVU Main Stage Production (Fall 2007)
- Costume Construction The Philadelphia Story, Vinegar Tom WVU Main Stage Production (Spring 2007)
- Set Construction A Flea in Her Ear, Blood Relations, The Ice Wolf WVU Main Stage Production (Fall 2006)
References available on request.
