Ben Vereen: It's All About the Work

It's always been about the work for Ben Vereen. The acclaimed and award-winning actor has graced the stage in some of the most memeroable performances from stage, televison and film. On Broadway, Vereen is a force of nature. He starred in the original productions of such iconic musical staples like "Hair," "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Pippin" (for which he won the Tony Award for best actor in a musical). On the small screen, Vereen left impacts in peoples' living rooms with stirring performances as "Chicken" George Moore in in the groundbreaking mini-series "Roots" and variety of roles in "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe," "The Love Boat," "Webster," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "How I Met Your Mother." And in film, Vereen is most remembered as O'Connor Flood in the seductive and dark finale to Bob Fosse's movie musical "All That Jazz."

Even with an impressive resume and career, Vereen isn't the resting-on-laurels type. This last year Vereen impressed as Chris Rock's estranged father in Rock's film "Top Five." And this year, Vereen dives into the gritty and harrowing world of homelessness and poverty in Oren Moverman's "Time Out of Mind." Co-starring Richard Gere and Jena Malone, "Time Out of Mind" opens this year's Sarasota Film Festival tonight at the Sarasota Opera House. Along with acting Vereen is returning to the area this summer to start work on the influential and iconic rock and roll musical "Hair" for the Venice Theatre, which opens November 10. 

Before the opening of the Saraosta Film Festival, Vereen sat down and discussed homelessness, "Hair," and, of course, the love and spirituality of work. 

How did you get involved with "Time Out of Mind?"

I auditioned. I found out they were doing it and I called Oren Moverman. I flew in for the auditioned while doign a production of "Aladdin." I heard about it and I wanted it. I flew in, took the day off,  and auditioned for Oren and flew back and the next thing you know I got the call and he said we're doing it.

What about the film's story appealed to you?

It was the subject matter. We like to think that they are the invisible people. But by the sheer grace of you and I, we're just that far away from being homeless too. This was an opportunity for me to say something about it. I loved the way Oren wrote the script and working with Richard Gere was very special. To me, it's a modern day "Midnight Cowboy" in flavor - it's about two guys.

What keeps you motivated and inspired?

People do. I'm going to be doing "Hair" down at the Venice Theatre. I've been blessed to be in a career to serve the people. As an artist, that's what we do. We give you music, we give you dance, we give you theater and we give you film. You service them too. You write and that's your passion. And this is my passion. 

Is the generosity aspect, of giving yourself to the people, why you got into performing?

I got into it and it just happened. And I've been blessed. I didn't set out to do a career. I set out to work and keep working. I was doing "Hair" in Los Angeles 30 to 40 years ago. I remember going down by the unemployment office and saw a lot of stars at the unemployment office. Well, I thought, I just want to work. I didn't get into it for the fame, but certainly I'm blessed that happened so I could reach more people, but when I first started out it was a love. And it's still a love. We sang a song in church that goes, "If I can help somebody as I travel along my way then my living will not be in vain." 

Your hat says spiritual enforcer. Is performing onstage and in movies a spiritual experience?

It's all a spiritual experience. The spiritual enforcer is about enforcing love and the concept of love on the planet. We sell these hats and t-shirts and the proceeds go to the arts, diabetes and obesity. It's all a spiritual thing to me. It's all spirit. Feeding the spirit and letting the spirit feed us. Life is a journey for me. It's lessons. You learn you lesson or you stay in the pit until you get it right and then you move on.

Has homelessness and poverty affected your life at all in any way?

Yeah it affects all of our lives. When I was doing the role, Oren had us go down and panhandle. It was amazing. He had Richard Gere and Ben Vereen panhandling and nobody knew who we were or wanted to know. They saw a homeless and right away they wanted to go the other way. Some were generous and gracious and the dialogue with them broke my heart, but I couldn't break out of character. But I say the invisible people because some treat the homeless like lepers and if they touch them, they'll catch it. It amazes me that the 1% controls the 99%. When are we going to say, the people are going to say, that we're tired of this and we're going to do something about it. We have the power to do something about it. 

You've accomplished so much and want to do so much more. Is it weird to be a member of a hall of fame?

Yeah but it's great. I've got to keep doing the work though. My purpose is the work. I'm grateful to my audiences for allowing me to work and to do the work. I've got "Hair" here in Venice. I'm going up to Canada to co-direct a show called "It's a Wonderful World." I'm developing a couple of projects for Broadway. I'm constantly working. It's nice.

Do you enjoy being a mentor to younger entertainers and performers?

You've got to do that. You have got to mentor, so that way you pass it on. 

How's "Hair" coming along?

It's going to be a great production. I'm not just saying that because I'm doing it. But I hope the people will accept my vision of the show. "Hair" is timeless but really what have we done? We were the ones in the streets talking about a better world and making the world a better and safer place. A place of love, harmony and peace. Today I turned on the news and all I'm hearing that there's some kid right here broke into a shop and stole guns. I want to talk about that and I'm using "Hair" to do that. We start auditions May 3 through May 10. 

What role do your fans talk to you the most about?

There are various but most mention "Chicken" George from "Roots" or my role in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe." Someone the other day mentioned Louis Armstrong from years ago in the 1970s. As long as they let me serve people, I'm happy.