BWW Blog: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF's Ben Rappaport- Monday Monday

By: May. 19, 2016
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I'm amazed at how many things I keep learning from doing this show every day. Yesterday, during the matinee, as we were performing the sons' section of 'Tradition', I discovered that I was holding my breath during certain pieces of choreography, which obviously inhibited my singing. I mean, you're reading that thinking, 'well duh, Ben'. You're right. Absolutely 'duh', but it took me six whole months to realize that. That's the odd phenomenon of this almost zen practice of eight shows a week in a long run.

Speaking of zen, the huge lesson that it also took me 6 months to learn was the value of Mondays. Monday is our one full day off from the show, and if you don't honor it, it can really screw you up for the rest of the week. For a long time, I was using Mondays to catch up on paying bills, doing laundry, cleaning, seeing friends, and tons of other social things. Doesn't sound that bad, right? Well, it really started to take a toll. I'd show up to the theatre on Tuesday afternoon feeling like I had never left. Like Groundhog Day. I never fully recharged. It became increasingly clear that Monday was called a day off because you are supposed to be powered down in the OFF mode.

Of course you are ON when doing a Broadway show, but what we can easily forget is that you are ON surrounding the show as well. Visiting with family and friends who are in town to see you, press events, etc. These things are all part of the job. I've been having a lot of discussions with my fiancé, Megan about this lately and we've come to the conclusion that in order to maintain mental, physical, and emotional equilibrium, Mondays should be sacred. Starting this Monday, I am making the push to not set an alarm, unplug from social media/the world, spend quality time with Megan, and actively not think about anything work related. This will probably include Jeopardy and take out. Basically, I'll be an 80 year old on Mondays.

I hope you all can have at least one day this week to just chill like you're 80. And if you are 80 and reading this, keep doing you.


Check back next Wednesday for more from BroadwayWorld's latest blogger, Ben Rappaport. Ben can currently be seen as 'Perchik' in Fiddler on the Roof, playing at the Broadway Theatre. Every week, he will answer questions from fans, so be sure to comment below, or tweet him directly at @Ben_Rappaport.

Ben was last seen on Broadway in Picnic with Ellen Burstyn, directed by Sam Gold. His Off-Broadway credits include: Sex Lives Of Our Parents (Second Stage),The Gingerbread House(Rattlestick/stageFARM). Regional: Alex Timbers' original production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (Williamstown Theatre Festival). On TV, Ben is best known as the star of the NBC series "Outsourced". He currently appears as Carey Zepps on "The Good Wife"(CBS) and Ollie Parker on "Mr. Robot"(USA). He has also appeared on "Elementary"(CBS). Film credits include: Hope Springs opposite Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, and Steve Carell. The Brass Teapot, Stereotypically You (upcoming), and lead of the upcoming film Landing Up. Ben trained at Juilliard, where he received the Michel and Suria Saint-Denis Prize for Outstanding Achievement and Leadership in Drama.



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