Ben Forster (actor)

Before his success in the Superstar competition, Forster played the role of Doody in Grease and was involved in Thriller – Live in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialbenforster.com |title=Ben Forster | Official Website for Ben Forster |publisher=Officialbenforster.com |date=25 July 2013 |accessdate=19 October 2013}}

Singer/songwriter Forster is based in London and performs nationally and internationally. Originally from Sunderland, he was a child singer and actor who won a scholarship at the prestigious Italia Conti Academy in London at 16.

During his training, he was heavily featured in the BBC's prime time fly-on-the-wall documentary The Dream Academy which aired to over 3 million people. The Broccoli family (of James Bond fame) staged the musical La Cava in London the same year, and Forster won a role, to make his West End debut in the production. He then went on to another lead singer role in Lennon and McCartney's West End musical All You Need Is Love. It was during the run of this show that the 20-year-old Forster began songwriting. He then began a solo singing career and signed a record deal with an independent label. He wrote and produced his first ten-song live album, but the recording company declared bankruptcy and Forster's solo musical ambitions were put on hold.

After finishing the 2012 arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, Forster went on to play the role of Brad Majors in the 40th anniversary tour of The Rocky Horror Show,{{cite web |url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/interviews/theatre/london/E8831356113445/Ben+Forster+On+...+Going+from+Jesus+to+Rocky.html |title=Ben Forster On ... Going from Jesus to Rocky – Interviews – 21 Dec 2012 |publisher=Whatsonstage.com |date=21 December 2012 |accessdate=19 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130402094057/http://www.whatsonstage.com/interviews/theatre/london/E8831356113445/Ben+Forster+On+...+Going+from+Jesus+to+Rocky.html |archive-date=2 April 2013 |url-status=dead }} alongside Roxanne Pallett, Rhydian, Kristian Lavercombe and Oliver Thornton.

Forster was to reprise the role of Jesus for the North American tour of JCS, joining other recording artists that included Incubus' Brandon Boyd as Judas Iscariot, Destiny's Child's Michelle Williams as Mary Magdalene, 'N Sync's JC Chasez as Pontius Pilate, and Public Image Ltd's John Lydon as King Herod.{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/528699/jc-chasez-michelle-williams-and-more-team-up-for-jesus-christ-superstar-north-american-tour |title=JC Chasez, Michelle Williams and More Team Up for Jesus Christ Superstar North American Tour |publisher=E! |accessdate=12 August 2014|date=2014-04-04 }} The North American tour was cancelled on 30 May 2014.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/01/arts/music/anger-for-jesus-christ-superstar-cast-and-a-black-eye-for-its-promoter.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=0|title=Anger for 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Cast, and a Black Eye for Its Promoter|newspaper=The New York Times|date=31 May 2014 |accessdate=12 August 2014|last1=Itzkoff |first1=Dave }}

In 2013–14 Forster performed the role of Magaldi in the West End production of Evita in the Dominion Theatre. In October 2015, Forster reprised the role of Buddy in Elf: The Musical at the Dominion Theatre, a role which he originated in the UK première in 2014 in Plymouth. The show ran until January 2016. In 2016 Forster has been portraying the role of The Phantom in London's The Phantom of the Opera. On 6 January 2018, while performing in Elf the Musical, Forster came down off a ladder mid-performance causing the show to stop immediately. It was later revealed that he had broken his ankle in the process,{{cite news |last1=Bourne |first1=Dianne |title=West End star Ben Forster breaks ankle on stage in Elf Musical |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/theatre-news/ben-forster-elf-broken-ankle-14123157 |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=7 January 2018 |language=en}} and would not finish his run with the show.{{cite news |last1=Thomas |first1=Angela |title=Ben Forster to miss final week of Elf The Musical after breaking ankle on stage |url=https://musicaltheatrereview.com/ben-forster-to-miss-final-week-of-elf-the-musical-after-breaking-ankle-on-stage/ |access-date=10 February 2021 |publisher=musicaltheatrereview.com |date=9 January 2018}}

On 30 November 2023, Forster performed "Tell Me It's Not True" with Melanie C at that year's Royal Variety Performance, held at the Royal Albert Hall. The show was televised on 17 December 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/203358/news/royal-variety-performance-2023-performers-revealed-including-cher-hannah-waddingham-crazy-for-you-the-little-big-things-disney-more/|title=Royal Variety Performance 2023 performers revealed & How to Watch, including Cher, Hannah Waddingham, Samantha Barks, Beverley Knight, Mel C, Disney 100 & more + First-look photos|website=West End Theatre|access-date=19 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/royal-variety-performance-2023-review|title=Royal Variety Performance 2023 review|website=The Stage|last=Vale|first=Paul|date=1 December 2023|access-date=19 December 2023}}

On April 4th 2025, Forster announced his return to the role of The Phantom in The World Tour production of The Phantom of The Opera for a limited engagement in Singapore.

Forster released his first album Acoustic Covers in 2012. The album includes acoustic covers of well-known songs from artists like Michael Jackson and Maroon 5. In 2013 he released Acoustic Covers Vol.2.{{Cite web | url=https://www.discogs.com/Ben-Forster-Acoustic-Covers-Vol-2/release/5238797 | title=Ben Forster - Acoustic Covers Vol. 2| website=Discogs| year=2013}} It was co-produced by Ben Forster and Nik Carter and mixed by Jack Birchwood. It featured Luke Higgins on acoustic guitar and Robert Eckland on piano.

In December 2014 he released a double album – together with fellow musical theatre stars Louise Dearman and Kerry Ellis – of Alexander S. Bermange's three-person musical The Route To Happiness. This was made available as a deluxe 2-CD set and to download.

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Category:1981 births

Category:21st-century English LGBTQ people

Category:English gay actors

Category:English male musical theatre actors

Category:Living people

Category:Male actors from Sunderland

Category:Musicians from Sunderland