Ben Rimalower

Ben Rimalower (born May 12, 1976) is an American theatre director, writer, producer, and performer. He is best known for writing and performing the critically acclaimed long-running hit off Off-Broadway solo play Patti Issues.[1] He is also a contributing writer for Playbill.com and The Huffington Post. Rimalower is openly gay.[2]

Ben Rimalower
Born (1976-05-12) May 12, 1976
NationalityAmerican
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley
Occupations
  • Theatre director
  • writer
  • producer
  • performer
Notable workPatti Issues
Websitebenrimalower.com

Rimalower founded the University of California, Berkeley's student-run theatre organization, BareStage Productions, in 1995 while he was a student at the school.

In 2004, Rimalower directed a concert production of Snoopy! The Musical to benefit the Pied Piper Children's Theatre of New York City. The concert featured Sutton Foster as Peppermint Patty, Deven May as Charlie Brown, Ann Harada as Lucy, Jennifer Cody as Sally, Hunter Foster as Linus, and Christian Borle in the title role.[3]

He produced and directed the New York premiere of John Fisher's Joy at the Producers Club and later, Off-Broadway at the Actors' Playhouse in 2005.[4]

Rimalower conceived and directed Leslie Kritzer in Leslie Kritzer is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches, a recreation of Patti LuPone's famed nightclub act, which premiered in New York at Joe's Pub and also played in San Francisco at the Plush Room in 2006 and 2007. Rimalower received a Special Time Out New York Award for the production.[5][6]

In 2007, he directed an Off-Broadway production of Marissa Kamin's The Fabulous Life of a Size Zero, starring Gillian Jacobs and Anna Chlumsky, at the Daryl Roth/DR2 Theatre.[7]

He has directed solo shows for many artists including Lindsey Alley,[8] Cole Escola,[9] Lance Horne,[10] John Hill,[11] Natalie Joy Johnson,[12] Erin Markey,[13] Scott Nevins[14] and Molly Pope.[15]

In August 2012, Rimalower's solo play Patti Issues premiered at the Duplex, directed by Aaron Mark, and has since received a 2013 Bistro Award ("Best Solo Play") and a 2013 MAC Award ("New York Debut - Male").[16][17] The production has been extended numerous times, running well into 2013 and playing engagements in several other cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, San Diego, Chicago, Provincetown, Boston, and Fire Island Pines, as well as engagements in Berlin and Glasgow.[18][19][20] In September 2013, Rimalower gave his final performance in the play in New York City. Tony Award nominee Robin de Jesús replaced him in the role for a limited run.[21]

References
  1. Rooney, David (January 3, 2013). "Broadway Diva Is a Muse, as Gay Boy Comes of Age". The New York Times.
  2. Portwood, Jerry (2013-07-25). "Ben Rimalower: Patti Issues". Out.com. Retrieved 2014-05-15.
  3. Gans, Andrew (April 16, 2004). "DIVA TALK: LuPone Soars, Akers Sings Standards and Snoopy! Delights". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  4. Bacalzo, Dan (February 4, 2005). "Joy". TheaterMania.
  5. Gans, Andrew (September 6, 2005). "Leslie Kritzer to Re-create Vintage Patti LuPone Concert". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  6. Gans, Andrew (February 6, 2007). "Leslie Kritzer Is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches to Play San Fran's Plush Room". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  7. Finkle, David (June 18, 2007). "The Fabulous Life of a Size Zero". TheaterMania. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  8. Gans, Andrew (April 17, 2006). "Look Ma . . . No Ears to Play Six Weeks at Laurie Beechman Theatre". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  9. Peter, Thomas (December 2, 2010). "Logo Star Cole Escola to Perform at Joe's Pub in 2011". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  10. Jones, Kenneth (May 11, 2005). "Vocal Arranger Who Helped Little Women Sing Performs His Own Work May 30-June 4". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  11. Gans, Andrew (May 7, 2006). "Bare's Hill Is a Skinny Corpse in May and June". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  12. Gans, Andrew (January 2, 2006). "Bare's Natalie Joy Johnson to Make Solo Cabaret Debut in February". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  13. Hetrick, Adam (February 8, 2013). "Our Hit Parade's Erin Markey Will Go It Solo at Joe's Pub in March". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  14. Gans, Andrew (November 8, 2006). "Celebutant: Don't You Know Who I Think I Am? to Play Beechman Theatre". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  15. Gans, Andrew (August 13, 2008). "Diva-lution of Molly Pope to Play Joe's Pub". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  16. Gioia, Michael (March 4, 2013). "Lainie Kazan, Maurice Hines, T. Oliver Reid, Justin Vivian Bond and More Receive 2013 Bistro Awards March 4". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  17. Gioia, Michael (March 22, 2013). "T. Oliver Reid, Lennie Watts, Marilyn Maye, Ben Rimalower and More Win 2013 MAC Awards". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  18. Hetrick, Adam (January 22, 2013). "Ben Rimalower's Patti Issues Gets Fifth Extension Downtown". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  19. Hetrick, Adam (May 1, 2013). "Ben Rimalower's Patti Issues Announces Fifth Extension; Chicago, Fire Island and P-Town on the Horizon". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  20. Hetrick, Adam (June 27, 2013). "Ben Rimalower's Patti Issues Extends for Final Time; Scotland and Boston Dates Planned". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  21. Hetrick, Adam (September 8, 2013). "Tony Nominee Robin De Jesus Has Patti Issues, Beginning Sept. 8". Playbill. Retrieved June 17, 2022.


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